Chris’ journey in the field of Communication Design began at the prestigious New York City College of Technology, where he earned his Bachelor of Technology degree. Fueled by his passion, he further honed his skills by obtaining a Master of Science in Marketing from Florida International University. In 2015, Chris’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Brown Sparrow, a Brooklyn-based marketing and graphic design studio that has since become a beacon of creativity and innovation, specializing in print and digital content for small businesses and professionals. As the Creative Director of Brown Sparrow, Chris has helped build brand identities, designed tmarketing illustrations, and strategized for social media marketing campaigns.

Ever since she was a little girl, Sarah has been drawn to being behind the camera; whether that be doing photoshoots with her childhood friends or hitting that record button and documenting life the way she saw fit. Sarah didn’t fully understand the power one has behind a camera until attending college at Colorado State University, where she learned how to manipulate specific settings to take high quality photos and create compelling videos. Sarah thinks life is a beautiful, messy, chaotic masterpiece that should be celebrated every second, and her goal is to capture those raw moments experienced by millions of people everyday.

Phillip helps preserve the stories of everyday citizens making extraordinary contributions to United States culture and politics. His oral history practice relies on the principles of relational organizing, an approach which ensures ethical rigor and creative excellence in all of his collaborations with grassroots leaders. He holds a BA in English from Bryn Mawr College with a concentration in Peace, Justice and Human Rights (PJHR) from Haverford College. Visit our About page to learn more about why Phillip founded The Blip Institute.

With her multiplatform storytelling project, Shiloh in the City, Shiloh helps both locals and visitors come to better know New York beyond the context of their day-to-day experiences and the superficial level of most guide books. A born-and-raised Brooklynite, she creates itineraries spanning all five boroughs, gives bite-sized NYC history lessons through her videos and walking tours, and shares humorous insights into NYC life. Through the documentary work she has done in her own city, Shiloh has developed a wide-ranging expertise for developing online content that encourages audiences to explore more, learn more, and ultimately care more about the places they visit or call home.

Dr. Alex Vazquez is a 1.5 generation Chicano data scientist and musician interested in the intersection of decolonization, data, art, health and climate justice. He received his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is passionate about using data, tech and art to help protect the wellbeing of BIPOC communities and support them in their fight for liberation. With over 20 years of experience in music production, Alex aka 'Decolonoize' creates music by fusing Hip Hop with other genres like Jazz, RnB, Salsa, Cumbia, Afrobeat and other types of World Music. Alex believes in the power of music to be able to effectively deliver crucial, culture-shifting messages to the collective.

Smmo is a community geographer working to restore participatory landscapes by fostering community involvement in the creation of the future environs they dream of, in collaboration with the ecosystems of which they are a part. Through telling the stories behind the interwoven goals of communities and their landscapes, Smmo helps develop multi-media, strategic plans and designs to achieve abundant, mutual, resilient futures, rooted in their environmental and cultural contexts.