Anniessa Fatima Antar is a nomadic educator, museum transformer, and artist living on occupied Dakota, Anishinaabe land. Anniessa is interested in teaching liberation and language through art. She currently works as the Activation Specialist at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), where she organizes intentional parties for visitors to  engage with the museum, its collection, special exhibitions, and the Twin Cities’ communities at large. She recently taught social justice and visual culture at l’Ecole nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France. She has performed at La galerie, centre d’art contemporain in France, and in the queer sci-fi short film, Swarm of Selenium (dir. Glass Collective, 2017). Anniessa holds her BA in philosophy and Arabic language from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and her M.Ed. in Second Languages and Cultures from the University of Minnesota.

Ernesto Velez Bustos is the executive director of Centro Campesino, an Owatonna-based nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of members of the Latino and migrant community in southern Minnesota through community organizing, education, and advocacy.

Elisabeth Callihan is the Head of Multi-Generational Learning at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), where she leads a team in co-creating arts-based experiences with community organizations and stakeholders. Prior to joining the Mia staff in 2014, she managed adult programs at the Brooklyn Museum, where she was responsible for an expansive portfolio of exhibition-based programming, including the community-driven Target First Saturday series. She also served as Manager of Public Programs and public relations at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, and Co-Director and Curator of the alternative art space Odessa Projects. She holds a BA in art history from the University of Evansville; an MA in fine and decorative art from Sotheby’s Institute London; and a certificate in French language & culture from the Institut Catholique in Paris. She is the author of several articles exploring museums and social engagement that have appeared in Apollo Magazine, the Journal of Museum Education, and a chapter in the book Partnership Power: Essential Museum Strategies for Today’s Networked World (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).   

Alexei Moon Casselle, aka Crescent Moon, makes art that is meant to be felt at a visceral level, aiming to share the beating heart of his own deeply personal inward reactions to the world around him and the life he has lived rather than to be observed at a distance. Themes of race, power, class, fatherhood, disillusionment, beauty and absurdist humor emerge throughout Casselle’s work, often blending together in abstract and unexpected ways, regardless of the format it is presented in. Over the last 25 years, he has dedicated himself to the craft of writing and performance of hip hop music, folk music, creative writing, and spoken word poetry, culminating in a twenty-plus album discography with various bands and a decorated international touring résumé. More recently, he has become an educator and mentor to youth in the Twin Cities, where he lives, through artist residencies, workshops, and as of the fall of 2019, a full-time middle school English teaching position in Saint Paul Public Schools after completing his master’s degree in Education at the University of Minnesota. 

Mark Haase was recently appointed by Governor Tim Walz to be the Ombudsperson for Corrections for the State of Minnesota. The Ombudsperson’s Office independently investigates complaints and promotes the competent, efficient, and just administration of corrections. Prior to his appointment Mark was the Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center, an organization he helped to create. In 2018 he ran for Hennepin County Attorney and came within 10 percentage points of defeating the 20 year incumbent. Mark has led his own consulting and lobbying firm, was Vice President of the Council on Crime Justice, and co-founded the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition. 

Mark received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota, and Master’s and Juris Doctor Degrees from the University of Saint Thomas. Prior to law school, he served as a U.S. Coast Guard and Army Reserve Office.

Mitra Jalali is the proud daughter of immigrants, a former classroom teacher, community organizer and policy aide who now represents Ward 4 on the St. Paul City Council. Her main priorities in office include addressing the affordable housing crisis, community-first public safety, action on climate, and building community wealth.

Michael Kleber-Diggs is a poet and essayist. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in McSweeney’s, Poetry City, North Dakota Quarterly, Pollen Midwest, Paper Darts, Water~Stone Review and a few anthologies. He enjoys collaboration with visual artists. Michael is a past Fellow with the Givens Foundation for African-America Literature, a past-winner of the Loft Mentor Series in Poetry, and the inaugural Poet Laureate of Anoka County libraries. His work has been supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Jerome Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Michael is husband to Karen. Karen and Michael have a daughter who is an accomplished dancer.

Brittany Lynch is a DJ, poet, and entrepreneur who fiercely advocates for families in communities of color. Her work exists at the intersection of media, music, social justice, healing justice, and birthing justice. She’s a published writer, freelance journalist, and podcast host who focuses on centering the narratives of issues within the Black community. She was named a “Rising Star” by WCCO’s Urban Perspectives and one of five “Influential Young Black Leaders” by The Star Tribune. Miss Brit has been awarded a Verve Spoken Word Grant, Beyond The Pure Grant, and Legacy award for her work in healing communities through art based engagement. Her company, Gray Matter, provides digital, social, and political engagement to strengthen Black families and eradicate disparities. She’s a certified community coach and practitioner of The Orange Method, a practice centered in healing justice and Black liberation. Brittany is also certified community financial ambassador and member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

A seasoned nonprofit executive, and two-time executive director, Trina has developed a wealth of strategy, management and messaging expertise. She is a sought after speaker, trainer, and coach. Trina has personally lobbied tens of thousands of voters, legislators, the White House and federal agencies.

Trina recently co-authored the report, “Fairness in Philanthropy, Leveling the Playing Field for Our LGBTQ Neighbors” as well as a chapter in the newest edition of The Routledge Handbook on LGBTQIA Administration and Policy entitled, “Seeking Safe Haven: LGBTQ People and the American Immigration Experience.”

Trina’s most recent body of work is centered on capacity building, training and coaching with leaders and groups that desire to make transformational change at the intersections of race and gender justice.

Trina has lived in 18 U.S. cities (on purpose); is excellent at parallel parking (on either side of the street); and spends her off time building, making, and creating large works of art.

Ragamala Dance Company was founded in 1992 by Ranee Ramaswamy, and is currently under the leadership of Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy (mother and daughter). Rooted in the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam, the company has been hailed by The New York Times as “soulful, imaginative, and rhythmically contagious.” Ranee and Aparna explore the dynamic tension between the ancestral and the contemporary, highlighting the fluidity between the secular and the spiritual, the human and the natural. As mother and daughter, each brings her generational experience to the work—the rich traditions, deep philosophical roots, and ancestral wisdom of India meeting and merging with their hybridic perspectives as Indian-American artists.

As a producer, Spencer (aka “Big Cats” has worked with Lizzo, Mac Miller, BJ The Chicago Kid, Toki Wright, Alex Brettin (Mild High Club), Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre, Sage Francis, P.O.S, Chastity Brown, Eric Mayson, Chance York, Dwynell Roland, Lady Midnight, and others. He has also released three solo albums and performed throughout the country.

He has written and/or licensed music for Nike, CNN, Johnson & Johnson, Activison, the Golden State Warriors, PBS, Showtime, Forever21, and the Bush Foundation, among others.

Alfonso is a highly sought after speaker, facilitator and trainer. He self-identifies as a nerd about all things philanthropy, fundraising, facilitation and movement building. Before co-founding Team Dynamics, he was Vice President at the Minnesota Council on Foundations—driving both program strategy and racial equity. In his role, he served as the lead trainer for the Council’s professional development programs with over 180 member foundations, working to advancing equity and inclusion within the field of grantmaking as well as the resources being mobilized throughout the community. He received his bachelor of arts in public relations from the University of St. Thomas and has held previous roles with Bush Foundation, Minnesotans United for All Families, and PFund Foundation. He recently completed his tenure as chair of the board for Pollen.

Alfonso’s story is featured in the book, Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career and he is the recipient of the 2017 Facing Race Award from the Saint Paul and Minnesota Community Foundation as well as the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Catalytic Leader Award in 2014. Alfonso was a 2015-2016 Humphrey Policy Fellow.

He loves political conversations on patios, and trying to make Mexican food as well as his mom. He is a proud millennial with a carefully curated social media presence.