Chemitei Janet is an environmentalist and slow fashion educator passionate about storytelling through writing and content creation. With experience in environmental education and sustainable waste management, she has collaborated with organizations like Global Landscapes Forum and Greenpeace Africa to empower youth in climate justice and advocacy.

Janet highlights the impact of waste and fashion in Kenya, organizing visits to Dandora dumpsite and Gikomba market to illustrate the consequences of overconsumption. A crochet enthusiast, she promotes slow fashion on Instagram, drawing from her childhood experiences with wool spinning and weaving. As Youth Council Chair at Clean Up Kenya and Africa Regional Coordinator at Threading Change, Janet is dedicated to African storytelling and sustainable innovation.

Deon-Já I.M. Auld, a Grenadian emerging leader in development, culture, and art, is pursuing a Bachelor's in Social Sciences with a focus on Gender and Development, Political Science, and Criminology at UWI, Cave Hill. Following the devastation of Hurricane Beryl on her community, Deon-Já became a passionate advocate for climate justice, dedicating herself to raising awareness and support for those affected by climate disasters. 

In addition to her advocacy, she excels in creative fields like fashion design, with her brand DIMA celebrating Caribbean history. Deon-Já also takes on leadership roles, including Events Officer for the UWI Guild and President of the Grenada Student Association, where she channels her commitment to climate resilience and cultural pride.

Dr. Patricia Papernow is a psychologist in her fifth decade of working with “blended families.” She teaches all over the US and the world about what works, and what doesn’t, to meet the often-intense challenges that stepfamilies face.

She is the author of the two leading books in the field:  Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t and The Stepfamily Handbook: From Dating to Getting Serious to Forming a “Blended Family” as well as dozens of articles for helping professionals. And she has received several awards for her contributions to family psychology and family therapy.