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adrienne maree brown is the writer-in-residence at the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute, and a prolific author whose latest works include the novella Grievers, and Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Ideation; We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformative Justice; and Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good. Their work focuses on pleasure activism, emergent strategy, visionary fiction, and abolition.

Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts has published 18 books, including her most recent, Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration. In 2021, she contributed to the groundbreaking book You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience, edited by acclaimed researcher Brené Brown, and founder of the #metoo movement, Tarana Burke.

Jay Shifman is a vulnerable storyteller, stigma-destroying speaker, podcaster, and event host. Jay holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Northern Kentucky University and has put in numerous hours of independent learning, acquiring certifications in mental health, substance misuse and addiction, and drug policy. Jay founded his company, Choose Your Struggle, in 2015 with two distinct goals: ending stigma, and promoting honest and fact-based education around mental health, substance misuse and recovery, and drug use and policy.