Kibri’s interest in the earth and environmental science began in the 6th grade. Her passion for the nature led her to North Carolina State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. She later completed a Master’s degree in Earth Science at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). During her studies at NCCU, she worked on her first environmental justice project, which involved an examination of toxicological risks posed by soil and groundwater contamination in communities of color in Durham, North Carolina. For 20+ years, Kibri has worked as an environmental scientist with multi-disciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, economists, and community groups on projects ranging from water quality to waste management. She has applied her technical, writing, and engagement expertise to the benefit of many organizations. To date, she has secured over $2 million in funding for community -based organizations. Kibri is based in North Carolina.

Dr. Tony E. Graham, D.Eng., Assoc. AIA is a civil engineer, associate architect, and retired professor with more than 40 years of experience in infrastructure, construction management, project management, and community development. He has managed billion-dollar federal and community projects worldwide, advised the U.S. EPA on resilience and sustainability, and now serves as Program Director for Infrastructure & Built Environment with Key Environmental Consulting. A passionate advocate for STEAM education, Dr. Graham also inspires students and communities through his work as a motivational speaker.

Michelle Eichinger is the owner of Planning4Health Solutions with over 20 years of experience as a subject matter expert in community health and development. She combines her passion and experience in public health, climate change, environmental sustainability, food systems, and public policy. Her niche is in quantitative methods and urban data science, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and machine learning applications. She aims to apply her work toward equitable people-based and place-based policies and interventions. Dr. Eichinger has been a program administrator at the Delaware Division of Public Health and public health advisor/policy analyst at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With a dual discipline in public health and urban planning, she has worked with planning and public health agencies to develop strategies in supporting healthy behaviors and climate resiliency. Further, Dr. Eichinger has experience in climate change research and studied the impact of climate change on urban food systems in African cities while completing a postdoc at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Darius received his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology at North Carolina State University and wanted to apply his knowledge to improve widespread environmental justice issues. This guided him to complete a Master’s Degree in Environmental Anthropology where he could combine his interests in people and the environment. His degree led him to study how environmental justice was experienced among different individuals, communities, and organizations in the Walnut Creek Wetlands in Raleigh, North Carolina. Darius is utilizing his unique background to secure a better environmental future. Darius is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dr. Derrick Sauls is a researcher, professor, and farmer in Raleigh, NC. While obtaining his Ph. D. from North Carolina State University in the area of Nutrition (2003), he developed an interest in studying Diabetes and his research entailed investigating the effect of homocysteine on fibrin clot formation and lysis. For twenty years of research studies at Duke University, he worked with several Biomedical start-up companies. His investigations have led to the development of a method for the prevention/treatment of HIV, ultimately obtaining a patent (N0. 6,787,527). Recently, he has been involved in Health Initiatives that involve prevention and eradicating health disparities and health inequities. When reviewing the disparities, he has focused on food insecurity and the effects of COVID on Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other people of Color (BIOPIC). His efforts have led to Agritherapy- the process of farming as a means for therapeutic meditation and deterring food insecurity.