Daniel White Hodge, Ph.D. is a recognized urban youth culture expert & cultural literacy scholar. Dr. Hodge is Professor of Intercultural Communications at North Park University in Chicago where he chairs the Department of Communication Arts and is research lead for the Catalyst_ _ 606 program. His research interests are the intersections of faith, Hip-Hop culture, race/ethnicity, and young adult ethnic-minority emerging generations.

Don C. Sawyer III, Ph.D. is Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Sociology at Quinnipiac University. He earned his Ph.D. in sociology and M.S. in cultural foundations of education from Syracuse University. He is an applied sociologist and ensures most of his research projects are in partnership with local communities.

Anthony J. Nocella II, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology in the Institute of Public Safety at Salt Lake Community College. He is the editor of the Peace Studies Journal, Transformative Justice Journal, and co-editor of five book series including Critical Animal Studies and Theory with Lexington Books and Hip Hop Studies and Activism with Peter Lang Publishing. He has published over fifty book chapters or articles and forty books.

Ahmad R. Washington, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development at The University of Louisville. His research interests include African American males' ethnic and gender identity development and social justice school counseling interventions. He has either contributed to or produced independently more than thirty manuscripts and national, regional and state presentations. Most recently, he is co-editor of Black Male Student Success in 21st Century Urban Schools: School Counseling for Equity, Access and Achievement.