Tim’m T. West (he/they) is an award-winning educator, poet, hip-hop artist, and advocate whose three-decade career bridges classrooms, concert stages, and community movements. A graduate of Duke, The New School, and Stanford, he has transformed personal narrative into public service at the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and social justice. Living openly with HIV since 1999, Tim’m has led national efforts to dismantle stigma through art, education, and mentorship—holding leadership roles with AID Atlanta, Houston’s St. Hope Foundation, and Chicago’s Center on Halsted. A former faculty member at The New School and Cal Poly Humboldt, he also launched Teach For America’s groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Initiative, shaping inclusion across 50+ regions. Now Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, he advances youth advocacy, research, and intersectional leadership through programs like the Georgia Youth Advocacy Fellowship, National Youth Advocacy Corps, and IGNYTE Symposium. Widely recognized as a pioneer of queer hip hop and named one of 31 Icons of LGBT History Month, Tim’m recently received the Stanford Pride Trailblazer Award for his enduring commitment to equity and liberation.

Tyrique Wilson is a passionate advocate and nonprofit professional dedicated to uplifting communities and creating meaningful opportunities for growth. With years of experience supporting marginalized groups, including individuals living with HIV and inner-city youth, he approaches his work with compassion, care, and a deep understanding of the challenges people face. Tyrique blends his love for the arts with community service, designing programs that encourage self-expression, healing, and confidence. Known for his warmth and collaborative spirit, he has facilitated workshops, group sessions, and events that leave a lasting impact on those he serves. His commitment to advocacy is matched by his ability to connect with people on a personal level, inspiring trust and engagement. Through his work, Tyrique continues to make a difference by bridging the gap between resources, support, and the individuals who need them most.

Amore D. Sierra Cano is a first-generation Mexican-American transgender woman of color and advocate dedicated to cultivating leadership, visibility, and empowerment through purpose-driven platforms. She serves as the Founder and Executive Director of her nonprofit organization, The Sovereign Impact Collective, which exists to cultivate and empower mission-driven leaders by providing inclusive and accessible opportunities for skill development, leadership training, and community support. Leveraging pageantry as a platform for advocacy, Amore continues to champion equality, social justice, and human rights within the transgender community. Through her leadership and advocacy, Amore is redefining representation while empowering the next generation of leaders to lead with intention and impact.

Evan Malbrough is a native of Smyrna, Georgia. He is a 2020 graduate of Georgia State University with a degree in Public Policy, a minor in Cello Performance, and an inductee to Georgia State University’s 2022 40 under 40 class. At GSU, Evan was a founding member of his Vote Everywhere, where he led civic engagement programming on campus. While pursuing his undergraduate studies, Evan served as a Summer Research Fellow at the United States Department of Defense, serving at the Pentagon. At the Pentagon, Evan worked in legislative affairs and worked to supported the DOD Office of General Counsel. Upon graduating, Evan became a 2020 Puffin Fellow with the Andrew Goodman Foundation. Evan founded the Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project, recruiting 1,000 poll workers for the 2020 general election and 2021 runoff. The ACLU of Georgia officially acquired the Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project in December 2021, naming him a Voter Access Project Fellow between December 2021 and September 2023. As a fellow, Evan worked to protect on-campus early voting centers in Atlanta and supported ACLU GA's legislative initiatives. Evan is a writer who has published in publications such as Forbes, Teen Vogue, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After leaving the ACLU of Georgia, Evan served as the Managing Organizer of Georgia for Our Turn, where he worked with APS students to create a student mental health community board district-wide. During the 2024 election season, Evan worked as a VoteFlare Associate at the Shorenstein Center for Media and Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School and as the Religious Outreach advisor for Congresswoman Lucy McBath's Campaign. Evan served as the Senior Economic Policy Advisor at the Netherlands Consulate in Atlanta. Finally, Evan works as the Program Manager for Impact with the Andrew Goodman Foundation and the Atlanta Liaison for StartAruba.

Anthony Anderson is a first-year graduate student in African American Studies at Clark Atlanta University and a first-generation college student originally from Gary, Indiana. His research explores the history of Black labor movements during Reconstruction and their enduring impact on unionization and Black work today. He is particularly interested in the intersections of Black literature and film with concepts of freedom, identity, and labor. Drawing inspiration from Toni Morrison’s Sula, Anthony engages the theory of the “manufactured artist without an art form” to examine how art, culture, and work are shaped by structures of power. With professional experience in education, operations, and public health advocacy, he brings a strong background in policy analysis, compliance, and community engagement. Through the IGNYTE Fellowship, he seeks to further bridge academic research and community-driven strategies to support Black voices and leadership in contemporary social and cultural spaces.

Hunter Buchheit is a sophomore at Emory University studying U.S. History and Business Administration. Over the past several years, he has worked within the Georgia non-profit and journalism spaces, working to empower the next generation of youth leaders and storytellers. During his time as a Policy Analysis Intern for the ACLU of Georgia, Hunter researched upcoming policies related to the issue areas most important to him, including LGBTQ+ rights, students' rights, and educational freedom. Hunter has also interned for Georgia Equality and the Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project, delving into queer advocacy and learning from trailblazing Georgia organizers. He is deeply invested in Georgia politics, and he served as a Narrative Team Co-Lead at the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, wherein he participated in on-the-ground canvassing and outreach efforts and created a multi-week journalism education program for Georgia high school and college students. As a current Editor for The Emory Wheel, Emory University's only student-run newspaper, and a freelancer who has been published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Rough Draft Atlanta, NPR-WABE, Teen Vogue, and StudentNation, Hunter uplifts the stories of community members and youth activists. And last summer, Hunter served as an intern for the Truth + Transformation team at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, participating in the selective Emory University Ethics and Servant Leadership program. For the past three years, Hunter has served on the Board of Directors for VOX Teen Communications, a youth-led organization through which he has mentored dozens of metro Atlanta teen writers. Looking to the future, Hunter hopes to work at the intersection of policy and storytelling.

Royce Mann is a lifelong Atlantan, spoken word poet, experienced community organizer, and former candidate for the Atlanta Board of Education. His prior experience includes serving as Legislative Director for March for our Lives Georgia, as a Student Activist Coordinator for Amnesty International, as Youth Engagement Coordinator for Sen. Raphael Warnock’s re-election campaign, and as a Lead Campus Organizer and Georgia Deputy State Director for the RISE Education Fund. Royce remains active in numerous community and political organizations, including the Atlanta Democratic Socialists and the Young Democrats of Georgia. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Emory University where he was a recipient of the Woodruff-MLK Jr. Scholarship. In his spare time, Royce enjoys traveling, watching movies, and cheering on the Braves and the Hawks.

Leo D. Martinez is a Black Dominican American and trans femme artist from Harlem, NY, now residing in Atlanta, GA. She has published her non-fiction in Electric Literature; and her fiction in Plantin Magazine, ¡Pájaros, lesbianas y queers, a volar! Anthology, and Aster(ix) Journal. She also works for the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) as a Grant Coordinator. You can find her contemplating by the riverbank, walking her dog, or on Instagram @leyesoy.

Bio Forthcoming

Emanuel 'Manny' Palax Ocampo is a sophomore at Central High School dedicated to youth empowerment, advocacy, and community service. As the Founder and Chair of the Carroll County Youth Board of Commissioners, he leads initiatives that amplify youth voices in local government, growing the board from 11 to 30 members within a month. Emanuel serves on several statewide and national advisory councils—including HealthMPowers, GUIDE Inc., Silence the Shame, and NoFiltr—where he advocates for adolescent well-being, mental health awareness, and digital policy reform. A member of his school’s Mock Trial, and Model United Nations teams, Emanuel demonstrates leadership across civic and academic settings. Recognized for his strong communication skills and ability to connect diverse communities, he has completed over 70 hours of community service and continuously seeks to create meaningful impact. Through his work, Emanuel exemplifies youth leadership grounded in compassion, responsibility, and action.

Garrett Mason, III is a multidisciplinary artist, youth advocate, and community leader based in Atlanta, Georgia. He has collaborated with national youth advocacy initiatives through Point Source Youth, contributing to storytelling projects that center the lived experiences of system-impacted young people and uplift their journeys, access to resources, and future dreams. Garrett has spoken in spaces across the United States about the importance of unrestricted direct cash assistance, drawing from his experience helping co-design and amplify Point Source Youth’s Direct Cash Transfer program and its impact on youth autonomy and stability. Through his work with Southern Legal Center for Youth, he supported expanded access to free legal aid in the South, increasing awareness of young people’s rights and access to affirming legal services such as name change and gender-affirming care. As a ballroom house father, Garrett offers mentorship, care, and resources, cultivating spaces where young people can heal, feel deeply connected, creative, and experience chosen family across both ballroom and everyday life. Across his advocacy and creative practice, he is committed to elevating youth voices, honoring lived experience, and advancing social justice through person-centered leadership and joy.

Jayden Pierrette is a Duke University undergraduate studying Public Policy and Sociology, with strong interests in finance, law, and social impact. They serve as Student Director and Board Member of Echo-NC, a youth entrepreneurship nonprofit focused on expanding economic opportunity and environmental sustainability for young people. Through this role, Jayden designs and leads programming that connects students to mentorship, resources, and real-world entrepreneurial skills. They are also Vice President of Community Affairs for the Public Policy Majors Union, where they work to build inclusive spaces and strengthen student engagement. Jayden previously interned with the City of Atlanta’s Department of Aviation as a Business Diversity and Government Affairs Intern, supporting equity-focused contracting initiatives and public-sector collaboration, and have secured a competitive Compliance internship with BlackRock. Their advocacy is shaped by their identity as a child of Haitian immigrants and their commitment to racial justice and equity-centered policy reform, with a long-term goal of bridging finance, public policy, and community empowerment.

Vik Williamson is an eclectic individual that finds themselves engaged in the enrichment of many unique cultures. He is active in a variety of environments- from competitive bodybuilding and social activism, to musical performance across numerous venues and churches. Lately, he has been called to serve his community as a website developer, assisting small businesses and organizations in magnifying their presence. Vik spent some of his most developmental years in the Gwinnett County Public School System, attending the Collins Hill District from grades 5 through 12. His journey was heavily affected by the opportunities that GCPS provides to be exposed to an expanse of fine arts, cultural exploration, and personal development. He now seeks to aid Georgia's educators with further enhancing this experience and support for LGBTQ students as part of Georgia Safe Schools Coalition Board of Directors.