Nadia West is a Baltimore native who aims to serve her community. She graduated from Towson University with a B.A in Family and Human Services. Since then, she has worked in non-profit, medical systems and volunteered throughout the world. Her empathetic nature helps her to excel in group facilitation and relationship building. Nadia's passion is seen through her role as a Full Spectrum Doula that advocates for maternal health rights. Nadia has been part of Empact's board since its inception, and can be found at workshops either playing with children, engaging in meaningful conversations or spearheading the cleanup!

Steven Mirsky leads the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory at the USDA Agricultural Research Service. For over 25 years, he has advanced sustainable and precision agriculture for field crop producers. Most recently, he launched the Digital Agricultural Systems Hub (DASH), USDA’s enterprise platform for developing computer vision and AI solutions deployed by plant scientists, breeders, and farmers.

In his spare time, he is a supports a Empact Art with large scale installations and just about whatever else Ali asks him to do.

IKirk Shannon-Butts is an award-winning Filmmaker, Writer, and Contemporary Art Curator.  He was the Manager and Curator of The Gallery in Baltimore City Hall and the Public Art and Senior Curator for the Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts (BOPA) where he served as the curatorial director of the Bromo Arts Tower, School 33 Art Center, Top of the World, and Artscape. His curatorial practice advocates, showcases, championings, and provides a platform for emerging and under-represented talent to express their vision and voice.

He holds a BA in Marketing/Arts Management from The American College and an MFA in Film/TV Production from Chapman University. He resides in Baltimore City.

Erin Birckhead is a Senior Manager with SC&H Group’s Audit practice and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) with more than 15 years of experience in System and Organization Controls (SOC) audits, financial audits, employee benefit plan audits, and internal audits. As an integral part of the team, Erin provides strategic guidance and expert execution to make sure clients have robust control environments while ensuring compliance with AICPA standards across a multitude of industries. In addition, she is a member of the firm’s DE&I Committee and known as the office baker. She volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House and participates in the firm’s annual Day of Service. She is a mom to 2 cats (Dobby and Elphaba) and is an overall animal lover.

She holds a BS in Accounting from Morgan State University

Rachel Savage (she/her) currently serves as the Foundation and Government Relations Manager at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), supporting the Museum's efforts to fund groundbreaking exhibitions, dynamic programs, and free admission for all through a variety of institutional sources. Prior to joining the BMA, Rachel participated in the Emerging Professionals Program at Glenstone, where she engaged daily with visitors while gaining valuable experience in numerous museum departments. She holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from the College of William & Mary and lives in Baltimore City.

Rosana Azar is an abstract surrealist painter, educator and been creating community collaborative art works. She is the Executive Director of Creative Adventures, a non-profit art education program active in 25 Montgomery County, Maryland elementary schools.

Rosana has worked with Ali for over 15, including a mural project in Tanzania where they created with 600 elementary students.

Originally from Argentina, Rosana immigrated to the US in the 1990s. She is an internationally renowned artist  with shows in Argentina, United States, Paris, Berlin, Prague and Lisbon.   www.rosanaazar.com