Dr. Clare Warner

Dr Clare Warner (she/her) was born and grew up in Hamilton. She is a lifelong learner, educator, and unapologetic advocate for equity and anti-racism—especially in systems that weren’t built with all of us in mind. Clare has worked across the education sector as a teacher, teacher trainer and consultant. She is currently the inaugural director of equity, inclusion and anti-racism in Student Affairs at McMaster as well as co-founder of  Colourful Conversations, an anti-racism reading group for women in Hamilton.

Ainara Alleyne

Ainara Alleyne is a 16-year-old nationally recognized literacy advocate, media host, and community leader whose work uplifts diverse voices in children’s literature. The creator and co-producer of the TVOkids series Ainara’s Bookshelf, she spotlights stories by underrepresented authors and engages young readers through class visits, teacher seminars, book reviews, author interviews, and her curriculum-aligned Ainara’s Book Club. Her advocacy has been featured in The New York Times, CBC’s The National, CTV, and CBC Kids News, where she contributes reporting for young audiences. At age 11, she served as Hamilton Public Library’s first Junior Librarian-in-Residence, curating booklists and leading conversations about representation in reading spaces. A sought-after speaker, Ainara has hosted major literary events including the Forest of Reading Festival, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards, The FOLD, and Telling Tales. Her work centers the belief that inclusive storytelling fosters empathy, belonging, and the power for young people to see themselves reflected in the world.

Iman Mohamed

Iman Mohamed is a writer, community advocate, and systems-builder whose work sits at the intersection of justice, storytelling, and social change. With years of experience supporting marginalized communities, shaping anti-hate initiatives, and designing trauma-informed programs, she brings a human-centered perspective to complex issues of identity and power. Her debut novel, The Post I Never Made, draws on her professional and personal experiences to explore the emotional, digital, and social forces that shape who we become. Iman’s writing is honest, provocative, and deeply human.

Dejehan Hamilton

Dejehan Hamilton is an award-winning speaker, author, recording artist, and community leader whose work bridges culture, creativity, and social impact. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, he is the Founder and Executive Director of the Tune In Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers youth through music, leadership, and cultural education. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Music Business/Management, Dejehan blends artistic vision with practical strategy, using storytelling and the arts to foster conversations about identity, belonging, resilience, and equity. He is also the author of I Make Money Moves, a financial literacy book and program designed to help young people build confidence with money, mindset, and decision-making. 

Felicia Rose Chavrez

Felicia Rose Chavez is an award-winning educator and author whose work focuses on equity, creativity, and anti-racist pedagogy. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Iowa and is co-editor of The BreakBeat Poets: LatiNEXT. Felicia began her career in Chicago as Program Director for Young Chicago Authors and founder of the feminist webzine GirlSpeak. She has taught at the University of New Mexico, the University of Iowa, and Colorado College, earning multiple teaching and fellowship honors. Her book, The Anti-Racist Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom, provides practical tools for fostering inclusivity and representation in educational spaces.

Fazeela Jiwa

Fazeela Jiwa is an acquisitions and development editor at Fernwood Publishing, an independent press known for its commitment to critical thinking and socially engaged scholarship. She plays a key role in shaping manuscripts from concept to publication, supporting authors whose work challenges dominant narratives. In 2023, she was recognized by Editors Canada with the Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence, one of the country’s most prestigious editing honours. Fazeela is also a writer- a craft she admits is even more challenging.

Ken Daley

Ken Daley is an award-winning illustrator whose work celebrates his African-Caribbean heritage. Born in Canada to parents from Dominica, Ken draws deep inspiration from ancestral memory, cultural storytelling, and the visual traditions of the Caribbean diaspora. His illustrations blend bold colour, emotional warmth, and expressive detail, bringing to life stories that honour identity, community, and the richness of Black and Afro-Caribbean experiences. Ken is the illustrator of several acclaimed children’s books, including Granny’s Kitchen by Sadé Smith, Joseph’s Big Ride by Terry Farish, and Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings by Francie Latour. His artwork has been exhibited across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean, and is included in numerous public and private collections.

Suzanne Kemenang

Suzanne Kemenang est éditrice, auteure, conférencière et entrepreneure. Détentrice d’un diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées (DESS) en édition obtenu à l’Université de Sherbrooke, Suzanne Kemenang fonde en 2018 les Éditions Terre d’Accueil, une maison d’édition basée dans la Grande région de Toronto et qui publie les œuvres d’auteurs immigrants au Canada. Elle est l’auteure du récit historique Les visages de la francophonie – Région de Durham (Éditions Terre d’Accueil, Oshawa, 2020) et a participé au recueil de poésie Lieux-dits (Éditions Prise de parole, Sudbury, 2023). Suzanne agit aussi à titre de consultante en édition avec son entreprise Suzanne-K Inc.

Akousa Joy Brown 

Akosua Joy Brown, a long-time publishing professional, developmental editor, and founder of What’s Your Story—Author Services here in Hamilton. With over 25 years of experience across academic, educational, and literary publishing, Akosua has dedicated her career to helping writers bring meaningful, transformative stories into the world. She is a best-selling author, a Silver Birch–nominated children’s writer, and a creative facilitator known for building spaces where authors feel safe, seen, celebrated, and supported. Akosua’s work is deeply rooted in amplifying diverse voices—particularly BIPOC writers, newcomers, and neurodivergent storytellers—and in challenging the systems that shape whose stories get told, published, and heard. At the heart of her practice is a decolonized, trauma-informed approach to storytelling that empowers people to share their lived experiences with clarity and courage.

Orly Zebak 

Orly Zebak is the editor-in-chief of Parchment: Contemporary Canadian Jewish Writing, the managing editor of Brick, A Literary Journal, and cofounder of Niv magazine. When she isn’t making magazines she writes and performs stand-up comedy.