Special Guests
Marpheen Chann (keynote speaker) is an author, writer, thinker, advocate, and speaker on social justice, equity, and inclusion.
As a gay, first-generation Asian American born in California to a Cambodian refugee family and later adopted by an evangelical, white working-class family in Maine, Marpheen uses a mix of humor and storytelling to help people view topics such as racism, xenophobia, and homophobia through an intersectional lens.
Marpheen Chann works in the nonprofit and advocacy sector and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Maine and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.
Matthew Cumbie (featured performing artist) is a collaborative dancemaker, writer, and artist educator. His artistic research cultivates processes and experiences that are participatory and intergenerational, moving through known and unknown, and bring a poetic lens to a specifically queer experience. His choreography and dancemaking—considered “a blend of risk-taking with reliability, and a combination of uncertainty and wisdom,”—weaves together a physical vocabulary of momentum and clarity, revelatory moments, and a belief in a body’s capacity to meet each moment.
Clarisse Karasira is a superstar Rwandan singer, songwriter, cultural dancer, and poet who now calls Portland, Maine her home. Drawing an international audience, Clarisse has over 30 million views on YouTube. Her hope is to inspire the next generation with music that reflects her quest for peace, compassion, and human dignity. Clarisse rose to fame in 2018, when she released her first song “Gira Neza” which translates to “be kind.” Within a year, she was awarded the title of the Best Female Artist in Rwanda in 2019 and again in 2021.