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Mitali Perkins was born in India and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 6 years old. She is the author of two novels, as well as many short stories and essays about life between cultures.

Adrienne van der Valk began her career in social work, advocating for homeless and runaway youth and survivors of sexual violence. Her graduate studies led her to political science and journalism, and she has been using her editorial skills in a variety of social justice settings ever since. She served as deputy director for Teaching Tolerance for many years before moving on to become the communications director for the Center for Genetics and Society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Grinnell College and master’s degrees in political science and magazine journalism from the

Sumant Bhat became head of the middle school at St. Anne’s Episcopal School—a PS-8 school in Denver, Colorado—in 2014. In addition to his work on curriculum and programming, he leads diversity training and growth for all faculty and staff and the school’s Multiculturalism and Inclusion Committee. Prior to St. Anne’s, Sumant worked at three other independent schools as a teacher, advisor, coach, department chair, dean of middle school, international trip coordinator and admissions staff member. Sumant holds a B.A. in economics and psychology from Williams College and an M.A. in educational

Maureen Costello, retired director of Teaching Tolerance, has been a teacher and educational leader for over 40 years. Before joining the Southern Poverty Law Center, Costello worked for Scholastic, Inc. and directed the Newsweek Education Program. She began her career as a history and economics teacher at Notre Dame Academy High School in Staten Island. Throughout her career, Costello has been committed to fostering the ideals of democracy and citizenship in young people. She is a graduate of the New School University and the New York University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. In

Aimee Young teaches in rural Ohio. She has studied in Poland and Israel, was awarded a teaching fellowship through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and earned the prestigious DisneyHAND American Teacher Award, given to just 38 teachers in the nation in 2004.

Marilyn Elias, a Los Angeles journalist, is a frequent contributor to publications of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Her work has been honored with awards from the American Psychological Assn., the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Council on Contemporary Families and Mental Health America.

Joel Baum is the Senior Director of Professional Development at Gender Spectrum, a leading national nonprofit dedicated to gender understanding for all children and youth. Joel has worked as an educator focused on issues of social justice and equity for over 30 years.

Cory is an author and journalist and a former senior writer for Learning for Justice. He has experience in both the newsroom—as a former sports journalist—and the classroom, where he has provided reading intervention and tutoring for K–6 students from rural Kentucky to Charlotte, North Carolina.