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500 Pens is a coalition of writers and photographers who believe in the power of stories to help us learn from and better understand one another and to serve as a reminder that there is more that unites us than divides us. Their project began in November 2016 when their founder approached the Southern Poverty Law Center and volunteered to help cover news related to social justice, advocacy and anti-bias programs. Hoping to gather a handful of writers to help, she posted on Facebook. In a few days, more than 500 writers responded. Soon, the project was expanded to include more storytellers and

Shamari Reid, Ed.D. (he/him), is an assistant professor of teaching and learning at New York University. He has taught Spanish, English as a new language, and ELA at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels in Oklahoma, New York, Uruguay, and Spain. He is the creator and host of the podcast Water for Teachers. Shamari is also the author of the book Humans Who Teach: A Guide for Centering Love, Justice, and Liberation in Schools. As a scholar–educator, Shamari’s work centers love as a moral imperative in social justice education and as a path toward culturally sustaining school

Gloria Ladson-Billings is the Kellner Family Professor of Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin. She is credited with coining the term "culturally responsive pedagogy," and is one of the leaders in the field of culturally relevant teaching. Her book, The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children, offers a close look at the qualities to be found in teachers whose African American students achieve academic success. She is a past president of the American Educational Research Association. Among her accomplishments as AERA president was a presidential address that

Scott Hirschfeld is the director of education for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, where he manages the development of global learning resources and programs. Prior to joining U.S. Fund, Scott was director of curriculum for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and director of education for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), two of the leading U.S. NGOs working to end discrimination and promote social justice in schools and communities. Before working in the nonprofit sector, Scott was a classroom teacher and staff developer in the New York City public school system for 13 years