Co-founder, Ode
Washington DC, United States

Community: Coming Home through Adopted Families

Edwin Zhao is committed to a future in which collaboration and dissent are both grounded in deep human connection. He is a coach and facilitator who brings together diverse groups to study the fundamental gestures of being-in-relationship; embodiment, breathing, listening, observation without judgment, requests, and so forth. He is also co-founder of Ode, a startup bringing curious, unagenda-ed listening to healthcare spaces and studying its effects on patient experience, medical decision-making, and health worker burnout.

AGMeneses Consulting/Founder
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Community: Democracy and Belonging in Cities

Agnes has over 25 years in the nonprofit sector, understanding the relationships among funders, grantees, and communities. She promotes learning and dialogue to foster understanding of shared humanity. By applying bridging principles, she helps strengthen relationships vital to systems change. Agnes prioritizes self-reflection and collective sensemaking to build community amidst complexity. Through her consulting practice, she provides strategic advisory services to nonprofits and foundations focused on systems change and deep equity. She facilitates healing circles for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s initiative and coaches grassroots leaders. Previously, she was Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Chicago Foundation for Women and Senior Program Officer at Alphawood Foundation.

Rialta, Event Organizer and Writer
Mexico City, Mexico

Hilda Landrove is a Cuban researcher, essayist, and cultural promoter based in Mexico. She has been dedicated for years to social and cultural entrepreneurship, and more recently to academic research in political anthropology. She holds a PhD in Mesoamerican Studies from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Her main lines of research include political action in closed contexts, political movements of Amerindian peoples, and the dynamics of power and counter-power through narrative disputes in the public sphere. She is a professor at the Tecnológico de Monterrey (Querétaro campus). She hosts and coordinates the podcast Caminero.

Innovative Collaboration and Engagement Strategist 
Houston, Texas, United States

Community: Common Ground Collective

David A. Brown is a leader with over 20 years of experience in community engagement and equality advocacy. His journey, shaped by overcoming homelessness at 14, informs his commitment to inclusiveness across diverse communities. As the Innovative Collaboration and Engagement Specialist at the Houston Food Bank, he spearheads initiatives like the Dining with Purpose program, which fosters dialogue and advocates for systemic change. Previously, he founded Spacetaker, empowering artists and encouraging collaboration. An award-winning photographer and entrepreneur, David has worked with brands such as Microsoft and Whole Foods Market, utilizing his skills in strategic planning and visual storytelling. He incorporates Yogic and Taoist principles into his work, focusing on balance and mindfulness. David believes that success is found in the relationships we build and the impact we make, reflecting his dedication to bridging divides and nurturing collaboration through inclusive practices.

Project and Community Manager at Life Itself in Bergerac ; French Teacher at Les Ricochets Middle School
Thiviers, France

Community: Les gouters historiques de Chalais (The Historical Gatherings of Chalais)

alexandra georges-picot is an oral historian and radio journalist specializing in the French rural landscape, with a deep passion for the intersection of storytelling and belonging. In 2021-2022, she led an 8-month pilot project in Brittany focused on intergenerational knowledge sharing and storytelling for the town hall of Port-Launay. Through individual encounters, thematic events, community conversations and inclusive content creation, she facilitated connections across generations, social classes, and political affiliations, fostering a growing sense of belonging to a shared territory. alexandra has also organized collective memory events in elderly homes across Brittany and researched the roots of political fragmentation linked to the evolution of modern agriculture at the University of Oxford. With eight years of experience living in community with diverse individuals, she is skilled in forum theatre, non-violent communication, and trauma-informed practices. 

Co-founder of Community Café La Guinguette du Touroulet and Local Non-profit Le Cocon des Canailles
Thiviers, France

Community:  Les gouters historiques de Chalais (The Historical Gatherings of Chalais)

Xavier Arrateig has extensive experience in community building and bridging practices. He co-founded an association focused on ecological education, organizing monthly sessions that promoted environmental awareness and reconnecting people to ecological principles.  Xavier also initiated Le Jardin des Dingues, a self-managed, participatory festival where attendees contribute to all aspects of the event—food, camping, culture, logistics—creating an immersive environment that fosters connection and collaboration among diverse individuals. Additionally, Xavier co-founded Le Cocon des Canailles, which includes La Guinguette du Touroulet, a community café serving as a local empowerment hub. Through workshops on non-violent communication, conflict resolution, and theater in schools, he creates opportunities for people to work together, build trust, and strengthen their sense of belonging.