Devin Hursey is a writer and graphic designer, with a passion for telling stories about people living with HIV and public health. Hursey, from Kansas City Missouri, holds dual master’s degrees in public health and strategic communications from the University of Missouri Columbia. In 2019, Hursey was honored as one of the 40 under 40 in public health by de Beaumont, as well as a 2023 Public Health Thought Leader by the Boston Congress of Public Health. His local and state work includes a featured columnist of the Next Page KC, leadership of the Real Justice Network contributing to campaign related to local politics, and board membership of Blaqout KC. Formerly: an appointed member of the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and Viral Hepatitis, and many other roles related to the health and rights of people living with HIV.

Discipline: Crafts

Devine Pua, a Spondylus shell collector, restorer, and carver, was born on Saipan to Chamorro and Carolinian parents. Though born in the Northern Mariana Islands, she spent most of her life in the mainland U.S., growing up primarily in Kent and Vancouver, Washington. Being away from her homeland for so long left her feeling lost and disconnected from her roots.

Discipline: Multidisciplinary

Chef Devynne Fuga Ah-Mai is a community-rooted chef, entrepreneur, and founder of Samoa Food Security, an initiative dedicated to preserving Samoan food traditions while addressing the urgent need for accessible, healthy, and locally grown food. Through her work, she bridges culinary arts with community well-being, hosting food demonstrations, cultural events, and educational programs that uplift local farmers and promote sustainable food systems in American Samoa. Her culinary storytelling highlights the connection between heritage, health, and the environment, making food not just nourishment but also a vehicle for cultural preservation and resilience. As a recipient of the PJAF grant, Chef Fuga continues to champion the intersection of art, food, and culture to strengthen her community’s future.

El Dorado Institute, Inc.

Discipline: Multidisciplinary

Elizabeth Denneau is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and art educator residing in the Sonoran Southwest. She obtained her teaching certificate and BFA in Art and Visual Culture Education through the University of Arizona and her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is a member of the Art21 Educators Institute and works with local community organizers, cultural workers, and colleges to develop practical models of social justice in art education. In her artistic practice, narratives of human perseverance, vulnerability, and power dynamics continually influence her artist. She writes about her experiences being a Black educator and her upbringing in a place where Black people represent less than 3% of the population. She co-founded the Southwest Black Artists Collective and The Projects- art space. Both organizations serve a mission to bring visibility and support to Black creatives.

Elyssa Lim was born in the Philippines and raised in American Samoa. She gives credit to her high school art teacher for giving her the encouragement to pursue art. She is a multidisciplinary artist, ranging from traditional to contemporary art. Lim posts her projects online to share with other creatives. She is currently working on a project that highlights obscure creatures from Filipino legends. As a Teacher, Lim hosted a mini art show to highlight young artists and hopes to make it an annual event for the community.  She believes art and storytelling are the foundations of human culture.

Director of Community Engagment, Grand Opera House, Inc.

My name is Emari Vieira-Gunn. I have been working in the education and arts fields for the past four years, and was most recently appointed to the position of Director of Community Engagement for the Grand Opera House, Inc. I am a lifelong Delaware resident and my commitment to creating change through the arts/ed and bettering existing programming within my organization, is my main area of focus. I have a passion for enriching the Delaware community and beyond, with engaging, impactful and enriching educational arts programming.

Discipline: Theatre

Curator and Creative Consultant, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum

Fabiola (or just Fa) is a Venezuelan Human Rights Lawyer who turned her career around and wears many hats as an independent curator, creative consultant, writer, and performer. A former Amnesty International Regional Manager in her native country, her activism proved too dangerous, forcing her to move to the United States where she currently seeks political asylum and dedicates herself to finding justice through artistic and cultural expressions. Recognizing storytelling as the essence of her practice, she strives for thought-provoking and imaginative projects that highlight different perspectives, ignored, and forgotten stories.
She’s a co-founder of KAMA DC, a community-building platform for immigrant-led cultural experiences, and a member of the Curatorial Selection Committee of the GLB Memorial Fund for the Arts, an annual award supporting womxn artists and curators in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Fabiola has worked with the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Asian Art, Anacostia Community Museum, The Embassy of Venezuela, The Embassy of Spain, Washington Project for the Arts, Times Square Arts, The Center for Book Arts NYC, The Brooklyn Museum, MacArthur Fellow Mel Chin, The FUNDRED Project, S.O.U.R.C.E. Studio, and more.