Josephine Hall is an elementary level English as a New Language teacher. She has dedicated her career to teaching English Language Arts to students whose first language is not English. Josephine is a graduate of Hofstra University with a M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and The Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in Psychology. She is the mother of 3 beautiful children, Peyton, Dylan and Brian. She is a Co-Founder of We are Just Write.
 

Josephine is a member of Jack and Jill of America Inc., Suffolk County chapter, as well as a member of the Women's Diversity Network and was Chair of the WDN Youth Council. As Chair, she worked with a group of ambitious young teens to create and facilitate workshops at the inaugural Women's Diversity Summit in 2018. She continues to work with the Youth Council to provide young adults with a safe space for social interaction, self-discovery, and civil discourse about social issues that directly impact their development. It is through this work and teaching, that Josephine understands the asset students are to their own development.
 

Josephine loves those moments when students grasp difficult concepts or learn something new. Their curiosity drives her instruction whether they are learning in person or virtually. She believes we must actively engage in listening to and learning from our youth. Through her life's work as a teacher and a member of various organizations, Josie hopes to continue her work in guiding our youth to connect to their individual selves thereby increasing their self-worth. When students are empowered with self-worth, they recognize their contributions to their families and communities, and ultimately to the world.
 

Andrea Wayne is the mother of a teenage boy, an elementary school special education teacher, and the co-founder of We Are Just Write. Her passion for teaching dates back to the 3rd grade, when she answered the writing prompt,"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Intuitively, Andrea picked up her pencil and wrote the words that would shape her career. I want to be a teacher.
 

From there, Ms. Wayne took her 3rd grade dream and made it into a reality. She earned both a B.S. and an M.A. in Elementary Education, from St. Joseph's College and Brooklyn College, respectively, Andrea graduated with dual certification in Early Childhood and Special Education in New York State. Since then, she has put her dream, her degrees, and her certifications to work in many roles. Andrea has taught in self-contained and inclusion classrooms in every grade from K to 5. Additionally, Andrea gained experience in early childhood settings as a teacher for autistic and emotionally disturbed preschool students. Currently, Andrea works as a special education teacher on Long Island.
 

Andrea's educational philosophy is twofold. First, children need to become creative thinkers and problem solvers. Second, educators can help them to reach this goal by providing the opportunities and tools to examine and investigate the world around them. To the depth of her being, Andrea believes that it is education that allows children to be powerful contributors and legacy-builders in their communities.

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Ariana Levin is a dynamic social justice advocate and political strategist from Long Island who made history at just 16 by organizing her community’s inaugural Juneteenth March in 2020, followed by a second march in 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Spelman College, where she focused on the intersection of race, gender, and public policy, deepening her commitment to building equity-centered movements.
 

Now based in Seattle, Ariana works in political consulting, with experience in campaign strategy, digital communications, and coalition building. From the campaign trail to the Capitol, she has helped amplify underrepresented voices and support leaders who reflect the communities they serve.
 

Ariana has served as a political correspondent, representing young Democratic voices on platforms like NewsNation and Revolt TV, and has contributed to Girls United by Essence Magazine, highlighting the importance of youth engagement in politics. She also interned at the Georgia State Capitol under State Representative Tanya Miller, advocating for social justice and legislative reform.
 

A former Youth Justice Chair for the Women’s Diversity Network and a Black Student Leadership Network Fellow with the Children’s Defense Fund, Ariana brings a strong foundation in grassroots organizing and a passion for public service. She remains committed to advancing social change through strategic advocacy, leadership, and community-driven impact.

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Kate Howlett is the Youth Justice Leadership Program Coordinator and Assistant Director of the Women's Diversity Network. A nonprofit professional with more than two decades of experience, she has worked across administration, fundraising, development, communications, and project management, raising awareness and resources for institutions of higher education, social service agencies, and grassroots advocacy organizations.
 

For the past four years, Kate has coordinated and facilitated the Women’s Diversity Network’s Youth Justice Leadership Program, guiding and uplifting young leaders as they develop the skills to advocate for equity and justice. As a mother of two young teens, she believes deeply in the power of youth voices to drive meaningful change and is committed to creating spaces where young people are heard, valued, and empowered.

Kate earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in art history and social history from Stony Brook University. She resides in Rocky Point, NY with her husband and two children.