Megy Karydes is a journalist based in Chicago, United States of America. Her byline has appeared in USA Today, Fortune, Forbes, Rodale's Organic Life, National Geographic's The Plate, The Atlantic's CityLab, Sierra, Midwest Living magazine, Travel + Leisure, Chicago Tribune, among others.

Kulsoom Khan is a multimedia journalist based in the Greater Chicago area in the U.S. Kulsoom has worked with the Chicago Tribune, AFP TV, Voice of America and China Radio International. She has over 10 years experience in print, digital, and broadcast platforms in both local and national newsrooms Read morein Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington D.C. 

Among other news outlets, she has also worked for the Times Leader, PBS Newshour, MSNBC, and the Associated Press assisting with election coverage for the 2016 presidential primaries and general election, the 2018 midterms, and the 2020 primaries and general election. Kulsoom also served as a research assistant for  “The Voice of America: Lowell Thomas and the Invention of 20th-Century Journalism”,  a biography and winner of the 2018 Sperber Prize.

In 2014, she reported on the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombings from Boston and the growing Latino community in New Orleans as part of a special project sponsored by New York University’s Reporting The Nation graduate program.

Kulsoom is specifically interested in how politics and international conflicts affect people as well as human rights, terrorism and immigrant communities. Regardless of the medium or the topic, storytelling is an art and she hopes to do it justice through her endeavors.

Cindy Martin is a video and print journalist based in Los Angeles, United States of America. Among some of the companies she works for includes Sky News and the Associated Press Television Network (APTN), focusing on video. She's a Producer, Reporter, and Shooter/DP. She's previously been staff at Read moreReuters and Getty Images as well as worked for ABC News, CBS News, JN1 and AJ+.

Renata Sago is a seasoned journalist based in the United States. Known for her diverse portfolio that emphasizes social issues, Renata has a particular focus on the African American community and the concept of aging well. Her adeptness at gathering audio through various means, including tape syncs,Read more vox pops, and live interviews, complements her strong editing skills, allowing her to craft compelling stories that resonate with her audience.

Renata's work has been featured in collaborations with notable organizations such as AARP and Word In Black, contributing to impactful series like 'Happy Aging' and 'The Financial Journey'. She has explored the transformative experience of travel and relocation for Black Americans, shedding light on historical movements and contemporary trends towards destinations like Atlanta, Ghana, and South Africa. Her reporting also extends to critical topics such as financial education, the benefits of lifelong learning for seniors, and the therapeutic role of animals in improving human cognitive functions.

Beyond her features, Renata has tackled the political landscape, including the significance of 'The Villages' in Florida primaries and the restoration of civil rights for ex-felons in Florida. Her coverage of the Orlando nightclub shooting showcases her ability to handle breaking news with sensitivity, addressing its impact on communities such as the LGBT community. Renata's articles are not only informative but also empathetic, often providing practical advice and capturing the human stories behind the headlines. Her dedication to issues like health equity, homeownership disparities, and the growth of Black women entrepreneurs highlights her commitment to journalism that informs, engages, and makes a difference.

Ari Bendersky is a Chicago-based lifestyle journalist specializing in food, wine, music and travel and is the author of "1000 Food & Art Styling Ideas,” a coffee table book highlighting beautiful food photography. Ari, the former founding editor of Eater Chicago, has been writing for 20+ years and Read morehis work has appeared in the New York Times, WSJ magazine, Associated Press, Men's Journal, Wine Enthusiast, Departures, RollingStone.com, Chicago magazine, Liquor.com, Huffington Post and many more publications. He also produces lifestyle videos for a Chicago real estate company.

Expert reporter and writer. Big picture thinker. Detailed storyteller. Dawn Reiss is a Chicago-based reporter who has written for The New York Times, TIME, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, AFAR, Trave + Leisure, Plate magazine, Civil Eats, Fortune.com, Crain's Chicago Business, Read moreChicago magazine, Reuters and more.

Patricia Trebe is a journalist based in Homer Glen, IL, United States.

I have more than 15-years experience in journalism with extensive experience in copywriting, proposal writing and not-for-profit communication pieces.

Wayne McLaughlin is a journalist based in Chicago, United States of America.
His focus areas are Politics, Culture, Environment and Religion
Wayne has been around quite a long time (he refuses to say how long) and has seen everything at least twice.  He keeps looking under the sun for something Read morenew.

Omar Perez is a journalist based in Chicago, United States of America.

Samantha Lande is a journalist based in Chicago, United States of America.