Dr. Barrow Maignan is a Fulbright Scholar, Social Entrepreneur, Arts Management Consultant and Visual Artist. Her passion and vocation are to realize real social transformation through arts-based socio-economic interventions within high-risk communities. She has worked across the Caribbean, in the US and Africa in cultural programming and as a consultant in the Creative Industries for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), CARICOM and Broward County Florida. She founded Caribbean InTransit in 2010, a non-profit with a volunteer team of more than 33 professionals operating across 13 countries spearheading the production of an open-access peer-reviewed journal, arts festivals, research projects and the This is ME program. The most recent initiative, The Meeting Place Community is a web and mobile application that enables a creative ecosystem created for and by creatives.

Dr. Barrow served as Coordinator for the Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund at a Development Bank. She led a team of four and was responsible for initiating and coordinating programming for the bank’s 19 Borrowing Member Countries including design of programming, managing grantee projects, engagement with a range of stakeholders and mobilizing additional resources for the fund.

Ayesha Edwards earned both her B.A. in Journalism and M.A. in Educational Psychology from New York University. She began her career in Education as a tutor with the City University of New York and later became a Teaching Assistant and Instructor there. Her strong desire to be a part of influencing change at the childhood level propelled her to become a teacher with the New York City Department of Education where she served for 10 years.

During this time, she obtained a Post-Graduate Certificate in Research Methods from the University of Surrey in England as well as her School Building Leader and School District Leader Certificates from the College of Saint Rose in New York. Ms. Edwards transitioned to the Charter model where she served at Cultural Arts Academy Charter School as the Instructional Support Supervisor and Math Specialist for over four years. Thereafter, she served at a large charter network in New York City and most recently at a private boarding school on Long Island.

Ayesha firmly believes that every child has the potential to flourish in an environment that promotes academic success simultaneously with character development and the Arts. She is unwaveringly committed to being a part of the national change that is necessary to boost students’ growth while understanding the importance of parents’ self-efficacy and educators’ development especially in light of the current state of our country. Her vision is to see all people positively contribute to humanity and develop a deeper appreciation for global awareness as we move forward in this advancing technological world. Ayesha is the author of The Reely Rylee series, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her four children, traveling, visiting theme parks, playing board, card & trivia games, and...eating any kind of chocolate and chocolate flavored food. :-)