Armon Alex is a Science Communications and Marketing Strategist who partners with small businesses, non-profit organizations, executives and solopreneurs to grow their personal and professional brands through social media management and professional conference speaking. Spending nearly half a decade working in public relations, youth outreach, various communication-based settings and marketing for small businesses, Armon knows what truly yields great conversations that result in effective development of people and organization brands. Armon has great ties to the Texas State Aquarium where he was an interpretation guide through their Guest Services department, student volunteer from high school to college, and an HR Intern for their Youth “Aquateen” Program focusing on social media coordinating.

Akhila Bandlora, a junior at BASIS Phoenix, has been awarded twenty-six times regionally through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, where she serves as co-founder and co-president of the local affiliate, Creative Youth of Arizona LLC. A recipient of fromthebowseat’s 2017 Gold Award for poetry, Akhila believes one of the most effective ways young people can get involved in their community and begin discussions is through art. To that end, she serves as Art director for her local chapter of Zero Hour, a youth-run climate justice organization, and similarly, was on the organizing board for her local youth climate strike. Ultimately, she hopes her artivism conveys the necessity of climate justice and furthers action amongst communities.

Hayley Charlton-Howard is an 18-year-old Science student at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Here she is hoping to major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, with a side focus of Zoology and Environmental Politics and Management. Living near Port Phillip Bay for most of her life, Hayley developed a passion for marine biology and environmental conservation from a very young age, which has shaped much of her world view. Always seeking to make a difference in global environmental conservation, she has travelled to the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia to kickstart a grassroots turtle conservation program. Her passions also lead her to the Youth at the Zoo program in Melbourne, where she has helped conservation campaigns and education programs, and was chosen to present at the annual Zoos Victoria ‘Hall of Fame’ gala awards evening.