Kia Darling-Hammond (she/her) holds a doctorate in developmental and psychological sciences in education, is author of the Bridge to Thriving Framework ©, and co-author of The Civil Rights Road to Deeper Learning: Five Essentials for Equity . As CEO of the research and education firm Wise Chipmunk LLC, she leverages more than 25 years of experience in youth development, education, and organizational leadership to offer healing-centered research, advising, coaching, counseling, and public speaking, as well as designs for professional learning, curriculum development, and organizational growth. Darling-Hammond's work emphasizes the importance of combining the science of learning and development with healing justice and transformative justice to promote an evolution toward thriving for all. This approach is grounded in the knowledge that innovation driven by the wisdom of those furthest from power is key to improving everyone's lives. In addition to her books, she has published work in Equity and Excellence in Education, Liberal Education, Nonprofit Quarterly, and the Lancet. She serves as a member of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman's Black Mental Health Brain Trust, is a contributing scholar and advisor to the Sports Equity Lab at Yale, and sits on the Wild Seed Liberation Land Board of Directors. Bre Evans-Santiago is an award-winner author, Chair, and Associate Professor in the Teacher Education Department at California State University, Bakersfield. Her research focuses on culturally-sustaining pedagogy and practices in TK-8 schools.
Dr. Evans-Santiago also has research experience in improvement science as it relates to Residencies and educational programs. Her current research projects include, but are not limited to, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color issues in education as well as intersectionalities connected to Queer People of Color. Dr. Evans-Santiago is also the Co-Director for the Center for Transformational Educator Preparation Programs where she leads and supports CSU campuses to recruit, prepare and retain teachers of color across California. Her award-winning book Mistakes We Have Made: Implications for Social Justice Educators (Myers Education Press, 2020) provides a vulnerable perspective of everyday scenarios and strategies for teachers of all ages to reflect upon while teaching with a social justice framework. Her accolades include 2022-23 Faculty Leadership and Service Award, 2023 Unity Award, and the 2022 Administrator of the year award for Professor of Education.