As the child of first generation immigrants from Egypt, Cherine had both the privilege and confusion of growing up on two sides of the planet. In attempting to bridge her disparate worlds and identities, she has devoted her life to developing and facilitating holistic, transformative experiences that bring diverse individuals and communities together in authentic, purposeful exchange. Currently, she serves as Curriculum and Training Coordinator of Generation Waking Up, a youth-serving organization with a mission to ignite a generation of young people to bring forth a thriving, just and sustainable world. In tandem, she works as an independent consultant offering experience design and facilitation to a broad client base. She specializes in diversity, peace building and community development. Highlights of Cherine's past professional experience include working as a writer and journalist in Egypt and the US and serving as a senior trainer for Challenge Day, an innovative peace program featured on the Oprah Winfrey show and MTV. She also served as the Curriculum and Training Director of The Mosaic Project and worked as the Experiential Education Specialist of a transnational floating university, The Scholar Ship. Cherine is a seasoned peace practitioner and recently had the privilege to speak at a UN High Level Forum on The Culture of Peace.

Mariah Lin is from Los Angeles, California and is currently a freshman at Wellesley College. She is a National Youth Leader for Jane Goodall’s youth program, Roots & Shoots, which seeks to encourage young people to make a difference for humans, animals, and the environment by starting in their own local communities. Mariah is the co-founder of Kindling Hope, an organization that establishes educational enrichment summer programs for youth in developing communities to promote sustainable development, access to education, and cultural dialogue. She also serves on the youth board of the OMEGA Global Initiative and hopes to one day serve in public office, giving a voice to underrepresented communities. She enjoys water polo and traveling in her free time.