Born in deaf due to a tumor, Baylen Payne later gained his hearing through surgery but remains involved in his local Deaf community. Baylen is pursuing a biological sciences degree at Southeastern Louisiana University and plans to work a career in coastal ecology focusing on reptiles and coastal restoration.

Kelsey Price is a Louisiana based artist wishing to share the joy of connection with the world. Drawing from mostly self-teaching and a love for biology, they explore the beauty and freedom of seeing importance in every living thing around us.

Mariah is a Louisiana-born poet living in Portland, OR whose work explores loss, spirituality, identity, and the hope that appears through change. Her writing is shaped by experiences, weaving together personal reflection with images drawn from the landscapes and communities that have defined her life. She believes that her work can put words to the complex emotions that we share but are too afraid to speak on, and she hopes that people from all walks of life can find personal meaning in her poems. When she’s not writing, she is dedicated to compassionate service, spirituality, and discovering new ways to explore joy.