ITM is thrilled to announce the leaders, essayists & photographers featured in volume 3

(in order of publication)

Midge Thomas & Walter Cooper - April 29, 2024

Midge Thomas, Humanitarian, with essayist, Hawk Martin and photographer Jackie McGriff

Walter Cooper PhD, Regent Emeritus of the state of New York, with essay by Robert Vickers, photographer Adam Eaton

Almeta Whitis & Joe Beard - September 30, 2024

Almeta Whitis, Master Storyteller, Master Teaching Artist, award-winning educator, producer, director, writer, poet, performing artist, dancer/choreographer, licensed ordained Interfaith Minister, and community activist with essayist Gaya R. Shakes EdD and photographer Selena Eyob

Joe Beard, Legendary Blues guitarist and vocalist with essayist Monique Franz and photographer Rudy Fabre

Luvon Sheppard & Stanley Martin - January 27, 2025

Luvon Sheppard, Professor, College of Art & Design Rochester Institute of Technology with essayist Quajay Donnell and photographer Rashaad Parker

Stanley Martin, Rochester City Council Member, and activist with essayist Tianna Mañón and photographer Mecca Starzz

Christopher Coles & Myra Mathis - May 19, 2025

Myra L. Mathis-Uwanogho, MD, Medical Director, Addiction Psychiatry Services Program Director, Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center with essayist Irene Kannyo and photographer Chris Cardwell

Christopher Coles, American Thinker, Sign Language interpreter, Artist, Community organizer, Abolitionist, Activist and Spoken word Poet, with essayist CaTyra Polland and photographs by Dominique Alexandria Simmonds

Arlette Miller Smith & Rev Julius Jackson - September 29, 2025

Arlette Miller Smith PhD, Founding Dean, Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs; Associate Professor of English; Director of African American Studies minor; adjunct inaugural faculty member in the Executive Leadership Doctoral Program at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York; founder-artistic director of AKOMA, Rochester’s African American Women’s gospel choir with essayist Tokeya C. Graham EdD and photographer Erica Jae

Pastor Reverend Julius D. Jackson, Jr. United Church of Pittsford with essayist Rob Bell and photographer Narada Riley