Jay'Aina "Jay Jay" Patton is an 18-year-old coder, app developer, youth leader and entrepreneur. She's a big fan of anything tech-related and especially loves getting hands-on. Jay'Aina is an advocate for diversity in the tech field and beyond and aspires to make real impact on the world. She also enjoys a multitude of activities such as singing/rapping, dancing, piano and volleyball. Jay Jay is a super goofy, kind-hearted, and overall a very happy girl who loves to keep herself and others smiling.
Antoine Patton was born on an army base in Fort Ord, California. He grew up in rough neighborhoods across Buffalo, New York, and ended up incarcerated at age 20 for eight years. While in prison, he learned to code and taught his daughter after his release. They collaborated to build Photo Patch - an app that allows families to freely send photos to their incarcerated loved ones.
Since coming home from prison, Antoine has become a prolific entrepreneur, software engineer, and published author. In 2018, Antoine launched Unlock Academy, an online learning platform and community to do good. Antoine is the author of From Cages to Stages: How I Used S.T.E.M. to Liberate Me From the Prison Within. He is also an avid investor and the creator of T.Bot - an Algo trading software that automatically trades stocks, crypto and forex instruments.
Antoine resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his partner Gina and their 4 kids.
Kiara Valdez is an Afro-Dominican writer and editor from New York City. She has a love for the color lilac and spends her free time reading, writing, and enjoying a long list of other hobbies she can't keep up with.
Markia Jenai is an African American illustrator from Detroit, Michigan. She works in the realm of historical fiction and nonfiction. Markia has illustrated artwork for middle-grade chapter books such as Lena and the Burning of Greenwood, the picture book The Story of Juneteenth and the graphic novel It's Her Story: Josephine Baker.
