Habib Alhassan Tata
Habib has studied art since 1990 and has for two decades fought to develop his craft and proceeded with that zeal after pinching and saving money for several years so he could finally become a professional artist attending Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) where he graduated as a freelance artist in 2009, he is currently a married man looking to show the world his talent.

Zachary Sasim
Born in Omsk, Former Soviet Union into a multi-ethnical family of artists, Zachary Sasim (formerly known by Zakhar) has considered himself a painter most of his life. While working professionally for the last 12 years in Bulgaria, he gradually crafted a unique impressionistic style that is marked by wild and passionate play of colors and is created by the mixture of brush strokes and palette knife technique. Zachary calls his style Turbopolis, stemming from his fondness of the city (polis) architecture and the use of bright and dynamic images (turbo). Having moved to the United States from Bulgaria in 2004, Zachary has earned the recognition and the respect of the Washington DC community while working at Eastern Market for the last 5 years. His bright and colorful paintings depicting local and foreign cityscapes have found homes not only in numerous residential houses around the city, but also in the federal government buildings on Capitol Hill. Several United States senators and congressmen are among Zachary's patrons.

Jeremey Tripp
Jeremey has been an integral part of Leadership Initiatives since its inception. During this time he has worked in almost every aspect of the organization leading to his current role as Webmaster. Jeremey brings with him media skills developed while working in promotions for Independence Air, as website designer of HOBY's Washington DC chapter and through ongoing work as a professional photographer. Having grown up with LI founder Marshall Bailly, Jeremey is passionate about LI's commitment to transforming today's youth into the leaders of tomorrow.

Jo Ann Marie
Marie is a visual arts teacher in the South Haven Schools in Michigan, where she has served the community for 37 years. She believes art reaches the great diversity of human beings through works that express and speak to the important qualities that give our lives meaning - family, nature, education, diversity, and creativity.

Nasir Ahmad Muhammad
Nasir studied Human Resources management in school, he also started painting as a hobby from his child hood. He lost his parents when he was young so painting became a way of getting income to support himself through school. Presently he is working for a better life through art for him and his family.

Whitney Derber
An abominable memory and a deeply rooted love for intrepid travel led Whitney to take up photography. Framing the context, culture and subtleties of travel through frames became a hobby that soon began to fuel and fund further adventures. Whitney is living and working in Vancouver, British Columbia while she plots her next escape.

Kabiru Ahmed
Kabiru began life trying to paint and formed a great bond with his younger brother working to pay for family needs through their art. Always working to outdo one another the Amed brothers have developed and honed t heir skills due to their competitive spirits from the amateur stage until Kabiru finding his dream realized as a professional artist. Kabiru is married with a loving and growing family.

James Macariello
A picture says a thousand words and the sensibilities and predilection of an artist reflected within their expression is backed by a lifetime of experience. My artistic expression is what I do for a living, so allow me to work backward a moment and share some of my perspective and how I hope this would be reflected within my work. I gained a truly invaluable viewpoint on life from my mother, who raised me by herself. I learned early, much about sacrifice, need, joy, heartache and a love that knows no limit.