Team Teen: Cassidy Austin Merlino is a youth advocate for environmental justice and human rights and feels it is important to share her story on how she’s gotten to where she is today and the aspects of her life that continue to influence her activism. She believes storytelling can make communities strong and create everlasting connections among people of all backgrounds.

Team 20: Melanie Leydon believes that storytelling is the most powerful and impactful thing anyone can do to shift minds, ideas and people. She has had the opportunity to share her story in front of different audiences in Alaska and loves how storytelling creates a sense of belonging. Melanie is the director of development for YMCA Alaska.

Team 30: Kenzie Snyderman loves words and the potential stories have, especially the ones we tell ourselves, to create the life that we want to live. Her self-love vitamins include writing things, playing with artists, basking in gratitude, and dancing in the shower.