With over 10 years in the education field, Kai Butler holds a B.A. in English from Old Dominion University. She taught as an English teacher, but after three years, she saw the need to deepen her theory and practice for helping inner city youth in the areas of social-emotional and academic support, as well as career exploration. She obtained her Master's in School Counseling from Howard University in 2011.

She has served as a school counselor in the middle and high school sector in New York and Richmond, VA, including Henrico County Public Schools as Director of School Counseling at The Academy at Virginia Randolph and currently at Varina High School. Serving the underdog and those forgotten is her true passion and she relishes the opportunity to connect real-life practicality with her approach. She is certified in trauma-informed care and restorative practices, with which she will infuse the program.

Today, she is the Executive and Founder of Work of Art, a local nonprofit designed to empower girls 13-18 from underserved communities, focusing specifically on Black youth. The mission of the program is built on three beliefs: lead by example, inspire others, and connect the world through volunteerism and other enriching experiences. She also serves as a trainer for United Way of Greater Richmond, where she trains other organizations using The Weikart Center's Youth for Program Quality. What she enjoys most about her current positions is the ability to assist youth in reaching their unique potential and seeing the determined spark in their eyes. In her spare time, Kai enjoys dancing, hot yoga, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog Paris Rose.

Instagram: @kai_thecounselor and @workofartrva
Website: www.workofartrva.org

Lesley St. James is the author of The Jill Cooksey Mysteries, a cozy mystery series about a public relations professional whose clients never fail to misbehave but whose friends always have her back. In 2020, Lesley's first novel, The Sweet Scent of Death, won Richmond Magazine and James River Writers' Best Unpublished Novel Contest. Lesley then started her own indie publishing business, Madcap Mystery, and released the novel to the world, along with the sequel, Death of a Dolly Waggler. The third Jill Cooksey mystery, Cruising Toward Death, is expected in August of 2022. Lesley began her career in film and television before moving to public relations and then to education. A devoted, lifelong reader of mysteries, she always knew the kind of books she would write. She graduated from Mary Washington College with a degree in English and French literature and went on to study film at Georgia State University. When she’s not writing or teaching writing, Lesley enjoys traveling, movies, and genealogy. She resides in Mechanicsville with her husband Matthew.

You can meet Lesley and purchase signed copies of her books on Saturday, October 22, 2022, between 10:00am and 2:00pm at Books, Beads & More, 8106 Bus US-360, Mechanicsville.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LesleyStJames/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20893515.Lesley_St_James

Instagram: @lesleyst.james

Website: lesleystjames.com

Crystal Harrell is a #1 Best Selling author, Les Brown-trained speaker, and certified coach. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Health at Yale University and serves part-time as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army. As an Academic Success Coach, Crystal has helped over 700 students successfully navigate through higher education using her virtual coaching company and education blog.

Over the course of her academic journey, Crystal received over $670,000 in scholarship awards, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship and the Yale School of Public Health Dean’s Research Award. She shares details of her journey to help other non-traditional students get ahead in her first #1 Best Selling book Crystal Clear: A Journey of Self-Discovery (From Public Housing to Ivy League).

Crystal’s ultimate goal is to raise awareness of the potential we all have as human beings and show that it is possible to rise against all odds and live out your wildest dreams.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalharrell_/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-harrell-ms-mph-57918aaa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crystalharrell_

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHRsMsCNrOxrIBOE8vBE8WQ