Mingma, our visionary founder, was born to a humble family outside the village of Melemchi, in the Helambu Valley, Nepal. In 1971 Mingma met anthropologist Naomi Bishop and her filmmaker husband John Bishop, and began to study the lives of humans. (Photo by John Bishop)

John M. Brewer was born to a humble family in Pittsburgh and is Special Consultant to Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Art and archivist of the extensive Pittsburgh Courier photographic collection. An active historian, his other books include Pittsburgh Jazz and African Americans in Pittsburgh. He is married to quilt and textile artist Christine Williams Brewer. They have two children, Kristine and John.

Alan Venable was born to another humble Western Pennsylvania family. His previous children’s books include The Checker Players and Hurry the Crossing. He has also written many books for students with reading disabilities. He lives with his wife Gail in San Francisco and is learning the accordion. Their daughter Noe sings and teaches music at an elementary school. Their son Morgan bicycles, invents stuff and writes poems about monkeys.

Natalie Vance Lewellyn was born somewhere west of Baton Rouge and, after studying French and art at Carlton College, became an experienced social worker in Wisconsin. She and her husband Eric recently moved to San Francisco where they are raising their new son, Misha.

Laurie Marshall was born in Pittsburgh. She paints, writes, and educates. In 2007, her 3rd grade class at Novato Charter School staged the first dramatic production of Take Me With You When You Go. See more of her art, life and work at soulemporium.com, or find out about her ongoing Singing Tree of Peace art project at Beating the Odds.