Rita Mookerjee is an assistant professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Worcester State University. She is the author of False Offering (JackLeg Press 2023) and Banana Heart (Steel Toe Books 2025). Previously, she was the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Postdoctoral Fellow at DePaul University. Her research interests include Caribbean women's literature, food studies, and queer theory. She holds a PhD in Literature from Florida State University. In 2019-2020, she was a Fulbright Fellow to Jamaica.

Her critical work has been featured in the Routledge Companion of Literature and Food, the Bloomsbury Handbook to Literary and Cultural Theory, and the Bloomsbury Handbook of Twenty-First Century Feminist Theory. Her poetry is featured in CALYX, Copper Nickel, New Orleans Review, the Offing, and Poet Lore. She serves as an editor at Split Lip Magazine, Sundress Publications, and Honey Literary.

Cristela Guerra is the Regional Manager of the South/Southwest for Report for America. They are also an award-winning arts and culture journalist, a queer Panamanian and often, a moderator leading conversations around books, beauty, identity, culture and whatever is currently floating in the zeitgeist. Until very recently, she worked for nearly seven years as a senior arts and culture reporter for WBUR.

Before working in public radio, they worked as a newspaper journalist for more than a decade, working at The Boston Globe and The News-Press in Fort Myers, Florida.

She was one of 24 journalists selected to be a 2024 Nieman Fellow at Harvard. Their studies examined stories from the diaspora, including those of her own Panamanian heritage, the reasons that compel people to migrate and how those individuals maintain connections to their cultural identity.

Her work received a regional and national Edward R. Murrow Award in 2014 and most recently received another regional Edward R. Murrow in 2023 as part of “Continuing Coverage” for her work at the U.S.-Mexico border on the journey of Venezuelan migrants.

They were chosen as a 2019 Latina Leader by Amplify Latinx and selected by YW Boston to be inducted into its 2023 Academy of Women Achievers and receive the organization’s Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Award.

She is the vice-president of the New England Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and vice-chair of the board at RAW Art Works in Lynn.

Michael J. Bobbitt (he/him) is a celebrated theater artist, playwright, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate serving as Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council—the highest-ranking public official in Massachusetts devoted to arts and culture. A proud gay dad of a Vietnamese son, Michael’s personal and professional life is grounded in a deep commitment to diversity, belonging, and representation.

In 2022, Michael was honored with SpeakOUT Boston’s Certificate of Appreciation for his leadership in building a more inclusive cultural sector. His advocacy for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is interwoven with his decades-long career in the arts, where he has advanced systemic equity, expanded access for underrepresented voices, and ensured LGBTQ+ identities are celebrated on stage and in policy.

As a playwright, Michael’s works are published by Musical Theatre International (Make Way For Ducklings), Concord Theatricals (Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds and Garfield, the Musical with Cattitude), and Plays for Young Audiences (Mirandy and Brother Wind). His most recent work, a fresh adaptation of Monster Mash, continues his tradition of infusing beloved stories with wit, inclusivity, and creative energy.

At Mass Cultural Council, Michael has spearheaded the state’s first Racial Equity, d/Deaf & Disability Access, and Native American & Indigenous Equity Plans; launched the nation’s first statewide Arts Prescribing Initiative; secured $60.1M in pandemic relief; and developed the Agency’s FY24–27 strategic plan. His lived identity as a gay Black man, coupled with his artistic vision, aligns powerfully with Love Your Labels’ mission to create safe, affirming spaces where 2SLGBTQIA+ youth can thrive.

Shaileen Santoro, Senior Vice President of Live Events and Entertainment at iHeartRadio, brings 30 years of experience at iHeartMedia, where she is proud to be one of the original founding staff members of JAM'N 94.5, Boston’s first Hip Hop radio station. Over the course of her career, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Boston’s radio landscape, contributing to the legacy of KISS 108 and helping launch 101.7 The Bull. Her expertise spans high-impact live events, B2B programs, custom events, and consumer marketing initiatives.
As a senior leader on the National Programming Group Live Events team, Santoro is known for her creativity, strategic vision, and collaborative approach. She has built a successful track record of fostering strong partnerships and leading teams that penetrate the marketplace, strengthen brands, and deliver measurable results that exceed sales goals.
Santoro holds a bachelor's degree in Retail Marketing from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, providing her with a solid foundation in brand development and market dynamics.
Passionate about meeting new people, hearing their stories, and exploring innovative collaborations, she thrives on creating experiences that connect and inspire. Outside of work, she is a proud wife, devoted dog mom, and avid traveler who embraces new adventures. She also enjoys cooking, thrifting, and finding joy in life’s simple pleasures.