Have faith
in good faith.
HOSTS
Before launching Lost Debate, Ravi founded Arena, where he led a team that helped elect over 75 candidates and train over 1500 political operatives. He’s the co-founder and chair of Second Chance Studios, a media company that exclusively employs the formerly incarcerated, and serves as the co-host of Majority 54, a political podcast about talking to friends and family with different political beliefs. Before Arena, he was the founder and CEO of RePublic Schools, a network of charter schools in the South. He also held a number of roles on Obama’s first campaign and first term, including as assistant to David Axelrod and Susan Rice — where he was “a slightly more substantive version of Gary from Veep.” A native of Staten Island, he graduated from Yale Law School, where, unbeknownst to the faculty, he was a pioneer in the concept of remote schooling, and Binghamton University, where he received an excellent and reasonably priced education.
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A New-York-based independent journalist, Fabiola has covered many of America’s most defining moments. From the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, to the fight over abortion and the past two presidential elections, Fabi has been an on-the-ground reporter for upwards of 15 years and has had her work shown on Univision, Fusion, NY1, WAPA TV and numerous radio and TV stations across Latin America. After securing a free community college education, Fabi transferred to CUNY Hunter College where she pursued a degree in TV & Documentary Production. As a former transportation beat reporter, Fabi is what you would consider a “transit nerd.” If your train is running late, feel free to text her, she probably knows what’s up. Her favorite perks about living in Queens are being close to her favorite airports, the unbeatable bagel prices, and the subway hubs (did she mention she’s a transit nerd?). When she isn’t waiting for the G train, you’ll most likely find Fabi biking across the city or walking her cat on a leash. She’s been nominated — and has lost — three regional and three national Emmy awards. But hey, seventh time’s the charm!
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Bernita Bradley is a mother, grandmother, and Director of Parent Voice for The National Parents Union. She is a community advocate for and with families supporting parents to use their stories to ensure that future outcomes for children are prioritized within the community, philanthropic, and education environments.
close
Stacey Shells Harvey is the co-founder and chief executive officer of ReGeneration Schools, a non-profit charter school management organization that’s dedicated to creating and revitalizing schools through a college prep and character mission. Stacey currently manages a network of three campuses and six schools in Chicago, IL. ReGeneration Schools opened their first Cincinnati, Ohio campus in the Fall of 2019.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
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Christopher Marte is the New York City Councilmember representing all of Lower Manhattan. When he isn’t challenging the real estate industry or organizing against modern sweatshops, he spends what time is left on his bike along the West Side greenway or trying to beat the Strava record on Governors Island. Before getting elected, he worked at Arena, where he helped flip seats and train the next generation of progressive candidates across the country. He has a background in finance, and graduated from LIU Global College, where he studied in seven different countries. However, Christopher never forgot where it all started, stacking cans at his father’s bodega on the Lower East Side.
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Originally born in India, Aishwarya Singh is a world traveler. Having lived in 20 different cities spanning four countries and four continents, she finally decided to settle down in the good ole’ USA in 2019. When Aishwarya isn’t getting her weekly dose of adrenaline by turning off the lights and tuning into the “Crime Junkie” podcast alone at night, she is thinking about those pesky nuclear weapons running amok all around the world. Aishwarya has previously interned under Shelton Williams, an advisor to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and was a special assistant to Madeleine Albright. When she isn’t working on her own podcast or thinking about the thermodynamic stability of the atomic nucleus, Aishwarya can be found buried under a pile of LSAT books, volunteering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or hunting on Zillow for real estate beyond her reach.
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Rikki Schlott, a self-proclaimed “old person trapped in a young person’s body” is a libertarian journalist, commentator, and politically homeless member of Gen-Z. In addition to being a host at Lost Debate, Rikki is a New York Post columnist, a contributor at Reason Magazine, and a fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Pop culturally clueless and unable to navigate the intricacies of TikTok, Rikki much prefers books to people. If she goes missing, please check the Strand Bookstore’s rare books section prior to calling the authorities. When she isn’t studying history, politics, and philosophy as a part-time student at New York University, Rikki can be found hanging out with her best friend Pippa, a Samoyed puppy who is often confused with a cloud.
close
Consistently ranked as one of the Congress’ most bipartisan members while serving South Florida’s 26th district from 2015-2019, Carlos worked tirelessly to pass laws on tax reform, immigration, climate, foreign policy, and gun reform. Prior to serving in the House, Carlos sat on the Miami-Dade County School Board where he championed school choice, increased teacher pay, and fiscal discipline. He has also completed academic fellowships at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. Currently serving as the Principal and Co-Founder of Miami-based public affairs firm Vocero, Carlos can also be seen on your home television as a regular political analyst for NBC News, where he is often seen chit chatting with Chuck on Meet the Press. Despite his center-right political leanings, Carlos is an avid drinker of fine green tea.
close
Keri Rodrigues is Matthew, Miles and David’s mom and President of the National Parents Union. Called “arguably the most successful — parent organizer in education advocacy today,” her outstanding commitment to social, economic and educational equity for children and families spans decades. The National Parents Union, under her leadership, stands out for its parent-led approach, focusing on empowering parents and families to play a more significant role in education policy discussions and decision-making processes. This commitment has led to the NPU becoming a critical player in the education policy and advocacy landscape, especially in promoting educational equity and access.
close
Ryan Hill is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KIPP New Jersey and Miami, a non-profit, public charter school organization that serves nearly 10,000 students in 23 schools in Newark and Camden, New Jersey, and Miami, Florida. KIPP New Jersey and Miami is part of the national KIPP Network of Schools, which creates joyful, academically excellent schools to over 150,000 students in underserved communities across the country.
Ryan was the founding principal of the first KIPP school in New Jersey, KIPP TEAM Academy, in 2002. Prior to that, he taught in a public district school in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as part of the Teach For America program. Over the years, the schools he manages have helped their alumni more than triple the college graduation rate of their neighborhood schools, and KIPP New Jersey’s high school, Newark Collegiate Academy, sends more African American graduates on to college than any other school in Newark.
Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s in Education Leadership from National-Louis University. He is also an alumnus of Teach For America, the Broad Superintendent’s Academy, the Pahara Fellowship, and KIPP’s Fisher Fellowship program. Ryan and his wife, Joanne, have two children of their own, aged eleven and nine, and live in New Jersey.
Ryan was the founding principal of the first KIPP school in New Jersey, KIPP TEAM Academy, in 2002. Prior to that, he taught in a public district school in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as part of the Teach For America program. Over the years, the schools he manages have helped their alumni more than triple the college graduation rate of their neighborhood schools, and KIPP New Jersey’s high school, Newark Collegiate Academy, sends more African American graduates on to college than any other school in Newark.
Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s in Education Leadership from National-Louis University. He is also an alumnus of Teach For America, the Broad Superintendent’s Academy, the Pahara Fellowship, and KIPP’s Fisher Fellowship program. Ryan and his wife, Joanne, have two children of their own, aged eleven and nine, and live in New Jersey.
close
Coss Marte was sent to jail as the ringleader of a multi-million dollar marijuana operation. He was also grossly overweight and warned by his physician that his current lifestyle if left unchecked, would likely kill him. Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
close
An award-winning writer, speaker, and blogger, Chris Stewart is a relentless advocate for children and families. Based in outstate Minnesota, Chris is CEO of brightbeam, a nonprofit media group that runs campaigns to highlight policies and practices that support thriving kids. He was the founding Director of the African American Leadership Forum, was an elected member of the Minneapolis Board of Education, and founded and served as the CEO of Wayfinder Foundation. Above all, Chris is a serial parent, a Minecraft enthusiast, and an epic firestarter on Twitter, where he has antagonized the best of them on the political left and right.
close
Ariel Taylor Smith is the Senior Director of Policy and Action at the National Parents Union where she leads Federal, State and Local policy focused on economic mobility and education justice. She is the co-founder Transform Education Now (TEN) a statewide advocacy group in Colorado that organizes parents to demand opportunities for their kids. Ariel was a teacher at Denver’s North High School for 5 years before her work in policy and organizing. She is a mom of 2 kids- Noli and Kayce.
close
Tafshier Cosby brings over 25 years of experience advocating for the civil rights of Black and brown children to receive an equitable and quality education. Tafshier is the Senior Director of Organizing and Partnerships at National Parents Union. Tafshier is also the co-founder of Parent Impact, an organization dedicated to empowering families to advocate for impactful change in New Jersey. A dedicated Wife, Mother of three wonderful adults and Nonna to a powerful G-Squad.
close
Doug Lemov is the author of the international bestseller Teach Like a Champion–now in its 3.0 version–and The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. He is the co-author of Practice Perfect, Reading Reconsidered, and most recently Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning Purpose and Belonging. He is the founder and Chief Knowledge Officer of Teach Like a Champion, an organization that studies high performing teachers and provides high-quality training for educators. Prior to that he was a founder of Uncommon Schools as well as a charter school in Boston. He’s been an English teacher and a school principal and also a journalist, a pizza delivery guy, a bus boy, and a truck driver/installer of fine art. His three children assert that a few of his stories from those jobs are slightly less tedious and repetitive than the rest and he will share them if offered coffee or beer. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters in English from Indiana University and a BA from Hamilton College. While at Hamilton he played soccer and was almost assuredly the worst player of the decade.
close
Half “Joe-Rogan-listening-gym-bro” and half “Rupert-Brooke-reading-romantic,” Aryaan Misra’s name means “destined to do something great.” So naturally, he embarked on the noble path of creating a true-crime podcast. Although Aryaan was compelled to choose between the noble professions of engineering or medicine while growing up in India after much thought and contemplation (and to his mother’s disappointment) he majored in philosophy. As any good philosopher would do, he wrote a campus-wide memo on the importance of protecting free speech, which unsurprisingly didn’t get the most positive reception from his fellow students. His free speech shenanigans led him to work with filmmaker Ted Balaker on “The Coddling of The American Mind” documentary, announce that he’s a liberal on Fox and Friends, and serendipitously meet his boss, Ravi. Aryaan has served as a mentor to aspiring podcasters for Spotify and he’s hitchhiked across Africa and Asia. He’d be happy to tell you all about the adventure many, many, many, many, many times.
close
Before launching Lost Debate, Ravi founded Arena, where he led a team that helped elect over 75 candidates and train over 1500 political operatives. He’s the co-founder and chair of Second Chance Studios, a media company that exclusively employs the formerly incarcerated, and serves as the co-host of Majority 54, a political podcast about talking to friends and family with different political beliefs. Before Arena, he was the founder and CEO of RePublic Schools, a network of charter schools in the South. He also held a number of roles on Obama’s first campaign and first term, including as assistant to David Axelrod and Susan Rice — where he was “a slightly more substantive version of Gary from Veep.” A native of Staten Island, he graduated from Yale Law School, where, unbeknownst to the faculty, he was a pioneer in the concept of remote schooling, and Binghamton University, where he received an excellent and reasonably priced education.
close
An award-winning writer, speaker, and blogger, Chris Stewart is a relentless advocate for children and families. Based in outstate Minnesota, Chris is CEO of brightbeam, a nonprofit media group that runs campaigns to highlight policies and practices that support thriving kids. He was the founding Director of the African American Leadership Forum, was an elected member of the Minneapolis Board of Education, and founded and served as the CEO of Wayfinder Foundation. Above all, Chris is a serial parent, a Minecraft enthusiast, and an epic firestarter on Twitter, where he has antagonized the best of them on the political left and right.
close
Consistently ranked as one of the Congress’ most bipartisan members while serving South Florida’s 26th district from 2015-2019, Carlos worked tirelessly to pass laws on tax reform, immigration, climate, foreign policy, and gun reform. Prior to serving in the House, Carlos sat on the Miami-Dade County School Board where he championed school choice, increased teacher pay, and fiscal discipline. He has also completed academic fellowships at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. Currently serving as the Principal and Co-Founder of Miami-based public affairs firm Vocero, Carlos can also be seen on your home television as a regular political analyst for NBC News, where he is often seen chit chatting with Chuck on Meet the Press. Despite his center-right political leanings, Carlos is an avid drinker of fine green tea.
close
Bernita Bradley is a mother, grandmother, and Director of Parent Voice for The National Parents Union. She is a community advocate for and with families supporting parents to use their stories to ensure that future outcomes for children are prioritized within the community, philanthropic, and education environments.
close
Tafshier Cosby brings over 25 years of experience advocating for the civil rights of Black and brown children to receive an equitable and quality education. Tafshier is the Senior Director of Organizing and Partnerships at National Parents Union. Tafshier is also the co-founder of Parent Impact, an organization dedicated to empowering families to advocate for impactful change in New Jersey. A dedicated Wife, Mother of three wonderful adults and Nonna to a powerful G-Squad.
close
Ryan Hill is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KIPP New Jersey and Miami, a non-profit, public charter school organization that serves nearly 10,000 students in 23 schools in Newark and Camden, New Jersey, and Miami, Florida. KIPP New Jersey and Miami is part of the national KIPP Network of Schools, which creates joyful, academically excellent schools to over 150,000 students in underserved communities across the country.
Ryan was the founding principal of the first KIPP school in New Jersey, KIPP TEAM Academy, in 2002. Prior to that, he taught in a public district school in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as part of the Teach For America program. Over the years, the schools he manages have helped their alumni more than triple the college graduation rate of their neighborhood schools, and KIPP New Jersey’s high school, Newark Collegiate Academy, sends more African American graduates on to college than any other school in Newark.
Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s in Education Leadership from National-Louis University. He is also an alumnus of Teach For America, the Broad Superintendent’s Academy, the Pahara Fellowship, and KIPP’s Fisher Fellowship program. Ryan and his wife, Joanne, have two children of their own, aged eleven and nine, and live in New Jersey.
Ryan was the founding principal of the first KIPP school in New Jersey, KIPP TEAM Academy, in 2002. Prior to that, he taught in a public district school in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as part of the Teach For America program. Over the years, the schools he manages have helped their alumni more than triple the college graduation rate of their neighborhood schools, and KIPP New Jersey’s high school, Newark Collegiate Academy, sends more African American graduates on to college than any other school in Newark.
Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s in Education Leadership from National-Louis University. He is also an alumnus of Teach For America, the Broad Superintendent’s Academy, the Pahara Fellowship, and KIPP’s Fisher Fellowship program. Ryan and his wife, Joanne, have two children of their own, aged eleven and nine, and live in New Jersey.
close
Christopher Marte is the New York City Councilmember representing all of Lower Manhattan. When he isn’t challenging the real estate industry or organizing against modern sweatshops, he spends what time is left on his bike along the West Side greenway or trying to beat the Strava record on Governors Island. Before getting elected, he worked at Arena, where he helped flip seats and train the next generation of progressive candidates across the country. He has a background in finance, and graduated from LIU Global College, where he studied in seven different countries. However, Christopher never forgot where it all started, stacking cans at his father’s bodega on the Lower East Side.
close
Half “Joe-Rogan-listening-gym-bro” and half “Rupert-Brooke-reading-romantic,” Aryaan Misra’s name means “destined to do something great.” So naturally, he embarked on the noble path of creating a true-crime podcast. Although Aryaan was compelled to choose between the noble professions of engineering or medicine while growing up in India after much thought and contemplation (and to his mother’s disappointment) he majored in philosophy. As any good philosopher would do, he wrote a campus-wide memo on the importance of protecting free speech, which unsurprisingly didn’t get the most positive reception from his fellow students. His free speech shenanigans led him to work with filmmaker Ted Balaker on “The Coddling of The American Mind” documentary, announce that he’s a liberal on Fox and Friends, and serendipitously meet his boss, Ravi. Aryaan has served as a mentor to aspiring podcasters for Spotify and he’s hitchhiked across Africa and Asia. He’d be happy to tell you all about the adventure many, many, many, many, many times.
close
Rikki Schlott, a self-proclaimed “old person trapped in a young person’s body” is a libertarian journalist, commentator, and politically homeless member of Gen-Z. In addition to being a host at Lost Debate, Rikki is a New York Post columnist, a contributor at Reason Magazine, and a fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Pop culturally clueless and unable to navigate the intricacies of TikTok, Rikki much prefers books to people. If she goes missing, please check the Strand Bookstore’s rare books section prior to calling the authorities. When she isn’t studying history, politics, and philosophy as a part-time student at New York University, Rikki can be found hanging out with her best friend Pippa, a Samoyed puppy who is often confused with a cloud.
close
A New-York-based independent journalist, Fabiola has covered many of America’s most defining moments. From the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, to the fight over abortion and the past two presidential elections, Fabi has been an on-the-ground reporter for upwards of 15 years and has had her work shown on Univision, Fusion, NY1, WAPA TV and numerous radio and TV stations across Latin America. After securing a free community college education, Fabi transferred to CUNY Hunter College where she pursued a degree in TV & Documentary Production. As a former transportation beat reporter, Fabi is what you would consider a “transit nerd.” If your train is running late, feel free to text her, she probably knows what’s up. Her favorite perks about living in Queens are being close to her favorite airports, the unbeatable bagel prices, and the subway hubs (did she mention she’s a transit nerd?). When she isn’t waiting for the G train, you’ll most likely find Fabi biking across the city or walking her cat on a leash. She’s been nominated — and has lost — three regional and three national Emmy awards. But hey, seventh time’s the charm!
close
Ariel Taylor Smith is the Senior Director of Policy and Action at the National Parents Union where she leads Federal, State and Local policy focused on economic mobility and education justice. She is the co-founder Transform Education Now (TEN) a statewide advocacy group in Colorado that organizes parents to demand opportunities for their kids. Ariel was a teacher at Denver’s North High School for 5 years before her work in policy and organizing. She is a mom of 2 kids- Noli and Kayce.
close
Keri Rodrigues is Matthew, Miles and David’s mom and President of the National Parents Union. Called “arguably the most successful — parent organizer in education advocacy today,” her outstanding commitment to social, economic and educational equity for children and families spans decades. The National Parents Union, under her leadership, stands out for its parent-led approach, focusing on empowering parents and families to play a more significant role in education policy discussions and decision-making processes. This commitment has led to the NPU becoming a critical player in the education policy and advocacy landscape, especially in promoting educational equity and access.
close
Stacey Shells Harvey is the co-founder and chief executive officer of ReGeneration Schools, a non-profit charter school management organization that’s dedicated to creating and revitalizing schools through a college prep and character mission. Stacey currently manages a network of three campuses and six schools in Chicago, IL. ReGeneration Schools opened their first Cincinnati, Ohio campus in the Fall of 2019.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
close
Doug Lemov is the author of the international bestseller Teach Like a Champion–now in its 3.0 version–and The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. He is the co-author of Practice Perfect, Reading Reconsidered, and most recently Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning Purpose and Belonging. He is the founder and Chief Knowledge Officer of Teach Like a Champion, an organization that studies high performing teachers and provides high-quality training for educators. Prior to that he was a founder of Uncommon Schools as well as a charter school in Boston. He’s been an English teacher and a school principal and also a journalist, a pizza delivery guy, a bus boy, and a truck driver/installer of fine art. His three children assert that a few of his stories from those jobs are slightly less tedious and repetitive than the rest and he will share them if offered coffee or beer. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters in English from Indiana University and a BA from Hamilton College. While at Hamilton he played soccer and was almost assuredly the worst player of the decade.
close
Coss Marte was sent to jail as the ringleader of a multi-million dollar marijuana operation. He was also grossly overweight and warned by his physician that his current lifestyle if left unchecked, would likely kill him. Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
close
Originally born in India, Aishwarya Singh is a world traveler. Having lived in 20 different cities spanning four countries and four continents, she finally decided to settle down in the good ole’ USA in 2019. When Aishwarya isn’t getting her weekly dose of adrenaline by turning off the lights and tuning into the “Crime Junkie” podcast alone at night, she is thinking about those pesky nuclear weapons running amok all around the world. Aishwarya has previously interned under Shelton Williams, an advisor to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and was a special assistant to Madeleine Albright. When she isn’t working on her own podcast or thinking about the thermodynamic stability of the atomic nucleus, Aishwarya can be found buried under a pile of LSAT books, volunteering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or hunting on Zillow for real estate beyond her reach.
close
Before launching Lost Debate, Ravi founded Arena, where he led a team that helped elect over 75 candidates and train over 1500 political operatives. He’s the co-founder and chair of Second Chance Studios, a media company that exclusively employs the formerly incarcerated, and serves as the co-host of Majority 54, a political podcast about talking to friends and family with different political beliefs. Before Arena, he was the founder and CEO of RePublic Schools, a network of charter schools in the South. He also held a number of roles on Obama’s first campaign and first term, including as assistant to David Axelrod and Susan Rice — where he was “a slightly more substantive version of Gary from Veep.” A native of Staten Island, he graduated from Yale Law School, where, unbeknownst to the faculty, he was a pioneer in the concept of remote schooling, and Binghamton University, where he received an excellent and reasonably priced education.
close
Rikki Schlott, a self-proclaimed “old person trapped in a young person’s body” is a libertarian journalist, commentator, and politically homeless member of Gen-Z. In addition to being a host at Lost Debate, Rikki is a New York Post columnist, a contributor at Reason Magazine, and a fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Pop culturally clueless and unable to navigate the intricacies of TikTok, Rikki much prefers books to people. If she goes missing, please check the Strand Bookstore’s rare books section prior to calling the authorities. When she isn’t studying history, politics, and philosophy as a part-time student at New York University, Rikki can be found hanging out with her best friend Pippa, a Samoyed puppy who is often confused with a cloud.
close
An award-winning writer, speaker, and blogger, Chris Stewart is a relentless advocate for children and families. Based in outstate Minnesota, Chris is CEO of brightbeam, a nonprofit media group that runs campaigns to highlight policies and practices that support thriving kids. He was the founding Director of the African American Leadership Forum, was an elected member of the Minneapolis Board of Education, and founded and served as the CEO of Wayfinder Foundation. Above all, Chris is a serial parent, a Minecraft enthusiast, and an epic firestarter on Twitter, where he has antagonized the best of them on the political left and right.
close
A New-York-based independent journalist, Fabiola has covered many of America’s most defining moments. From the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, to the fight over abortion and the past two presidential elections, Fabi has been an on-the-ground reporter for upwards of 15 years and has had her work shown on Univision, Fusion, NY1, WAPA TV and numerous radio and TV stations across Latin America. After securing a free community college education, Fabi transferred to CUNY Hunter College where she pursued a degree in TV & Documentary Production. As a former transportation beat reporter, Fabi is what you would consider a “transit nerd.” If your train is running late, feel free to text her, she probably knows what’s up. Her favorite perks about living in Queens are being close to her favorite airports, the unbeatable bagel prices, and the subway hubs (did she mention she’s a transit nerd?). When she isn’t waiting for the G train, you’ll most likely find Fabi biking across the city or walking her cat on a leash. She’s been nominated — and has lost — three regional and three national Emmy awards. But hey, seventh time’s the charm!
close
Consistently ranked as one of the Congress’ most bipartisan members while serving South Florida’s 26th district from 2015-2019, Carlos worked tirelessly to pass laws on tax reform, immigration, climate, foreign policy, and gun reform. Prior to serving in the House, Carlos sat on the Miami-Dade County School Board where he championed school choice, increased teacher pay, and fiscal discipline. He has also completed academic fellowships at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. Currently serving as the Principal and Co-Founder of Miami-based public affairs firm Vocero, Carlos can also be seen on your home television as a regular political analyst for NBC News, where he is often seen chit chatting with Chuck on Meet the Press. Despite his center-right political leanings, Carlos is an avid drinker of fine green tea.
close
Ariel Taylor Smith is the Senior Director of Policy and Action at the National Parents Union where she leads Federal, State and Local policy focused on economic mobility and education justice. She is the co-founder Transform Education Now (TEN) a statewide advocacy group in Colorado that organizes parents to demand opportunities for their kids. Ariel was a teacher at Denver’s North High School for 5 years before her work in policy and organizing. She is a mom of 2 kids- Noli and Kayce.
close
Bernita Bradley is a mother, grandmother, and Director of Parent Voice for The National Parents Union. She is a community advocate for and with families supporting parents to use their stories to ensure that future outcomes for children are prioritized within the community, philanthropic, and education environments.
close
Keri Rodrigues is Matthew, Miles and David’s mom and President of the National Parents Union. Called “arguably the most successful — parent organizer in education advocacy today,” her outstanding commitment to social, economic and educational equity for children and families spans decades. The National Parents Union, under her leadership, stands out for its parent-led approach, focusing on empowering parents and families to play a more significant role in education policy discussions and decision-making processes. This commitment has led to the NPU becoming a critical player in the education policy and advocacy landscape, especially in promoting educational equity and access.
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Tafshier Cosby brings over 25 years of experience advocating for the civil rights of Black and brown children to receive an equitable and quality education. Tafshier is the Senior Director of Organizing and Partnerships at National Parents Union. Tafshier is also the co-founder of Parent Impact, an organization dedicated to empowering families to advocate for impactful change in New Jersey. A dedicated Wife, Mother of three wonderful adults and Nonna to a powerful G-Squad.
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Stacey Shells Harvey is the co-founder and chief executive officer of ReGeneration Schools, a non-profit charter school management organization that’s dedicated to creating and revitalizing schools through a college prep and character mission. Stacey currently manages a network of three campuses and six schools in Chicago, IL. ReGeneration Schools opened their first Cincinnati, Ohio campus in the Fall of 2019.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
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Ryan Hill is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KIPP New Jersey and Miami, a non-profit, public charter school organization that serves nearly 10,000 students in 23 schools in Newark and Camden, New Jersey, and Miami, Florida. KIPP New Jersey and Miami is part of the national KIPP Network of Schools, which creates joyful, academically excellent schools to over 150,000 students in underserved communities across the country.
Ryan was the founding principal of the first KIPP school in New Jersey, KIPP TEAM Academy, in 2002. Prior to that, he taught in a public district school in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as part of the Teach For America program. Over the years, the schools he manages have helped their alumni more than triple the college graduation rate of their neighborhood schools, and KIPP New Jersey’s high school, Newark Collegiate Academy, sends more African American graduates on to college than any other school in Newark.
Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s in Education Leadership from National-Louis University. He is also an alumnus of Teach For America, the Broad Superintendent’s Academy, the Pahara Fellowship, and KIPP’s Fisher Fellowship program. Ryan and his wife, Joanne, have two children of their own, aged eleven and nine, and live in New Jersey.
Ryan was the founding principal of the first KIPP school in New Jersey, KIPP TEAM Academy, in 2002. Prior to that, he taught in a public district school in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as part of the Teach For America program. Over the years, the schools he manages have helped their alumni more than triple the college graduation rate of their neighborhood schools, and KIPP New Jersey’s high school, Newark Collegiate Academy, sends more African American graduates on to college than any other school in Newark.
Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s in Education Leadership from National-Louis University. He is also an alumnus of Teach For America, the Broad Superintendent’s Academy, the Pahara Fellowship, and KIPP’s Fisher Fellowship program. Ryan and his wife, Joanne, have two children of their own, aged eleven and nine, and live in New Jersey.
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Doug Lemov is the author of the international bestseller Teach Like a Champion–now in its 3.0 version–and The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. He is the co-author of Practice Perfect, Reading Reconsidered, and most recently Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning Purpose and Belonging. He is the founder and Chief Knowledge Officer of Teach Like a Champion, an organization that studies high performing teachers and provides high-quality training for educators. Prior to that he was a founder of Uncommon Schools as well as a charter school in Boston. He’s been an English teacher and a school principal and also a journalist, a pizza delivery guy, a bus boy, and a truck driver/installer of fine art. His three children assert that a few of his stories from those jobs are slightly less tedious and repetitive than the rest and he will share them if offered coffee or beer. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters in English from Indiana University and a BA from Hamilton College. While at Hamilton he played soccer and was almost assuredly the worst player of the decade.
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Christopher Marte is the New York City Councilmember representing all of Lower Manhattan. When he isn’t challenging the real estate industry or organizing against modern sweatshops, he spends what time is left on his bike along the West Side greenway or trying to beat the Strava record on Governors Island. Before getting elected, he worked at Arena, where he helped flip seats and train the next generation of progressive candidates across the country. He has a background in finance, and graduated from LIU Global College, where he studied in seven different countries. However, Christopher never forgot where it all started, stacking cans at his father’s bodega on the Lower East Side.
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Coss Marte was sent to jail as the ringleader of a multi-million dollar marijuana operation. He was also grossly overweight and warned by his physician that his current lifestyle if left unchecked, would likely kill him. Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
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Half “Joe-Rogan-listening-gym-bro” and half “Rupert-Brooke-reading-romantic,” Aryaan Misra’s name means “destined to do something great.” So naturally, he embarked on the noble path of creating a true-crime podcast. Although Aryaan was compelled to choose between the noble professions of engineering or medicine while growing up in India after much thought and contemplation (and to his mother’s disappointment) he majored in philosophy. As any good philosopher would do, he wrote a campus-wide memo on the importance of protecting free speech, which unsurprisingly didn’t get the most positive reception from his fellow students. His free speech shenanigans led him to work with filmmaker Ted Balaker on “The Coddling of The American Mind” documentary, announce that he’s a liberal on Fox and Friends, and serendipitously meet his boss, Ravi. Aryaan has served as a mentor to aspiring podcasters for Spotify and he’s hitchhiked across Africa and Asia. He’d be happy to tell you all about the adventure many, many, many, many, many times.
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Originally born in India, Aishwarya Singh is a world traveler. Having lived in 20 different cities spanning four countries and four continents, she finally decided to settle down in the good ole’ USA in 2019. When Aishwarya isn’t getting her weekly dose of adrenaline by turning off the lights and tuning into the “Crime Junkie” podcast alone at night, she is thinking about those pesky nuclear weapons running amok all around the world. Aishwarya has previously interned under Shelton Williams, an advisor to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and was a special assistant to Madeleine Albright. When she isn’t working on her own podcast or thinking about the thermodynamic stability of the atomic nucleus, Aishwarya can be found buried under a pile of LSAT books, volunteering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or hunting on Zillow for real estate beyond her reach.
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Board of Directors
Coss Marte was sent to jail as the ringleader of a multi-million dollar marijuana operation. He was also grossly overweight and warned by his physician that his current lifestyle if left unchecked, would likely kill him.
Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
close
Stacey Shells Harvey is the co-founder and chief executive officer of ReGeneration Schools, a non-profit charter school management organization that’s dedicated to creating and revitalizing schools through a college prep and character mission. Stacey currently manages a network of three campuses and six schools in Chicago, IL. U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 School Ranking listed all ReGeneration elementary schools among Illinois’s top ten charter elementary schools. ReGeneration expanded to Ohio in 2019, opening its Bond Hill campus in Cincinnati. ReGeneration will add two additional Ohio schools in the fall of 2023.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
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Shomik Dutta is a co-founder and partner at Higher Ground Labs, a venture fund for technology companies that protect and strengthen democracy. Shomik co-founded Higher Ground Labs in the wake of the 2016 election and has since invested $40 million into technology start-ups that support over 10,000 progressive campaigns, causes, and labor unions.
Shomik began his career in Democratic politics and worked as a longtime political aide to President Obama. In 2008, Shomik served as Mid-Atlantic Finance Director to Obama for America and later served as a special assistant in the White House and as an aide on the Obama Biden re-election campaign. He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission. Shomik later worked in renewable energy, overseeing the development, planning, and financing of utility-scale solar projects in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Shomik earned his BA from Williams.
Shomik began his career in Democratic politics and worked as a longtime political aide to President Obama. In 2008, Shomik served as Mid-Atlantic Finance Director to Obama for America and later served as a special assistant in the White House and as an aide on the Obama Biden re-election campaign. He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission. Shomik later worked in renewable energy, overseeing the development, planning, and financing of utility-scale solar projects in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Shomik earned his BA from Williams.
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Sujeet Rao has spent his career at the intersection of startups and government innovation. From 2021-2022, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor on the Biden White House COVID-19 Response Team, coordinating various federal emergency response efforts to the pandemic. Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer of Elucd, a govtech startup that built tools for city leaders, and also previously served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Chief of Staff and in various other roles at the U.S. Department of Education.
He is a veteran of multiple political campaigns, including Obama for America in 2008, and has served on the advisory boards of the Arena and the National Student Legal Defense Network. A lawyer by training, Sujeet practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of O’Melveny & Myers and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Sujeet earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Yale Law School.
He is a veteran of multiple political campaigns, including Obama for America in 2008, and has served on the advisory boards of the Arena and the National Student Legal Defense Network. A lawyer by training, Sujeet practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of O’Melveny & Myers and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Sujeet earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Yale Law School.
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Coss Marte was sent to jail as the ringleader of a multi-million dollar marijuana operation. He was also grossly overweight and warned by his physician that his current lifestyle if left unchecked, would likely kill him.
Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
close
Shomik Dutta is a co-founder and partner at Higher Ground Labs, a venture fund for technology companies that protect and strengthen democracy. Shomik co-founded Higher Ground Labs in the wake of the 2016 election and has since invested $40 million into technology start-ups that support over 10,000 progressive campaigns, causes, and labor unions.
Shomik began his career in Democratic politics and worked as a longtime political aide to President Obama. In 2008, Shomik served as Mid-Atlantic Finance Director to Obama for America and later served as a special assistant in the White House and as an aide on the Obama Biden re-election campaign. He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission. Shomik later worked in renewable energy, overseeing the development, planning, and financing of utility-scale solar projects in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Shomik earned his BA from Williams.
Shomik began his career in Democratic politics and worked as a longtime political aide to President Obama. In 2008, Shomik served as Mid-Atlantic Finance Director to Obama for America and later served as a special assistant in the White House and as an aide on the Obama Biden re-election campaign. He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission. Shomik later worked in renewable energy, overseeing the development, planning, and financing of utility-scale solar projects in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Shomik earned his BA from Williams.
close
Stacey Shells Harvey is the co-founder and chief executive officer of ReGeneration Schools, a non-profit charter school management organization that’s dedicated to creating and revitalizing schools through a college prep and character mission. Stacey currently manages a network of three campuses and six schools in Chicago, IL. U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 School Ranking listed all ReGeneration elementary schools among Illinois’s top ten charter elementary schools. ReGeneration expanded to Ohio in 2019, opening its Bond Hill campus in Cincinnati. ReGeneration will add two additional Ohio schools in the fall of 2023.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
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Sujeet Rao has spent his career at the intersection of startups and government innovation. From 2021-2022, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor on the Biden White House COVID-19 Response Team, coordinating various federal emergency response efforts to the pandemic. Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer of Elucd, a govtech startup that built tools for city leaders, and also previously served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Chief of Staff and in various other roles at the U.S. Department of Education.
He is a veteran of multiple political campaigns, including Obama for America in 2008, and has served on the advisory boards of the Arena and the National Student Legal Defense Network. A lawyer by training, Sujeet practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of O’Melveny & Myers and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Sujeet earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Yale Law School.
He is a veteran of multiple political campaigns, including Obama for America in 2008, and has served on the advisory boards of the Arena and the National Student Legal Defense Network. A lawyer by training, Sujeet practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of O’Melveny & Myers and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Sujeet earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Yale Law School.
close
Coss Marte was sent to jail as the ringleader of a multi-million dollar marijuana operation. He was also grossly overweight and warned by his physician that his current lifestyle if left unchecked, would likely kill him.
Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had —his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. Then he launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 50,000+ clients and hires formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Since the launch of his company he’s been featured in over 200 major media outlets such as NBC, CNN, The New York Times, 3 time TED talk speaker, and Men’s Fitness. He’s also won major pitch competitions such as Defy Ventures, Pitch for Good by TOM’s shoes, the YPO shark tank competition.
close
Stacey Shells Harvey is the co-founder and chief executive officer of ReGeneration Schools, a non-profit charter school management organization that’s dedicated to creating and revitalizing schools through a college prep and character mission. Stacey currently manages a network of three campuses and six schools in Chicago, IL. U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 School Ranking listed all ReGeneration elementary schools among Illinois’s top ten charter elementary schools. ReGeneration expanded to Ohio in 2019, opening its Bond Hill campus in Cincinnati. ReGeneration will add two additional Ohio schools in the fall of 2023.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
Before founding ReGeneration Schools, Stacey was the managing director for Victory Education Partners in Chicago, where she moved the schools from the bottom 17% of the state to outperforming 64% of the state. Prior to moving to Chicago, she was a principal with Uncommon Schools, where she opened two charter schools in Rochester, NY, where her founding cohort of students at Rochester Prep ranked sixth in the state of NY for English Language Arts in 2008. Stacey’s work in urban education has been featured in the book Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, and Leverage Leadership, by Paul Bambrick.
Stacey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, Stacey joined Teach For America in 1999, where she taught in Baltimore, Maryland and earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in teaching. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in administration from Pace University.
close
Shomik Dutta is a co-founder and partner at Higher Ground Labs, a venture fund for technology companies that protect and strengthen democracy. Shomik co-founded Higher Ground Labs in the wake of the 2016 election and has since invested $40 million into technology start-ups that support over 10,000 progressive campaigns, causes, and labor unions.
Shomik began his career in Democratic politics and worked as a longtime political aide to President Obama. In 2008, Shomik served as Mid-Atlantic Finance Director to Obama for America and later served as a special assistant in the White House and as an aide on the Obama Biden re-election campaign. He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission. Shomik later worked in renewable energy, overseeing the development, planning, and financing of utility-scale solar projects in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Shomik earned his BA from Williams.
Shomik began his career in Democratic politics and worked as a longtime political aide to President Obama. In 2008, Shomik served as Mid-Atlantic Finance Director to Obama for America and later served as a special assistant in the White House and as an aide on the Obama Biden re-election campaign. He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission. Shomik later worked in renewable energy, overseeing the development, planning, and financing of utility-scale solar projects in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Shomik earned his BA from Williams.
close
Sujeet Rao has spent his career at the intersection of startups and government innovation. From 2021-2022, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor on the Biden White House COVID-19 Response Team, coordinating various federal emergency response efforts to the pandemic. Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer of Elucd, a govtech startup that built tools for city leaders, and also previously served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Chief of Staff and in various other roles at the U.S. Department of Education.
He is a veteran of multiple political campaigns, including Obama for America in 2008, and has served on the advisory boards of the Arena and the National Student Legal Defense Network. A lawyer by training, Sujeet practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of O’Melveny & Myers and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Sujeet earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Yale Law School.
He is a veteran of multiple political campaigns, including Obama for America in 2008, and has served on the advisory boards of the Arena and the National Student Legal Defense Network. A lawyer by training, Sujeet practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of O’Melveny & Myers and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Sujeet earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Yale Law School.
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