2024

NATURAL DEATHWORKER | FOUNDER OF VERMONT FOREST CEMETERY

Michelle Hogle Accivatti, a licensed death doula, specializes in funeral directing, end-of-life support, and natural burial education. She helped legalize natural burial in Vermont, adding sections to seven cemeteries from 2017 to 2020.

As co-founder of Spirit Sanctuary in New York, she plans to establish a similar site in Vermont. With training in mortuary practices and advocacy, she co-founded The Collective for Radical Death Studies. Michelle has extensive experience supporting diverse populations, including those facing pregnancy loss, working in settings from forests to hospital rooms.

GENRE-CROSSING VOCAL/GUITAR DUO

The vocal/guitar duo Tuck & Patti, for over 45 years, has captivated global audiences with their genre-crossing music, earning praise from jazz enthusiasts, musicians, and fans alike. Their 1988 album Tears of Joy launched their career, leading to 13 albums and tours alongside legends like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Known as the gold standard for improvising duos, they blend influences from jazz, rock, gospel, blues, and more—always uniquely their own.

Married for 42 years, Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart showcase minimalist arrangements highlighting Tuck's guitar mastery and Patti's soulful mezzo-soprano. Critics compare their synergy to iconic duos like Fred & Ginger. When not touring, they teach and mentor artists near San Francisco, helping others achieve their dreams.

NYC BODYPAINTER

Trina Merry uses body painting to create the illusion of a two-dimensional reality. Her art merges the human form with landscapes, architecture, and cultural symbols, exploring identity, unity, and activism.

Through expert use of light, shadow, and detail, her work challenges norms and invites reflection on authenticity and our connection to the environment.

Blending art and activism, Merry’s creations inspire us to embrace diversity, question expectations, and address social and environmental issues.

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

James McLeary is an expert group facilitator and program creator serving on the Elder Council of Inside Circle, an organization leading groundbreaking men’s circles comprised of both heads of industry and incarcerated violent offenders, taking place in both Folsom State Prison and San Quentin State Prison. The program provides opportunities for men to heal and serve both themselves and others, reducing recidivism and all forms of violence in our prisons and communities.

BUDDHIST CHAPLAIN | DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE MBA PROGRAM | LIFELONG ACTIVIST

Kim Nolan, Ph.D. in Leadership and Change (Antioch University) and M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology (Boston University) is an ordained Buddhist chaplain and advocate for social justice. She has served on the Vermont Commission on Women and various nonprofit boards.

Founder of the Dignity Foundation, Kim works at the intersection of cultural transformation, leadership, and contemplative science. Recognized as a compassionate leader, she facilitates training, coaching, and strategic planning, fostering personal growth and organizational change through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.

STANFORD UNDERGRADUATE MAJORING IN BIOMEDICAL COMPUTATIONS | RESEARCHER AT STANFORD'S HELLER LAB | DOWN SYNDROME ACTIVIST

Jessie Ong, a sophomore at Stanford majoring in Biomedical Computations, researches Quinolinic Acid Dysregulation in Down syndrome at Heller Lab with Dr. Elsa Pittaras and Professor H. Craig Heller to improve the quality of life for those with Down syndrome.

She is collaborating with Professor Chris Lemons to launch Stanford's first inclusive education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Jessie also co-founded Food for Thought, a program teaching young adults with Down syndrome research and life skills through kitchen chemistry. As program director for the Stanford Down Syndrome Research Center, she connects the Stanford and Down syndrome communities.

FORMER CIRCUS PERFORMER, AERIAL | PHOTOGRAPHER | U.S. FREESTYLE SKI TEAM MEMBER

Nori Pepe has held unique roles such as Circus Performer, Aerial Photographer, U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Member, and Artist. In 2003, she received the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for her project “Circuses and Stunts,” traveling globally to photograph circus performers, a vibrant influence on her artwork.

Her adventurous spirit shapes her artistic process, using photography as a journal to inspire detailed prints through linocut, collagraph, and etching. Her work has been exhibited across the U.S. and in Barcelona.

After 18 years coaching freestyle skiing and earning the 2016 Freestyle Coach of the Year award, Nori now lives in Woodstock, Vermont, with her family and works as PR & Marketing Manager at Billings Farm & Museum.

NEUROSCIENTIST | NEUROLOGIST | EPIDEMIOLOGIST | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NOVELIST

Melodie Winawer is a neuroscientist, neurologist, and associate professor at Columbia University, specializing in epilepsy, genetics, long COVID, and the neuroscience of empathy. She has published over 60 scientific articles and is the author of The Scribe of Siena (2017), translated into multiple languages, and Anticipation (2021), a BuzzFeed “Best Historical Fiction” pick.

Winawer contributed to We All Fall Down: Stories of Plague and Resilience and is working on a dual-timeline novel set in Minoan Crete. She lives in Woodstock, Vermont, with her spouse and three children, fueled by enthusiasm and green tea.

EDUCATOR | PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT

Story Smith, originally from northern Virginia, moved to New England to attend Dartmouth College. She spent over 30 years teaching elementary and high school, primarily supporting at-risk teenagers through tutoring, mentoring, and counseling.

In 2015, Story settled in Hartland with her wife. Returning to school in 2021, she earned credentials as a physical therapist assistant (2023) and occupational therapy assistant (2024) and now practices in both fields.

A mother of two and grandmother of two, Story enjoys gardening, cycling, skiing, and hiking Vermont's trails and roads.

WOODSTOCK UNION HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR | ASPIRING JOURNALIST

Ada Mahood is an aspiring writer and a senior at Woodstock Union High School. In her free time she loves to ride her bike, nordic ski and write! She likes to seek awe in traveling the world and discovering new cultures! Ada is heading to college next year and is interested in pursuing a career in journalism!