KATE HOBBS is a 7th degree black belt in Kajukenbo and the founder of Destiny Arts Center and Oakland Kajukenbo Kwoon. She began studying martial arts in 1981 and began teaching youth classes in 1985, which eventually expanded to a violence prevention program called Project Destiny. In 1989, Hobbs founded Destiny Arts Center to integrate marital arts training, violence prevention skills, and movement arts in a non-profit organization specifically for young people. Each year, over 3,500 people enroll in her classes, which have been designed to promote resilience, socio-emotional learning, and interpersonal skills.

SAVANNAH ALLEN is a Nashville-based author and illustrator who never grew out of a love for children’s books. As a biracial creator, who rarely saw herself in stories as a child, she loves to invent characters that are simple, whimsical and inclusive.