Not seeing herself reflected in the community she loves, mountain biker, skier and artist Brooklyn Bell created her own role model: a hand-drawn hero called Ruby J. With Ruby J as a guide, Brooklyn spent the next few years trying to “live like her, breathe like her, be unapologetically black like her,” and in the process shaped her own identity, one that intertwines her love for dirt, snow and art—and a voice with which to advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Dave Mayers is an Emmy-winning documentary director, cinematographer and sometimes journalism professor based in New York.
Dave is drawn to stories that try to evoke empathy and understanding for people and from places that are often misunderstood and overlooked.
He has worked for VICE News series on HBO, Showtime and Hulu, the Johannesburg desk of the New York Times, Time Inc., and has taught at University of the Witwatersrand and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. He holds degrees from St. John’s and Columbia. His career has allowed him to report throughout the US and from dozens of countries around the world.