Anisha Desai is the Director of the New Leaders Initiative and the Brower Youth Awards at the Earth Island Institute. Read her full bio under About Us.

Ben Cushing is a junior Environmental Studies major at Carleton College in Minnesota. When he's not on the baseball diamond with the Carleton Knights, he can usually be found playing intramural basketball, throwing a frisbee with friends, reading in coffee shops, or (more often than not) studying in the library until the wee hours. A native of Oakland, CA, he loves coming home to spend time with family, go backpacking in the Sierra, and explore the variety of delicious cuisine that the Bay Area has to offer. As an intern with Earth Island's New Leaders Initiative, Ben is thrilled to have the opportunity to explore his interests in sustainability and social justice through the inspiring work of young activists and pioneers of the environmental movement.