NESMA BENSALEM

Nesma Bensalem is a true Renaissance woman whose unique combination of talents, expertise and multi-cultural background has made her a leader in the world of culture, tech, and impact.

With over 10 years of experience as a creative, consultant, and social entrepreneur, Nesma has worked with top brands, production companies, and multilateral institutions to shift narratives and inspire communities to take action for the greater good. From Deepak Chopra to the World Bank, to Hollywood and AI start ups, Nesma’s experience ranges across skills and industries, unified by the same purpose to serve the greater good and deep desire to connect us as a Humanity.

Nesma’s upbringing across four continents and more than a dozen countries has shaped her multi-cultural identity and provided her with a unique outlook on the world. She regards empathy as the key ingredient in her approach in raising awareness, building connections and fostering intrinsic motivation.

In 2021, Nesma founded WeCare Impact, a purpose driven creative studio and consulting firm working the intersection of art, technology and impact. WeCare Impact also has a social token($WeCare) with an Impact 2 Earn model for their social or environmental campaigns. As participants complete specific tasks, they earn $WeCare tokens which they can redeem for different products, services and perks on the community marketplace. Their next Impact 2 Earn campaign “Act 4 Earth” is launching this April 22nd, on Earth Day.

JOSH KAY

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii as a reggae keyboardist and vocalist, Josh Kay has extensive experience in keyboard and vocal performance. With degrees in Music Production & Engineering and Music Business Management from Berklee College of Music, Josh is highly skilled in recording, mixing, mastering, and production.

Josh is currently the house engineer at Woodshed Recording in Malibu, California, and continues to freelance as a songwriter, engineer, keyboard player, and recording artist. Life-long surfer and music maker – Josh brings out the best in artists, players and performers, taking pride in running smooth, efficient, and inspiring sessions that result in phenomenal product.

ANSEL VANHORN

On Saturday, June 25th the VanHorn family traveled to Real del Mar, Mexico (just north of Puerto Vallarta) for a peaceful beach vacation with their daughters and close friends and their families.

On Sunday, the guys enjoyed a round of golf and afterward headed to the beach to boogie board & play in the surf with the kids. Ansel was boogie boarding when a wave came down on him, causing him to crash head first into the sand.

Ansel didn’t realize exactly what had happened at first until he tried to turn himself over as he was face down in the water. Right then he realized he couldn’t move in order to turn right side up to breathe. He felt at that point the best thing to do was take one more deep breath. He thought to himself, this is where it ends. And a feeling that’s hard to describe followed. Peace. Quietness. Serenity. Nothing else but that.

Thankfully the guys noticed something wasn’t right with Ansel. They saw him floating in the ocean. He had drowned. The adults were able to pull him out of the water. They immediately began CPR and never stopped working and by the grace of God were able to revive him. But they didn’t know what else lied ahead.

Ansel was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital in Mexico where doctors proceeded to intubate him and continue to pull the fluid from his lungs. He was conscious and it’s where they discovered he couldn’t feel anything from his neck down. A spinal specialist was called in and they began running numerous tests.

It was determined although nothing was severed , Ansel needed surgery to relieve the pressure on his spine. Late Sunday night the surgeon removed his C4 and took some bone from his hip to replace his C4 vertebrae. And they placed a plate to hold it in place attaching that with screws into his C3 and C5. Ansel came out of surgery early Monday morning.

Many people worked diligently with doctors in Mexico to coordinate with neurosurgeons at St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix and arranging for a medivac back to Arizona.

On Tuesday evening, Ansel and Sheryl landed in Arizona and were transported directly to St. Joseph/Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Praise God! Doctors at BNI confirmed a successful surgery in Mexico! Ansel spent 2 solid weeks in ICU at BNI and then moved to inpatient rehab there after. Mid September he returned home and the work has continued towards his healing.

He works everyday with a team of outpatient therapists, his incredible and devoted wife and family and large support system of friends.

His full independence is near, new milestones are hit everyday and he’s been named THE MIRACLE MAN because everyone has seen the grace of God and His power.

Faith, family, friends and grit. It’s the ingredients that is what brings new hope and progress to Ansel’s healing journey everyday. And he’s unstoppable! His goal is to regain full independence and return to work late summer as the Head of Acquisitions at the Laughton Team.

JUDE JOHNSTONE

Born in Bar Harbor, Maine, Jude Johnstone began writing songs at about age 8. At 18, she was “discovered” by Bruce Springsteen’s saxophonist, Clarence Clemons. After spending some time in New York and New Jersey under his wing, in 1979, she moved to Los Angeles, where her songs quickly became sought after by other artists.

She has been covered by Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, Mary Black, Jennifer Warnes, Trisha Yearwood and more, including a #1 song for Yearwood’s debut album called “The Woman Before Me” which earned her a BMI award.

Her songs then appeared on 8 other Yearwood cds. She also penned the title track to Johnny Cash’s 1997 Grammy winning album “Unchained.”

Jude has released 8 cds of her own that run the gamut from Celtic, Gospel, Americana, to Jazz, Blues, and even Big Band. She has been featured on the CBS Early Show, and NPR Radio’s “Morning Edition.” Her songs have also been on several television shows including “Nurse Jackie”, “Army Wives” and “Lie To Me.”

Jude has opened shows for Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, Chris Hillman, 10,000 Maniacs, David Crosby and many others and toured Europe under her own name numerous times.

If Jude Johnstone is not yet a musical household name, she sure as hell should be.

Henry Carrigan, No Depression

Turning emotional pain into art is a tricky business. Sometimes I wonder if the end result is worth it. Jude Johnstone makes a good case that it is.

Rodney Crowell

Jude’s fertility, in regards to songwriting, is truly awe inspiring.

Bonnie Raitt

There are certain artists whose songs go so deep it’s like they’re heart surgeons…Jude Johnstone has been able to do all that, and more, for so many years, it’s almost like she has a patent on it.

Bill Bentley
The Morton Report

Jude Johnstone’s ability to fashion the stuff of life seasonedemotions into handsomely crafted, lyrically attractive song fare is as remarkable as it is reliable”

Duane Verh
Roots Music

…She’s patently a master at capturing the heart’s dark and desperate moments, just as she’s capable of encouraging belief in its resurrection.

Mike Davies, Roots and Branches/The Beat

Gemma McIlhenny was raised in West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School as a Fine Arts Major. Under the instruction of her mother and The Philadelphia Arts League Gemma developed a love of theater and acting, performing in various productions around the city. During her teenage years she volunteered in various community service based artistic endeavors. The primary focus was to allow inner-city youth a safe environment to express themselves through the arts . She later majored in Fine Arts at Philadelphia Community College before pursuing a career in law enforcement. Since then, Gemma has taught dance and drama with 'The Mount Airy Learning Tree'. She can be seen on network television shows such as her recurring role on New Amsterdam (NBC). As well as FBI (CBS), East New York (CBS), Power Book II: Ghost (Starz), Inventing Anna (Netflix), and many other film productions.

*Photo Credit Maggie Shirk Photography*