DeRay Mckesson is a civil rights activist focused primarily on issues of innovation, equity and justice. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, DeRay graduated from Bowdoin College and holds honorary doctorates from The New School and Maryland Institute College of Art.

As a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter Movement and a co-founder of several activist organizations, he has worked to connect individuals with knowledge and tools, and provide citizens and policy makers with commonsense policies to ensure equity. DeRay is also a key player in confronting the systems that have led to mass incarceration and police killings of black and other minority populations.