Meet our Team Members, our Grant Selection Council, and our Chicago Creative Collective. This extraordinary Purpose Earth Family is made up of visionaries, entrepreneurs and creatives based around the world.
Our Purpose Earth co-founders are passionate about the transformative impact of purpose-driven projects and financially support the operational and administrative costs of the organization at this time, allowing 100% of your donation to go directly to our grant recipients.
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Laura’s personal mission is to support young people in becoming global leaders. She’s the co-founder of Purpose Earth overseeing business strategy and working closely with the team to ensure clarity and coherence. She also plays a key role within the Purpose Earth Grants Council helping to review and vet all grant applications. She currently mentors four Purpose Earth grant recipients. Laura is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle and recipient of The Visioneers ‘Heroes and Heroines of Humanity” award in 2022 and Unity Earth’s ‘Keepers of the Flame' award in 2021. Read more about her work here.
Emanuel Kuntzelman is an entrepreneur, writer, philosopher, philanthropist and activist for social transformation. He’s the co-founder of Purpose Earth and visionary in developing the theory of the Holomovement as a movement to unite humanity through our collective purpose. Emanuel is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle and recipient of The Visioneers ‘Heroes and Heroines of Humanity” award in 2022, and Unity Earth’s ‘Keepers of the Flame” award in 2021. Learn more at emanuelkuntzelman.com
Sarvin is at the forefront of Purpose Earth's grant application process, ensuring each submission aligns closely with our mission and objectives through meticulous evaluation. She not only assists the Grants Council, but also creates processes to enhance efficiency in resource allocation for maximum impact. Beyond her pivotal role in grants, Sarvin spearheads physical fundraising events in Chicago, leveraging her passion and network to bolster our cause. Serving as a key liaison for external stakeholders, she exemplifies our organization's values by cultivating authentic partnerships and refining communication with finesse and effectiveness. Read more about her work here.
Jill is a writer, content creator and editor supporting mission-driven leaders and organizations through purposeful storytelling. She is the Lead Writer for Purpose Earth’s communication efforts, crafting the stories found on their website, newsletters and marketing content. You can read more of her work here.
Vanessa is the Creative Brand Director, crafting captivating video narratives and stunning visuals that tell the story and philosophy of Purpose Earth across their social media and online presence. Vanessa is also passionately involved in the creative production of Purpose Earth's in-person fundraising experiences, connecting donors with grant recipients and their projects in unique and meaningful ways. Read more about her work here.
Rhiannon serves as Event and Programs Creative Director and Co-Producer. Guiding grant recipients in their own content building & storytelling journeys, she also acts as a creative liaison in key collaborative partnerships with global organizations. You can learn about her work here.
Laurence is the Executive Producer for Purpose Earth online events and programs. He serves on the Board of Directors and as legal counsel for Unity Earth. Laurence is also a valued Purpose Earth mentor, bringing an unusual range, depth, and diversity of experience to support grant recipients and their project success. Read more about his work here.
Grants Selection
Council Members
All our incredible Grant Selection Council Members generously volunteer their time to support the Purpose Earth mission, allowing 100% of all donations to go directly to our grant recipients and their projects.
Timotina Basu holds a BSc. in Psychology from the University of Ghana Legon and an MSc. in International Business, Leadership and Management from the University of York, England. She also has certification in commercial credit analysis from Moody’s and is currently enrolled in the Certified Trade Finance Professional course.
Outside her corporate work, Timotina is passionate about creating environmental sustainability and youth empowerment awareness and devotes her free time to support initiatives in this space.
She is also a proud Absa One Young World Ambassador (2021, 2022)
Dr. Peter Blaze Corcoran is Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies and Environmental Education at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has been a faculty member at College of the Atlantic, Swarthmore College, and Bates College, and has held appointments as a visiting professor at universities in Australia, The Netherlands, Fiji, Malaysia, and Kenya.
He has long served as a Research Fellow at the Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development at University for Peace in San José, Costa Rica. Earth Ethics Institute at Miami Dade College has designated him as an Elder.
New posts since his recent retirement include appointments as Senior Advisor to UNITY EARTH in Melbourne, Australia and Senior Fellow at the International Council for Environmental Economics and Development in New York City. He also serves on the Grant. Selection Council of PURPOSE EARTH, a new organization which supports community and environmental activism worldwide. In 2020, University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia appointed him as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Education.
He continues to be active as a scholar on a range of topics in educational and environmental studies through various chapters, journal articles, and lectures. His most recent books include: Envisioning Futures for Environmental and Sustainability Education, Wageningen Academic Publishers (2017), and Intergenerational Learning and Transformative Leadership for Sustainable Futures, Wageningen Academic Publishers (2014).
A true nationalist and internationalist, Dr. Akpezi Ogbuigwe serves as Adviser for the African Region, United Nations University (UNU) Regional Centers for Expertise (RCE’s). She is the Founder of Anpez Centre for Environment and Development (ACFED), founded in 1991 to respond to the huge environmental neglect and pollution of the Niger Delta Region. She is the promoter of The Star Advantage Network founded to mobilize and proliferate change actions to lighten up our world in every dimension.
Akpezi served as Dean of Law at the Rivers State University, was former Head of Environmental Education & Training, and later Coordinator of Ecosystems Management Sub-Programme at the United Nations Environment Programme. She has several publications including; The Imperative for Legal Education Responsiveness to the Climate Change Exigency, Rivers State University anniversary publication (2022); Legal Issues in the Niger Delta Resource Dilemma, 2nd Edition, ACFED (2018); Birth Pangs of Africa’s Renaissance (2007); SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals: A view from inside Africa’s Higher Education Institutions, Approaches to SDG 17 Partnerships for the SDGs (SDGs), GUNI, 28-36 (2018).
She is a recipient of awards and honors such as the Environmental Creation Awareness Award by the Environment Outreach Magazine (2010); and The Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Award in recognition of contribution to Moral and Environmental Leadership by the Nigeria Junior Chamber.
Akpezi continues to contribute internationally to the field of environmental law, environmental education and sustainability, climate change research and transformation of the teaching profession and higher education in Africa. She is a volunteer with The Christian Care for Widows, Widowers, the Aged and the Orphans (CCWA).
Dr. Marty K. Casey’s portfolio of contributions and body of work continues to evolve, as she continues to combine her passion for the ARTS with her compassion for her community. Dr. Casey asserts; “Hurt people, Hurt people, but Healed people can Heal people.” She has set out to do just that with her latest development of UnGUN Institute, focused on disarming Trauma in individuals to heal from collective trauma events, which plague the black communities.
In addition, Dr. Casey has co-created the global observance of Black SON Day. The inaugural event took place August 9, 2020 with more than 100 global networks and 50,000+ viewers engaged in a 12-hour interactive presentation and discussion, focused on implementing strategies and action plans to rebuild and uplift the black community.
It is no wonder Dr. Casey was chosen for the cover and celebrated as one of the top 25 Most Influential Businesswomen in St. Louis in 2020, by the St. Louis Business Journal. She has taken the stage in her city, nationally, and internationally playing the role of her lifetime as evidenced by her philanthropy and activism track record.
She is the Founder and President of Show Me Arts Foundation, the first arts organization formed immediately following the unrest of Ferguson, Missouri. She has tirelessly served more than 3,000 children, at no cost to their families, providing classes centered around the arts and educating the youth in poetry, singing, dancing, theater, visual arts, and DJ Engineering. Marty’s success has been acclaimed by numerous awards, interviews and acknowledgments, including being featured on the Beyonce’ #Beygood foundation https://www.beyonce.com/show-me-arts-academy/ and recognized by this highly acclaimed Artist for her work in the community.
Dr. Casey has written a 7-day self-help guide instructing individuals to journal their inner thoughts to help them tap into their own personal success. The book and DVD are available for purchase on Amazon as well as at historical museums like the Alex Haley Museum, where she has performed and was celebrated for both her community work and career successes.
Dr. Casey has written and produced a one woman show; titled “It’s Not A Man’s World,” depicting the early trials and tribulations of her life where she plays 6 characters of her family. She performed her one woman show to a SOLD-OUT crowd presented by AARP, Brooklyn New York the same week that Broadway was shut down due to the Coronavirus, making history as one of the last shows to play in 2020.
Dr. Casey’s career traverses entertainment and community service. She is an anointed singer, gifted actress, writer, producer, and director. Through her Nationally acclaimed youth singing group Spreading The Love (STL), Marty rearranged the Beatles hit song, All Together Now. The video was featured during the St. Louis Blues NHL home game during the 2017- 2018 season, just one season prior to their Stanley Cup historical win!
Amongst other career highlights, Marty sang the National Anthem at the St. Louis Monster Truck Show for an audience of 30,000+ fans. She also completed a 12-year successful run as a National touring actress for Menopause The Musical. In 2018 she was inducted into the United Nations as the first female Goodwill Ambassador of Peace in the Midwest. She received her first Honorary Doctorate and she also became an Ambassador for Shine Ministries Orphan children in Uganda, Africa.
Dr. Casey is a member of an Arts & Healing Council. She also sits on three boards.
Kevin is a firm believer in adopting sustainable development goals as a tool for world peace and healing. He has/is involved in several activities inclined towards sustainable agriculture and the environment.
In 2013, Kevin attended the Youth Encounter for Sustainability workshop in Serbia, with individuals from around the world where he lived in a model "sustainable eco-village." The experience stimulated him to work with the World Student Community for Sustainable Development (WSCSD) as the Programs Director. WSCSD's goals were to harness young people's creativity and energy across universities in Kenya to 'adopt-a-forest' and 'adopt-a-river' initiatives. WSCSD has collaborated with numerous stakeholders, including the Ministry of Higher Education in Kenya. This initiative later led to the Kenya Green University Network (KGUN), launched in 2016, by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
Kevin co-founded the Kenya Youth Biotechnology & Biosciences Network (KYBNet) to advocate for better government funding and investment in STEM courses. As a social entrepreneur, Kevin also ran an eco-tourism company that worked with local communities to create recreational trails and income-generation activities. Kevin is currently interested in adopting agricultural technologies for small scale holder farmers in developing countries to maximize productivity.
Laura’s personal mission is to support young people in becoming global leaders. She’s the co-founder of Purpose Earth overseeing business strategy and working closely with the team to ensure clarity and coherence. She also plays a key role within the Purpose Earth Grants Council helping to review and vet all grant applications. She currently mentors four Purpose Earth grant recipients. Laura is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle and recipient of The Visioneers ‘Heroes and Heroines of Humanity” award in 2022 and Unity Earth’s ‘Keepers of the Flame' award in 2021. Read more about her work here.
Chicago Creative Collective
The members of our Chicago Creative Collective include the city’s top designers and artists in the industry. This inspiring group of women volunteer their time and creative talents in crafting and organizing experiential fundraising experiences, amplifying grant opportunities while allowing 100% of all donations to go directly to our grant recipients and their projects.
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Koren is on a mission to design a better world. As a founder of a conscious branding and design firm, SuperKND (Super Kind), she has built her career around beautifying the world inside and out. Early on Koren recognized that companies have the greatest capacity, reach, and resources to scale sustainability, meaningful impact, and positive change. With more than two decades working in Europe, Africa, and the United States, Koren has designed her career to collaborate with founders, CEOs, and industry leaders to launch conscious start-ups, non-profits, and B Corporations that stand for more than the bottom line. Brands and businesses that prioritize passion and purpose in the fields of art and design, clean beauty, education, food and hospitality, health and wellness, sustainability, and technology.
Sarvin Haghighi merges traditional Iranian art forms with a contemporary sensibility. In combining Farsi calligraphy and Islamic architectural designs with mixed media (including resin and gold leaf) and bold lines and framing, Haghighi affirms the enduring aesthetic of a culture that is too often represented through the limited lenses of war and political turmoil. The meticulous composition of these works share the laconic beauty of Rumi’s poetry, which ultimately works to create and emotionally resonant homage to tradition in the frantic modern world.
https://sarvinhaghighi.squarespace.com/
Vanessa Palmer is a passionate and luminary mindful-living designer and multi-sensory curator, seamlessly blending the realms of design and holistic wellness to craft immersive environments that nurture the mind and well-being.
Rooted in the prestigious School of the Chicago Art Institute with a degree in Fine Arts and Design, and enriched by a transformative year studying Italian architecture and design in Florence, Italy, Vanessa’s journey embodies a fusion of creativity, wellness, and meditative immersion. For over two decades, Vanessa has graced the luxury wellness landscape with her passion for incorporating wellness into mindful living. From luxury eco-spaces for prestigious destinations, to the serene haven of her own holistic wellness day retreat, “âme (soul) sanctuary” in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, her projects and life’s work evoke harmony and rejuvenation.
Her passion to teach people how to balance their mind-body connection through living a mindful life is both inspiring and transformative, guiding individuals toward holistic well-being and inner harmony. She is passionate about practicing and teaching meditation, breath-work, yoga and mindfulness techniques. Today, Vanessa’s passion extends to curating immersive mindful experiences, luxury wellness retreats around the world, and designing MindCurate Immersive and Multi-Sensory spaces that reflect a profound belief in the transformative power of the environment on mental well-being. She collaborates with designers to enhance design projects into true wellness environments that nurture the mind and body.
A Chicago native, Nora Schneider’s love of architecture, interior design, art and fashion prompted her to form Nora Schneider Design. She received her BA degree in Interior Design from The Harrington College Of Design and began pursing her passion for sophisticated, timeless design.
Her firm is committed to creating environments that reflect the lifestyle of the client and results in a personal statement of beauty, function and comfort. Their goal is to create an exceptional design experience that has your living space not only reflect who you are, but enhance the way you live.
Nora’s personal aesthetic relies heavily on the juxtaposition of ancient and modern and the belief that art enhances everything.
Nora is an award-winning member of The American Society of Interior Design, and in 2010, believing that collaborating with others, best practices, mentoring and sharing resources all lead to better design, she co-founded the Interior Design Peer Alliance. She’s been part of the Designer On Call Program at the Merchandise Mart of Chicago since its inception.
She serves on the Randolph Street Market Designer Advisory Board as well the Chicago VIP Luxury Gala Host Committee.
Believing that passion and philanthropy make perfect partners, she’s part of The Fashion Council for the School of The Art Institute as well as a member of The Architecture and Design Society of The Art Institute of Chicago.
She is devoted to her spiritual journey and extreme wanderlust.
Armed with a passion for people, stories + global culture, Aimee Wertepny has been turning out unapologetic, authentic interiors since establishing her interior design firm PROjECT in 2005. Clients will immediately recognize her signature aesthetic: an organic-glam-mash-up of texture, layered with high-contrast concepts. Luxury cut with a little grit, anchored by her essential desires: influence emotion, engage the imagination.
Her gutsy style + passion for connecting extends naturally into her philosophy of meaningful travel, giving back and mantra : MAKE DESIGN MATTER.
“In our version of humanitarianism, the love of design hooks up with desire to make a difference,” says Wertepny. “Purpose Earth is on the same page, and we’re excited to rally behind great design to empower grassroots projects that change our world for the better.”
Kasia Kay is a Polish American painter and sculptor who lives in the United States and Poland. She earned her B.F.A. from Columbia College Chicago in 2004 and acquired expertise in metal casting at the Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center in 2017.
History, culture, and current sociopolitical affairs inspire Kasia Kay's creative processes. She is often interested in introspective content and a sense of identity, rejecting limitations in creativity and open to diving into the unknown. In 2020, she ventured into designing limited-edition art-jewelry collections, demonstrating her versatility and adaptability.
Kasia Kay has exhibited in solo and group shows in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United States. Her artworks are included in collections in Europe and the U.S.A. She has also completed multiple art residencies and international curatorial studies in Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United States.
Kasia Kay has been featured in Artnet News, :arte Venice, Newcity Art, Chicago Gallery News, Chicago Interiors, New York Times, and more. Her influence extends beyond her own artwork. She has curated numerous international group exhibitions and site-specific projects in major cities such as Athens (Greece.), Chicago (U.S.A.), Miami (U.S.A.), and New York (U.S.A.), contributing to the global art community.
In 2006, Kay founded Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery, which, after operating successfully for twelve years and participating in esteemed international art fairs like Art Miami, Volta, Art Chicago, and Scope NY and Miami, was eventually closed to allow her to concentrate primarily on her artistic pursuits and curatorial activities.
“I’m honored to be on board of the Purpose Earth Chicago Creative Advisory Council for Emerge Benefit. The organization is committed to inspiring change and supporting global initiatives through grants and mentorship. The fact that all tickets and auction sales will directly support these vital programs highlights the impactful nature of this event.
In addition, I’m making an artwork from the recycled plastic waste collected and transformed into plastic sheets by volunteers and students involved in Purpose Earth grantee, Positive Plastic - an initiative of Ahla Fawda organization. The artwork is going to be a symbol of collective creativity and thought in order to raise an awareness of plastic pollution in the world, and international commitment to preservation of nature and humanity. It is going to be available for purchase at the event with 100% proceeds for Ahla Fawda.”- Kasia Kay.
https://www.kasiakayartprojects.co/
Copyright © 2024, Kasia Kay. All rights reserved.