Uplifting communities through arts

Kirsten Lyerly

Kirsten Lyerly is a public health professional who is passionate about connecting people and cultures and using those connections to improve the health and livelihoods of populations across the globe.

Growing up in a household where exposure to cultures was prominent (tribute to her father), Kirsten’s interest and passion for this type of work happened at a young age and quickly became part of who she is as a person and professional.

Kirsten has a background in public health, earning both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. From there, she has spent over a decade serving in various roles in public health / business development across the NGO, academia, government and military sectors. Encompassing the mission of World Bridge Foundation, Kirsten has immersed herself in different cultures through personal and professional experiences to play a role in connecting people across cultures and creating equitable opportunities for proper healthcare and resources.

Currently, Kirsten works in business development at Castlight Health, a digital health navigation company, whose mission it is to make it as easy as humanly possible for individuals to navigate the American healthcare system and live happier, healthier, more productive lives.

Dr Benjamin Gilmer

Dr. BENJAMIN GILMER is a family physician and Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Mountain Area Health Education Center’s (MAHEC) Family Medicine Residency Program. He attended Davidson College and studied medicine at the Sorbonne and East Carolina University. As the Medical Director for MAHEC's Rural Health Initiative and Rural Fellowship, he is passionate about advocating for global and rural health disparities. He has worked extensively in Central and South America and West Africa. Benjamin is committed to advancing medical education, point of care ultrasound, interprofessional collaboration and inspiring students to pursue rural health. His advocacy work currently focuses on bringing media attention to the social injustice of treating mental illness in our prison system. His book, “The Other Dr. Gilmer” (Ballantine) and upcoming film project (Concordia Films) both highlight the injustice of mass incarceration of people with mental illness. A former neurobiologist turned rural family doctor, Dr. Gilmer has lectured across the country about medical ethics, rural health, bias in medicine, and criminal justice reform. He lives with his wife, Deirdre, two children, Kai and Luya, and their dog Prince Peanut Butter in Asheville, North Carolina.

Stella Kinobe

Stella Kinobe is a co-founder of World Bridge Foundation. Born and growing up in Uganda, she experienced numerous challenges as a young girl and lived through it all with resilience.

After quickly realizing early on that she was on her own, she promised herself that if she made it, she would do everything possible to change the lives of others, and help them not to experience the same. After completing her university studies in business administration, Stella relocated to the United States where she worked in the banking sector with First National Bank and then M&T Bank. After working in the corporate field for several years, she decided to focus on fulfilling her life passion of helping communities in need. She joined Open Doors of Asheville; a US based local non-profit that strengthens community by eliminating the race-based opportunity andachievement gaps for students through education.

Phil Krumm

I grew up in central Ohio. I’m an avid hockey fan and love the outdoors. I received my undergraduate degree in economics from Ohio State University and my Master of Science in aviation management and logistics from Kent State University. My master’s thesis was entitled “Has aviation improved economic efficiency of the human trafficking market?” where I explore the economic impact of improved transportation infrastructure on trafficking methodologies. Through this research I discovered that the best defense against human trafficking is by educating underserved communities about the topic, as well as providing resources to ensure the validity of international job offers (a common ruse). My goal is to disrupt the market and make it as difficult as possible for traffickers to succeed. Such a disruption will lead to traffickers taking greater risks in victim acquisition leading to a higher arrest rate and driving up the price when selling which would shrink the overall market. I believe cross-cultural education is critical to a successful society and am extremely excited to work with the World Bridge Foundation to reduce this global pandemic.

Alan Cahn

Alan has over 35 years of experience in senior management positions in a global enterprise, being an executive coach, a trainer and a consultant. He has a demonstrated track record of success coaching leaders to realize breakthrough results, utilizing his unique talent for disruptive/context shifting interactions. Alan brings a commitment to optimizing leadership performance and realizing professional fulfillment to each of his coaching clients. He can be counted on to bring joy to the client and the coaching process!

Prior to his professional coaching career Alan hired, trained and mentored over 100 managers and leaders. He successfully launched and grew several new operation centers for an international training and development company. He was known in this company as someone who could both design new products and processes as well as take failing parts of the enterprise and turn them into successes. His eye was always on the employees AND the bottom line.

Alan holds a Bachelor in Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Social Inquiry. He has post-graduate training and expertise in strategic design, business management and practical philosophy. He is also a trained individual and group counselor. While Alan has deep expertise in business, he is also passionate about serving international non-profits. He gets great joy from helping them realize their missions and elevating the culture of the organization.

Kinobe (Pronounced Chi-No-Bay)

Born and raised in Uganda, Chinobay's musical journey began in an underprivileged family. He immersed himself in the rich tradition of Buganda musicians whose melodies resonated from the nearby Kanyange king’s palace. Drawing inspiration from these musicians, Chinobay's early work revitalized folk classics on various instruments. Today, as a songwriter, educator, and intercultural facilitator, his original compositions vividly bring people’s stories to life, showcasing the multifaceted richness of Africa beyond just its struggles.

As the child of two dedicated school teachers, Chinobay's commitment to using arts education as a catalyst for social change follows in his parents' footsteps. His cross-cultural journey commenced during elementary school, when he toured Europe in 1995, sharing the vibrant sounds of Uganda with fellow school children as part of a cultural troupe. In 1999, his musical prowess caught the attention of UNICEF Ambassador to Uganda, Michel Sidibe, leading to Chinobay's involvement in the GEM (Girl Education Movement) initiative. This campaign advocated for free education for girls who had been denied this opportunity. Through UNICEF, Chinobay conducted seminars and workshops where his music became a powerful tool to reach and educate people in rural areas about the importance of women’s education. This pivotal role as a UNICEF ambassador steered Chinobay towards social responsibility, shaping his music's focus towards socially relevant themes with the aim of enhancing children’s lives.

These formative international and philanthropic experiences culminated in the establishment of Dance of Hope. Here, young performers from underprivileged and challenging backgrounds converge to harness the transformative and healing power of music. They refine their skills in music, dance, and percussion, and offer workshops globally to children and families in diverse communities. In 2019, Chinobay also founded and currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of the 501(c)3 organization, World Bridge Foundation, a philanthropic endeavor dedicated to improving the livelihoods of vulnerable children.