Ashlee Marie Preston is an acclaimed Media Personality, Producer, and Humanitarian. She is historically the first trans person in the U.S. to become Editor in Chief of a national publication and the first openly trans person to run for state office in California. Ashlee Marie leads transformative discourse that transmutes diverse perspectives into deeper understanding and intersectional partnerships that center on cross-cultural unity. In 2020 she launched YouAreEssential.org, a national fund benefiting grassroots organizations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the organization curates programming that supports the healing, growth and sustainability of social movements. Ashlee Marie is co-chair of the Artists & Talent peer-group of the Impact Guild, and a Legacy Member of the Nexus Impact Society. She is also a TED alumna and recipient of countless awards and accolades; including Coca Cola’s Next Generation LGBTQ Leadership, the BlackList100 (2020), and Power of Women’s Change-makers (2021) to name a few.