Cuenca, Nelly: - Nelly Cuenca is a retired Hockaday mom (call of 2019) who successfully raised a lifer. Mama Nelly holds a Bachelor in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Science in Management from The University of Texas at Dallas. She is the CEO of MaaPaa and an instructor of Mental Health First Aid. Mama Nelly is the coauthor of I Smell Like a Flower, the first book from a series that focuses on bringing daily occurrences to life. Mama Nelly enjoys reading, dancing, and being one with nature for fun.

West, John: - John (Bean) West is a charismatic five-year-old from North Texas. He is the co-founder of MaaPaa, a nonprofit organization catered towards helping single mothers raise their sons and empowering mothers to be the best versions of themselves. Bean not only helps to empower mothers but now other children his age through the stories he tells.Having thrived during the pandemic, Mama Nelly and Bean have decided he can skip kindergarten and focus on writing children's books instead.

Lee, Audrey: - Audrey Lee is an alumna from Southern Methodist University who studied Mechanical Engineering, Studio Art, Applied Physiology, and Health Management. She is very passionate about creating impactful designs, whether it's in STEM, art, or drawing connections between the two. Before illustrating, Audrey worked as the graphic designer for the SMU John G. Goodwin Tower Center creating booklets, flyers, infographics, andmore. She then made her debut as an illustrator in I Smell Like a Flower and is excited to continue her work as an illustrator with Bean and Nelly and their non-profit organization MaaPaa.Audrey is currently in graduate school, studying Bioengineering, but when she is not studying or illustrating, she can be found running with her dog, Dakoda, on the San Diego or Seattle beaches.