Michael Howard is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Maine (USA). He is the co-editor (with Karl Widerquist) of Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend and Exporting the Alaska Model (2012). He has been the president of the US Basic Income Guarantee Network (2008-2022), and co-editor of Basic Income Studies (2014-2022). He is co-chair of the Maine Basic Income Security Committee.

Victoria Morales has dedicated her 27-year career to working with underserved and underresourced communities, developing practical solutions for common challenges. Her journey began after graduating from Boston College in 1997, where she worked as a youth worker in various Boston neighborhoods, gaining valuable insights into the effects of poverty on children and adults. She further expanded this understanding through an AmeriCorps VISTA position in Puerto Rico, creating programs for families living in extreme poverty.

Driven by a desire to comprehend the legal barriers hindering access to opportunities for those trapped in poverty cycles, Victoria pursued a law degree at Maine Law, graduating in 2005. She then gained valuable experience clerking for judges in Maine's court system, where she learned how compassion and the law can intersect.

Victoria's legal career included working at a litigation firm representing Maine municipalities in court, followed by positions with the Maine Department of Transportation and the City of Portland at the intersection of transportation and housing.

Throughout her career, she has maintained a commitment to pro bono legal services, including work with the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project and co-founding Youth-Led Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing youth incarceration.

In 2017, Victoria joined with other housing professionals to develop innovative solutions to housing system gaps, leading to the launch of the Quality Housing Coalition in 2018. She also served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022.

As the current Executive Director of Quality Housing Coalition, Victoria applies her legal and systems knowledge to the organization's mission daily. Her work has been recognized with the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition's 2022 Elizabeth Mitchell Award and the MaineBiz 2023 Women to Watch Award.

Victoria is proud to serve on the Board of Trustees of Mercy Hospital/Northern Light, the Board of Directors of Youth-LED Justice, and the Cumberland County District Public Health Council.

She and her husband have 3 children and live in South Portland.

Peace's background in volunteering and working with families facing housing insecurity and homelessness in Maine has equipped her with a unique perspective on addressing issues surrounding housing, health and benefits access.

At Quality Housing Coalition (QHC), Peace leads Project Home Trust, a direct Cash Assistance pilot program designed to address the "Benefits cliff" and help alleviate poverty in Maine single parent households.

Peace's commitment to creating positive change extends beyond her role at QHC. She is an active participant in the Maine Basic Income Committee, where she advocates for shifting narratives around poverty and deservedness. Furthermore, she serves on the Guaranteed Income Community of Practice, working tirelessly to inform state and federal policy and reform the safety net to look more like unrestricted direct cash assistance.