Laila El-Haddad is a Palestinian writer, journalist and social activist, and the author of Gaza Mom and co-editor of Gaza Unsilenced. A leading voice on Gaza and the intersection of food and politics, she has written for the Washington Post, International Herald Tribune and Le Monde diplomatique, and appeared on NPR and CNN. She was formerly Al Jazeera English's Gaza correspondent and co-directed two documentaries, including the award-winning Tunnel Trade. El-Haddad also featured in CNN's 'Parts Unknown' as Anthony Bourdain's guide in Gaza. Born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents from Gaza, she lectures globally and lives in Maryland with her family.

Maggie Schmitt is a writer, researcher, translator, educator and social activist. She holds a BA from Harvard and has conducted advanced graduate studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Schmitt works in various media exploring the daily practices of ordinary people as a way of understanding political and social realities in the Mediterranean region.