Dr. Donna Stevens Kehl, Ed.D., is a writer, educator, and the founder of H.O.P.E Theatre Academy, Inc. An educator for 22 years, she currently teaches English classes for special needs students and is launching Drama classes through H.O.P.E. Theatre Academy.

 

Donna has directed numerous large-scale theatre productions for her students, such as Little Mermaid, Jr. and Alice in Wonderland. In 2021, she graduated from the University of La Verne’s Doctor of Organizational Leadership program. Donna’s published Doctoral Dissertation explores how involvement in theatre arts helps to improve social functioning skills in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in middle school. Her research led to the founding of H.O.P.E. (Hands-On Performance Educational) Theatre Academy, which focuses on individuals with autism and other special needs and individuals recovering from homelessness, helping them become involved in theatre arts. 

 

Through her writing, Donna encourages people to find forgiveness, healing, and acceptance that restores families. She strives to create a conversation about homelessness and the healing power of the arts.

 

Donna seeks to cultivate bodies of work that promote service to humanity and help others achieve their potential, which drives her passion for serving on the board of the Write A Great Story Foundation.

 

"I've taught thousands of students lessons of struggle and endurance through the works of Harper Lee, Maya Angelou, and Langston Hughes. The stories stand the test of time and teach us the lessons of the past that build our futures. I am honored to be part of the Write a Great Story Foundation, as I believe in lifting diverse writers' voices and stories that enlighten and unite humanity." 

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David is the former production chief of Walt Disney Studios and the former president of Paramount Pictures. 

 

Throughout his career, he worked on more than 200 motion pictures and their screenplays, including such global franchises as Indiana Jones and Star Trek. He has guided countless adaptions of books and plays to movies including Forrest Gump, Elephant Man, Ordinary People, and Terms of Endearment. He is an Emmy and Golden Globe recipient for his HBO production of Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

 

David is a believer in giving back, wanting to inspire and equip the writers of tomorrow, believing fiction is an underutilized tool that can help build a better world.

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The founder of Story Summit and the Write a Great Story Foundation, David feels that "Outside fresh water, story is the most important thing to human sustenance. To promote emerging writers is so important to the human ecosystem."

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Rosa Salazar was the head writer of the successful multiple character series in Mexico, Mujer Casos de la Vida Real for eleven years. The show was a cultural sensation and continues to air in more than twelve countries. 

 

In recent years as a writer-producer, Rosa has given life to Televisa’s highest rated prime time programming, breaking audience records with critically acclaimed shows like Absimo de Pasion and Lo Que la Vida me Robo, a program for which she won an award for Best Adaption in 2014. 

 

Rosa also penned the best-selling non-fiction book, Rituales para el Amor, la Belleza y la Prosperidad. Rosa has written an enormous 6,000 hours of programming.

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Rosa serves on the foundation because "Every writer needs someone to believe in them. This is what Write a Great Story Foundation does, believe and nourish writers; and this is why it so important for me to be a part of it."

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Pamela Danforth Yaco is an award-winning novelist, poet, and playwright. Her plays have been produced at esteemed venues such as Theatrelab NYC, Manhattan Theatre Source, and the Tribeca Film Center. As a former and founding member of the Writers’ Forum at Manhattan Theatre Source, she has fostered a culture of collaboration and creativity, assisting emerging playwrights in bringing their works to the stage. Yaco is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and New York Women in Film and Television.

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Soul Binder, her first book in The Immortal Alchemy Series, was published in 2025 to good reviews.

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“Stories are essential to our lives. When a book closes or the credits roll, we’re often left with more than just a story—we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. We see our relationships in a new light, and sometimes, we find inspiration to help shape a better, more compassionate world.

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It’s a true honor to be part of Write A Great Story Foundation’s mission—to champion that creative spirit and support talented writers as they develop their craft and voices in service of a more thoughtful, connected world.”

 

Stacey Powells is a writer, journalist, playwright, and co-host of Slightly Filtered.

She previously worked in music licensing for Paramount Pictures for nearly 20 years.

 

Stacey graduated from HSU with a degree in Theatre/Playwriting and began her career with Paramount, where she licensed music for television shows such as Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Entertainment Tonight, and the first Arsenio Hall Show. The Jim Henson Company and Multicom Entertainment are still clients of hers.

 

Stacey’s book of personal essays, Empty Cupboards, reached #1 on Amazon in several categories. She is the 2020 Jeff Arch Fellowship winner. Her play, Stirrups, was showcased at the 2016 New York Theatre Festival and has been produced in several small theaters. She’s written for Island’s Magazine, Divulge Magazine, Santa Clarita Living, and The Eastern Sierra Wedding Guide. 

 

Stacey is drawn to the Write A Great Story Foundation because she feels "there is nothing more intentional than being a part of a foundation whose purpose is to help writers find their voice, tell their stories, and share with the world their experiences and wisdom through their words."

 

 

Sadeqa is a New York Times Bestselling author of five novels, a passionate public speaker and writing coach. She teaches for the MFA program at Drexel University and is a writing instructor for Story Summit.

 

Her most recent novel, The House of Eve was an instant New York Times Best Seller, Target book club pick, Reese’s Book Club selection and nominated for a NAACP Image Award. Her previous novel, Yellow Wife, was named by Oprah Magazine as “27 of 2021 Most Anticipated Winter Historical Fiction books.” Yellow Wife was also a 2021 Goodreads Choice Award finalist for historical fiction, a 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner, and a Barnes & Noble book club pick in paperback.

 

Sadeqa’s novels have received starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal and have been featured in top reads lists by NBC News.com, Good Housekeeping, Christian Science Monitor, Reader’s Digest, Off The Shelf, W Magazine, Country Living, Hollywood Life, Parade, She Reads, and many others.

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Sadeqa lives by the African Proverb, "Each One, Teach One," which drives her to give back to writers through the Write A Great Story Foundation. "I believe everyone is creative and I am committed to opening the gate wide and offering everyone who wants to write, the opportunity to be in community with excellent teachers, learn from creative mentors, and be exposed to the writing industry as a whole."

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Andy Edgington is a writer and educator with over 22 years of experience in adult education, including over a decade as an art studio owner, where he fostered creative expression in diverse communities.

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He has published poetry and short stories on Substack and Medium and recently celebrated his first horror short story publication in the anthology Crumpled (January 2025). Currently working toward publishing his first novel, his writing explores themes of identity and belonging. As a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, he brings a unique perspective to the foundation’s mission of inclusive storytelling.

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Andy’s connection to the foundation began through Story Summit, where he found not only a passionate writing community but also friendship and mentorship that inspired him to pay it forward to other emerging writers.

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“I joined the Write A Great Story Foundation because I believe stories have the power to change lives. As a member of the queer community, I know firsthand how vital representation is in literature and the arts. I’m committed to helping writers find their path and share their truths with the world.”