Mimi Prunella Hernandez, M.S., R.H. (AHG), is a clinical herbalist with a master’s degree in herbal medicine. As a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild, she has mentored students in clinical and community herbalism through various educational platforms. Mimi is known for her ability to explain complex information in a relatable way, which has gained her a dedicated following. Her warm and approachable nature has made her a sought-after speaker at conferences and events.

Mimi’s volunteer work inspires plant sanctuary dreamers. She not only strives to ensure the continued availability of native and medicinal plants but also educates others about their importance and traditional uses. With her husband Terry she stewards The PonderLand Native Plant Sanctuary and inspires others to consider establishing plant sanctuaries in their communities.

Mimi’s herbal roots are inspired by her Colombian and Mexican Grandmothers via a Latin American Folk Herbalism and Curanderismo lineage. While Mimi finds immense joy in practicing kitchen herbalism, she finds tremendous fulfillment in delivering herbal house calls. She loves delivering baskets filled with homemade nourishing goodies, using the herbs she grows in her garden to provide natural remedies to those in need.

Her greatest joy is tending to her 3 children, AnaÏs, Evan, and Talan, and several pets, alongside her husband Terry.

Wes currently works as the Acting Director of the Leighton Ford Center for Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. He is also the Co-Founder of Kinship Plot, a community of learning and practice imagining and embodying resonant relationships of every kind. Previous to these roles, Wes served with a variety of ministry teams in Saint Louis, Mexico City, St Andrews, and Charlotte, including eight years as lead pastor of Warehouse 242.

Wes holds a PhD in Theology, Imagination, and the Arts from the University of St Andrews and enjoys writing and speaking on a variety of topics including beauty, spiritual formation and the arts, discipleship in the theodrama, slow faith, pastoral ministry, kinship, and creativity. His publications include Living Theodrama: Reimagining Theological Ethics (Routledge, 2014), Theatrical Theology: Explorations in Performing the Faith (Cascade, 2014), and Beauty is Oxygen: Finding a Faith that Breathes (Eerdmans, 2024).

David Applegate is an amateur historian, musician and collector of stories great and small. He is known to wax prosaic about World War 1 at the drop of a hat, and can name the first 100 World Series winners from memory. When not assisting with the execution of grand and gargantuan feasts, David moonlights as a Financial Services professional. David proudly has no social media presence whatsoever.

Kirk Irwin has been director of Friday Arts Project for 11 years. Prior to moving to Rock Hill, he lived in Orlando, Florida where he moved after marrying his wife Sarah and studied theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. Before that he lived and worked in New York City where he started his work in the art world alongside painter Makoto Fujimura and the International Arts Movement. He has served on several art boards (the International Arts Movement and the Arts Council of York County) and public art committees, but is currently taking a break from that work. Kirk has lived with artists his entire life beginning with his mother, a retired art teacher and painter, and now with his wife who is a graphic designer and painter. He dabbles in poetry and oversees the composting for he and Sarah’s gardening efforts. He is thrilled the apple trees appear to be thriving in his yard.