Simeone Scaramozzino started traveling across different realms of consciousness and wisdom at a very early age. Since then, his journey of exploration has been about opening inter-dimensional portals through immersive art by interweaving ancient and modern tech for human transformation and expansion. Our community’s values and orientation to co-creation have been quintessential in this path of expression and transcendence. Maven went solo to her first Burn, found a camp where she served coffee and beignets, held the space as a Temple Guardian, and danced from dusk ‘til dawn on the top of the Mayan Warrior. Now she wears a VR headset or is glued to her multiple screens as she lends some help to the Virtual Burn communications team.
Shirley Strong is a social justice educator committed to greater equity and inclusion in higher education. She has been to Black Rock City in 2013 and has been part of the R.I.D.E. Advisory Group since 2019. Most recently, Shirley was the Chief Diversity Officer at Samuel Merritt University (SMU). Currently, she is the Diversity Director for the Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research, a program of the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) that trains health professionals on the use of psychedelics. Shirley also serves as an advisor and trainer for the Structural Competency Working Group (SCWG), which conducts training on structural racism in healthcare in order to reduce health disparities leading to improved health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
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Simone Torrey began her Burning Man journey in 2016 when she was invited to join BeeCharge camp in July, and subsequently sparkleponied her way through her first burn. During that same year, she met someone during a dust storm; he’s now her husband and father of their child. The next year Simone was part of the mutant vehicle crew that brought the Red Hot Beverly to life. And a year later she joined the organizing team of BeeCharge, leading an effort to create independent but interconnected pods within the camp. Simone has been working with Burning Man Project on several community engagement initiatives since 2018. Through her evolution as a professional facilitator for transformative change and community engagement processes, she has lived, studied and worked in 15 countries over the past 23 years.
Shimmer (aka Jerril Nilson) finally found herself on playa in 2011 after years of voyeuristically enjoying the view of Black Rock City through the images taken by professional photographers she knew. As the playa would have it, her first volunteer role with Gate, Perimeter & Exodus was Pulsing, in its debut at Exodus. From that time on, she’s come back to the gravel road next to the pavement where Gate Road ends, as a Nevada-certified Flagger, Flagger Shift Supervisor, and as Exodus Operations Assistant Manager for the last three events. She’s a graphic designer and marketing consultant in real life, with side gigs as a Very Old SLUG Queen and a parade creator in Eugene, Oregon.
As the program coordinator for Burners Without Borders, Shawn helps facilitate socially innovative projects through BWB’s initiatives, grants and chapter network. Before joining the Burning Man staff, Shawn lived around the world for a number of years working and volunteering for community development nonprofits including building his own school for youth who live in the train stations of Calcutta, India. Burning since 2011, he’s helped bring art to the playa every year and was on the first Ma’Patz (DPW) crew for Midburn. From the SF Bay with a BA in cultural anthropology, he’s excited to help facilitate and extend Burning Man culture globally.
Follow along with me on my adventures as Black Rock City returns to dust. I run around with a camera and talk to people. Check out my Burning Man Vlogs here.
I'm a DJ, MC, poet, civil rights lawyer, and grassroots organizer. I've recorded an album, a rack of spoken word and music videos, and some DJ sets. During the day, I help lead one national civil liberties organization and work for another as Director of Grassroots Advocacy. Much of my writing examines corruption across the national security, intelligence, police & prison industrial complex, though I also write poems and song lyrics. I've been a Burner since 2003.
As Communications Project Manager, Sarah handles the magical trinity of print production, on-playa Media Mecca operations, and the Burning Man Speakers Bureau. Which basically means she gets creative, gets her hands dirty, and helps facilitate Burning Man storytelling around the world. This pleases her.
Scott Kelley is full-time nerd, part-time geek who has been hacking stuff since 5th grade. After getting degrees in math and physics, he has worked on a range of projects from top secret death machines to children’s toys to observatories. He currently spends a lot of time worrying about how you might kill yourself on playa.
Lisa Schile-Beers (aka Dr. Scirpus) is a Land Fellow for the Burning Man Project for six months. She is exploring and documenting the flora, fauna and everything else she comes across on the Fly Ranch property. When not smelling the sagebrush, she manages the Environmental Compliance team for the Burning Man event. Lisa has worn many hats since first volunteering and attending the Event in 2006: managing the fuel department, building the Man, making and installing signs, and tinkering with golf carts. When not in the desert, she studies wetland ecology throughout the US and internationally, and is happiest with a little bit of mud on her.