Equally as captivating as its incredible features is the man behind Light in the Grove’s performances. Thomas Kurtz has brought his artistic vision to the Grove since 2023, cultivating an enchanting atmosphere of community for this event that supports the essential mission and programs of the National AIDS Memorial.

Ron Adams and Leah Ogden are two longtime hosts who believe that their community's strength is more essential now than ever. “What the Grove means to me is community,” Ron explains. “It’s a community that is unique, resilient, and very triumphant.”

Leslie Ewing, a National AIDS Memorial Board Member and the former Executive Director of the Pacific Center in Berkeley (the oldest LGBTQ+ center in the Bay Area), uses her talent for cartooning to speak up and address today’s health and social justice issues.

Richard Bolingbroke led an incredible life. As a young man, his activism took him from London’s Gay Liberation Front to ashrams in India and Oregon. On his journeys, he fostered lifelong bonds with people across the globe and found his spiritual path.