Big Brother, BBBS Southwest Michigan
BBBS JEDI Council Member
President of the Black Information Network, Division President of the iHeartMedia Markets Group, National Board Member
2022 National Youth Poet Laureate
Attorney, Activist, Community Leader and Councilmember in Montgomery County, Maryland; Author of “My Seven Black Fathers”
Will Jawando is an attorney, an activist, a community leader, and a councilmember in Montgomery County, Maryland, a diverse community of more than one million residents. Called “the progressive leader we need” by the late congressman John Lewis, Jawando has worked with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Sherrod Brown, and President Barack Obama. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post and The Root and on BET.com, and his work has been featured in The New York Times and New York magazine and on NPR, NBC News, and MTV. He regularly appears on CNN, MSNBC and other media outlets.
Professional Performance DJ & Host
Blending the East and West Coast flavor, DJ Iman Tucker grew his career spinning by rocking some of the largest parties, celebrations and faith based events in the Midwest. From these, Iman landed spots DJing for the professional and collegiate sports world including the Colts, Pacers, the NCAA Tournament and many other global brands.
Iman describes his style as a crossover between corporate and urban, mixing and mashing up music you would have never expected to hear together. He aims to elevate parties to the next level with his technical skill and soulful style.
When it come to using the mic, Iman is no stranger. He says “It’s deeper than music alone. Using my voice as a supplement to build relationships, bring people together, and highlight moments throughout events is a key element in curating my unique style.”
BBBS JEDI Council Member
Zyahna Bryant is an Echols scholar at the University of Virginia, studying political and social thought. She is a young changemaker and award-winning activist/organizer, content creator, and social impact strategist. Zyahna is also the architect of Black Women Built This, a strategy and storytelling brand. In the Spring of 2016, Zyahna wrote a petition calling for the removal of Confederate statues from Charlottesville’s parks, and they were removed in July 2021.
In 2019, Zyahna was appointed as the youngest member of Virginia’s African American Advisory Board, where she serves as the co-chair of the education subcommittee. Governor Northam on issues that impact African Americans across the commonwealth. In 2020, she joined Facebook’s We The Culture Creator Program, where she uses her platform to create and produce content focused on civic engagement and social justice issues. She also serves as a member of the Shawn Mendes Foundation’s Youth Advisory Board. She was named as a 2020 Root Young Futurist, a member of the 2020 BET 100, and Teen Vogue’s 21 under 21 class of 2019.
Zyahna has been featured in The New York Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker Magazine, Forbes; and featured on Vice News, PBS, CNN, and BET. In 2018, she was awarded the Princeton Prize in Race Relations and the Bassett Award for Community Engagement from Yale University. Zyahna has served as a Student School Board Representative for the Charlottesville City Schools division and is a passionate advocate for educational equity.
Big Brother, BBBS Southwest Michigan
Eric is the Big Brother to Levi. They were matched when Levi was in the fifth grade as part of the Big Pride program. Big Pride is a collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan and OutFront Kalamazoo that pairs queer youth with queer adult mentors. Eric loves goofing around with Levi and was proud to recently celebrate Levi's 8th grade graduation.
When not hanging out with Levi, Eric works at Zhang Financial, a nationally recognized independent fee-only financial advisory firm. As a senior manager of tax and client services he provides tax planning and preparation expertise to his clients. Eric is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master of Science in Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Eric is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
U.S. Army Major (Ret)
Despite early condemnation that he would not amount to anything more than a gangster, Gerald Gangaram is a retired U.S. Army Major, whom many consider a war hero from his combat service during “Operation Enduring Freedom”. Raised by a single mother in a low income area within Queens, New York City, he always strove to improve himself and hardly imagined being the recipient of numerous medals along a career piloting the Apache – an attack helicopter his enemies described as “The Dragon”.
Graduating from the US Military Academy at West Point in 2007 with a commission as an Aviation Officer, Gerald attended the Army’s flight school and ranked competitively to qualify in the Apache – the world’s most advanced helicopter. His first assignment was in Colorado serving as a platoon leader and then battalion adjutant / human resources officer. Quickly, Gerald’s supervisors regarded him as “the closer”, always the go-to leader trusted with the most difficult and time sensitive missions where failure was not an option.
In 2012, Gerald was an Executive Officer who led Soldiers and Officers into combat during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, held responsibility for aerial security in Afghanistan’s south, and flew hundreds of combat hours on numerous missions. A results-oriented manager with a servant leader mentality, Gerald ensured his people continually developed and remained the Army’s greatest asset.
Following his deployment, Gerald was chosen to command the Firebirds – the world’s largest attack company. As a result of his proven track record for team building and exemplary command, the Army extended his command and selected him to become an Army Strategist. Required to obtain a Master’s degree for his new role, Gerald moved to DC where he graduated Suma Cum Laude from Georgetown University with his MBA and from George Washington University with a Leadership and Management certificate. His final assignment was as Strategic Planner in the Pentagon’s Department of the Army Directorate of Strategy, Plans, and Policy.
Additionally, Gerald is a qualified Apache Instructor Pilot and graduate of SERE-C (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) POW training. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the Army Senior Aviator Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. Gerald is a Herndon Directors Institute Fellow and serves on the Board of Directors of Communities in Schools of NOVA.
Now retired from the military after 11 years of distinguished active duty service, Gerald enjoys contributing to events where he can provide his unique perspective as a servant leader and plans to continue a life of public service; always forging forward.
Poet, Songwriter, Author
IN-Q is an award-winning poet, multi-platinum songwriter, and the best-selling author of Inquire Within. His groundbreaking achievements include being named to Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list of the world's most influential thought leaders, being the first spoken word artist to perform with Cirque du Soleil, and being featured on A&E, ESPN, and HBO's Def Poetry Jam. He's inspired countless audiences around the world, live and virtually, through his performances and storytelling workshops. Many of his recent poetry videos have gone viral with over 100 million views combined, and his stand-up poetry special, IN-Q - Live at the Ace Theatre, is now streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta
Kwame is the President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA). Kwame oversees the largest and most effective youth mentoring agency in the state of GA. Kwame directs a team of staff that provides support to thousands of one-to-one mentoring relationships that have powerful and positive effects that change our youth lives for the better. Kwame is also the award-winning author of The Hope Inside: Harnessing the Power of Mentorship in Life and Career.
Kwame found his passion while incarcerated during his senior year of high school. During this challenging time, he decided to change his life and made history by becoming the first youth to ever take his SATs in jail. Kwame was accepted into Hampton University and decided to leave college at the age of 19 to become a social entrepreneur and has dedicated his life to service and helping our youth reach their full potential.
Kwame’s passion led him to Washington DC where he worked in youth development for over 12 years. Kwame served as the National Program Director for the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise focused on helping residents of low-income neighborhoods address the problems of their communities. Kwame also served as the Director of Corporate Relations for the national office of Communities In Schools the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization. Prior to joining, BBBSMA Kwame served as the Executive Director of the Greater Atlanta Region for PowerMyLearning, where he increased the organization's revenue by 65% and program reach by 115% within three years.
Kwame has received national recognition for his work to include the Social Entrepreneur Program of the Year Award from the Manhattan Institute. Kwame received the highly distinguished Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO Award and the Atlanta Business League Men of Influence Award. Kwame has received both the Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 Award and the Georgia Trends 40 Under 40 Award. Kwame was recently named one of Atlanta’s Top 500 Most Powerful Leaders by the Atlanta Magazine and featured on WSB-TV Channel 2 as a 2021 Georgia Game Changer.
Kwame is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and an Executive Education Certificate in Nonprofit Strategy from Harvard University.
President of the Black Information Network, Division President of the iHeartMedia Markets Group, National Board Member
Tony Coles is the President of BIN: Black Information Network and Division President of Metro Markets for iHeartMedia. He was instrumental in the launch of BIN, the first and only audio network that provides 24/7 news and objective information with a full focus on the Black community. As President, he leads all operations for the network. In his role as Division President of Metro Markets, he oversees the complete profitability for 156 radio stations in 21 iHeartMedia markets across America.
Coles has more than 35 years of experience in the media industry. He has been with iHeartMedia since 2004 and
has held on-air and leadership roles in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Seattle. Most recently, Coles served as the Executive Vice President of Programming for the company’s West Region. Prior to that, he was the Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Chicago and served as National Hot AC Brand Manager. Coles began his career in Zanesville, Ohio as an on-air personality
Coles holds a B.A. in Communications from Marylhurst University and an MBA from Western Governors University School of Business. He serves on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Radio Advertising Bureau and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation. Coles was named a 2021 Change Agent by Billboard magazine, and in 2022 was name one of Radio Ink’s Most Influential Leaders. He currently lives outside of Chicago with his wife and two sons.
Multi-Platinum
Nicolay 'Nico' Sereba and Vincent 'Vinz' Dery form the Norwegian rap duo Nico & Vinz (formerly known as Envy). They gained popularity in Norway after releasing the hit single "One Song" in 2011. Their career didn't truly kick off before 2013 when they changed their name from Envy to Nico & Vinz and released the mega-hit "Am I Wrong" which has over 1 billion streams today combined. Later, the same year they released "In Your Arms" which also gained international recognition and has over 84 million streams combined.
In 2014 the duo released their debut album called "Black Star Elephant", followed by the single "When the Day Comes". 2014 was a fantastic year for the boys, they received the European Border Breakers Award at Eurosonic Festival, performed at the Spellemann Awards (Norwegian Grammys), completed a Scandinavian tour and "Am I Wrong" peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and much more. The duo was also featured on the track "Lift Me Up" from David Guetta's 2014 album "Listen".
Nico & Vinz released another hit single in 2015 called "That's How You Know" featuring Kid Ink and Bebe Rexha which has amassed approximately 162 million streams combined. There were also made a couple of remixes of the song which also did well.
The duo returned to Norway after the pandemic started in early 2020 and a lot has changed, Vinz is now a father and the boys have been a duo for around 12 years now. They have asked themselves if it would be best for them to split up and to go their separate ways, but they feel like they have more to say, more people to encourage. Even more smiles to be made, not only in Norway but in the whole world.
Their newest song "Don't Be Afraid" is about coping with pressure in your everyday life. It can be hard for them to live up to all the expectations. Their mothers have on multiple occasions expressed their concern with them. As artists, there are always many eyes on you all the time, a lot of opinions and it can be hard for a mother to see her child in the middle of it all.
Multi-Platinum Recording Artist and Actress
Jordin Sparks is a Grammy nominated, multi-platinum, singer/songwriter and actress who, in one of the show’s highest rated seasons, garnered worldwide attention as winner of season six American Idol. Sparks was just seventeen years old when she won the coveted title.
Her self-titled debut went platinum, selling over two million copies worldwide. The first three singles of "Jordin Sparks" went top five and the album’s second single, “No Air” sold four million digital downloads. “No Air” has the distinction of being the third highest selling single by any American Idol contestant and is listed #27 in Billboard’s Top 40 Biggest Duets of All Time. Sparks’ second release, “Battlefield,” debuted on the Billboard Album chart at number seven. Cumulatively, Sparks popular singles have sold over 10 million digital tracks in the US.
Sparks is also a gifted songwriter. Arianna Grande’s smash single, “The Way,” was co- written by Sparks and earned her a BMI songwriting award. Her critically acclaimed mixed tape, BYE FELICIA, was a sampler of her highly-anticipated album, RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. The album was released in August of 2015 to rave reviews. She has toured with superstars Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, New Kids on The Block and the Backstreet Boys, as well as headlined her own tour.
Sparks impressive vocal talent has made her the go-to anthem singer and she has performed at many high-profile sporting events such as Super Bowl (XLII), NASCAR’s Daytona 500, Indy 500, etc. She has also lent her voice to recordings for films such as Disney’s African Cats, Beauty and the Beast and Best Man Holiday. She has garnered two BET Awards, one American Music Award, one People’s Choice Award and has been nominated for two MTV Awards and a Grammy.
After Sparks Battlefield tour, she headed straight to The Great White Way and starred in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway smash, In the Heights. She made her film debut playing the lead role in the SONY Pictures film, Sparkle, opposite Whitney Houston. Other film credits include, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, opposite Jennifer Hudson and Anthony Mackie (produced by Alicia Keys), Left Behind with Nicholas Cage, and the
Christopher Hicky directed film, The Grace of Jake. This past summer she appeared in two films. Jordin was the voice of Daisy in the movie, SHOW DOGS, and Bridgette in her last film, GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD.. She has also appeared in numerous television programs and specials both as an actress and performer such as VH1 Divas, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, CSI Crime Scene Investigation, Lifetime movie Dear Secret Santa, Billboard Music Awards, and more.
Jordin’s positive body image, message and success has impacted people worldwide. She considers philanthropy an integral part of her life and was recently profiled by CNN Heroes and Dress for Success for her charity work. Various organizations and campaigns supported include the U.S.O. by traveling to the Middle East with the Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff to perform for the troops, Partnership for Healthier America, The Boys and Girls Club of America, Reading is Fundamental, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, Starkey Hearing Foundation, Stand Up to Cancer and many others through her own charity, The M.A.D. (Making A Difference) Girls.
Last year Jordin returned to the Broadway stage as the lead in WAITRESS, music by Sara Bareilles to critical acclaim. Today she continues to act and is also considered a social media influencer due to her impressive social media following. She has also successfully transitioned into network broadcasting hosting/co-hosting on some of television’s most iconic programs such as The Dish on Dr. Oz, NBC’s TODAY Show, ABC’s The View, CBS’ The Talk, PBS’ Great Performances (with John Lithgow) amongst others.
Sparks released two new albums in 2020. “Sounds Like Me,” released in August and her first-ever Christmas album, “Cider & Hennessy,” out now. She’s already hard at work on her next album, slated for release this year.
BBBS NYC Little, Author, "Me and My Afro" book series
Aiden M. Taylor is a twelve year old writer, actor, and model. He has been viewed by millions in television commercials, featured in print advertisements, and seen on one of the largest billboards in Times Square located in New York. Aiden has been featured on People Magazine, BET, ABC Eyewitness News, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kids Edition, and a number of other media outlets for his wildly successful debut as an author for his first release, Me And My Afro. The narration is a book about promoting and embracing self-love. With his follow-up print work, When I Grow Up, Aiden has another important message for young readers: “you can be anything you want if you set your mind to it!” When Aiden is not writing uplifting books for children or working as an actor and model, he can be found pursuing his many interests and passions. He loves basketball, video games, poetry, math, and learning new things. He is a proud “Little Brother” in the Big Brothers and Sisters of New York City program.
Vice President, Chief Health Equity and Diversity Officer, Managed Heath Services
Shara Wesley, DrPH, MPH is a Senior Executive with 20 years of experience in healthcare, community, and public health organizations where she has dedicated her career to health equity initiatives that proactively address gaps in social determinants of health.
Wesley earned a doctorate in public health advance leadership from the University of South Florida. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master of Public Health degree from Florida A&M University.
Wesley began her career as a student health educator that created grassroot campaigns to promote preventative health and wellness to college students residing in Tallahassee. This was followed by her supporting healthcare policy and the diffusion of evidenced based public health programs through state and federal government entities like the Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health in Washington D.C.
Wesley eventually made her way to Indianapolis where she took on the role of Manager of Public Policy for Eli Lilly and Company to support the organization’s uptake of major state and federal legislation like the Affordable Care Act. Three years later she transitioned to lead one of Indiana’s largest statewide health coalitions: the Cardiovascular and Diabetes Coalition of Indiana (CADI) at the Indiana Public Health Association (IPHA) and funded by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). CADI implemented Indiana’s first strategic plan that address diabetes and cardiovascular disease-together: the Better Together Plan.
Before joining Centene, Wesley was Assistant Vice President at Wellstar Health System, one of the largest integrated health systems in Georgia. Here, Wesley led the triennial Community Health Needs Assessment to identify healthcare gaps across Georgia and address these care gaps through a comprehensive strategic planning process. In 2019, Wesley led the creation of the Wellstar Center for Health Equity (WCHE) and the Wellstar Community Health Department. These entities forged hundreds of new strategic partnerships with government agencies, businesses, philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, academia, and citizens.
Through these partnerships, the WCHE activated resources in the community that have yielded significant impact, including increasing access to healthy food through mobile markets; conducting COVID testing and vaccination for entire families through pop-up clinics; supporting the technology needs of local nonprofit organizations to better serve their clients’ healthcare and social needs and more.
Wesley brings decades of experience in strategic leadership, oversight, development and management of a portfolio of community programs and system strategies that pursue health equity by addressing social determinants of health, especially through interventions that minimize health disparities.
Wesley has been a recipient for several prestigious awards, including Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2021 Healthcare Hero for Community Outreach. As part of her ongoing commitment to public health, Wesley serves as a Board Member and volunteer for several community service organizations.
Wesley is making Indianapolis home again with husband, Reginald, three children and their family English Bulldog.
New York Times Bestselling Author
Dan Heath is the co-author, along with his brother Chip, of four long-running bestsellers: Made to Stick, Switch, Decisive, and The Power of Moments. The Heath Brothers’ books have sold over three million copies worldwide and been translated into 33 languages. Dan’s new book Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen was an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller, and it was included on “best books” lists from Apple, Amazon, the Financial Times, and others.
Dan is a Senior Fellow at Duke University’s CASE center, which supports entrepreneurs who fight for social good. He is an entrepreneur himself, having founded Thinkwell, an innovative education company that next year will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Dan was named in 2013 to the Thinkers 50, a ranking of the world’s 50 most influential management thinkers, and also to Fast Company magazine’s list of the Most Creative People in Business. He has spoken to teachers, police chiefs, U.S. senators, interior designers, Navy admirals, health care leaders, marketers, ministers, and countless executive teams, across 26 countries on 6 continents. (He’s still waiting for that invitation from Antarctica.)
Dan has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin. One proud geeky moment for Dan was his victory in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest, beating out 13,000 other entrants. He lives in Durham, NC.
Star of ABC's Shark Tank
An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his business operation into its basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales world-wide.
John is an award-winning entrepreneur and has received over 35 awards including the Brand Week Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award and, most recently, was named #2 on LinkedIn’s Top 20 Voices, a list of the top influencers, who are using their voice to help us analyze today’s changing world of work, navigate our industries, and find balance through an unprecedented year!
His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands has made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. His marketing firm The Shark Group offers advice on how to effectively communicate to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions.
John is also an author of 5 best-selling books including his New York Times best-selling books, The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018). In March 2020, John released his fifth book, Powershift, that walks through his tried-and-true process of how to transform any situation, close any deal and achieve any outcome through his own experience and vast network of industry leaders.
Finally, John is celebrating his 13th season on ABC TV’s critically acclaimed business reality show Shark Tank by renowned producer Mark Burnett, which has reinvigorated entrepreneurship around the world. Shark Tank has now gone on to win five Emmy® in the US and millions of weekly viewers world-wide tune into the show as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.
Multi Grammy Award Winning Singer & Songwriter
Bio goes Karen Clark Sheard is a vocalist, songwriter, entrepreneur, wife and mother. She is also a gospel music legend and a part of a musical dynasty. Admired by a wide range of vocalists from various genres, Clark Sheard is renowned throughout the music industry for her signature, one-of-a-kind multi-octave vocal range and ability.
Her musical style with the legendary Clark Sisters and as a solo artist has inspired a host of today’s brightest pop divas including Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, and Faith Evans, among countless others.
Past General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Mark S. Tillman is a committed supporter of mentoring. He is a three-time mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters for over twenty years to Littles Devon, Crispin, and Elijah He is a recipient of the organization’s Community Impact Award. He has been honored as a “Person of the Week” by the local ABC affiliated news station WXYZ and the 100 Black Men of Metro Detroit for his dedication to mentoring.
Mark served as the 34th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Under his leadership, Mark supported the development of young boys into responsible and productive adults. Throughout his administration, Alpha Phi Alpha focused on the mission of developing leaders” and the organization received a one-million dollar grant to support the mentoring of young men.
Professionally, Mark has over thirty years of information technology experience. He is currently a senior IT project manager with Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mark is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a graduate of Dillard University. He is married to Velicia, his wife of over twenty-five years.
Private Wealth Real Estate Specialist & Chief of Research, Olshan Realty
Emily Chen Carrera is Chief of Research at Olshan Realty and manages the Private Wealth Real Estate Services, providing brokerage expertise along with research and consulting capabilities. She co-founded the Olshan Luxury Market Report, a weekly real-time snapshot of the New York City residential real estate market, which became the industry standard and revolutionized how the market is analyzed and evaluated in real-time. Chen was previously a vice president in Institutional Sales at Goldman Sachs and a senior consultant in the Capital Markets Group at PwC.
President Biden appointed Chen as a Commissioner to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The Commission will advise the President on ways the public, private, and nonprofit sectors can work together to advance equity and opportunity for every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community.
A former National Big Sister of the Year, Chen serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Charitable Foundation. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Beau Biden Foundation. Chen is on the Women & Science Committee at Rockefeller University, the Creative Council at The Shed and the Advisory Board of The Imagine Society. She was named a Tiffany & Co. Hometown Hero for her work supporting health care professionals and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chen is the past president of the American Friends of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. She was previously a Director and Advisory Council Co-Chair of The Catholic Big Sisters and Big Brothers of New York City (now Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring).
A graduate of Georgetown University, Chen is a recipient of the John Carroll Award. Named for Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in North America and founder of Georgetown University, this award is conferred upon alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown and its founder. She is Co-Founder and Executive Producer of Stand Up For Georgetown, which has raised over $1 million to benefit the Georgetown Scholars Program for first-generation and low-income students. Chen served on the University’s Board of Regents and the Advisory Board of the McDonough School of Business.
Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service
Tory Green, a native of Huntsville, Alabama, was raised by a single mother in a housing project with his three brothers. To help build a better future for her sons, Tory’s mother enrolled him and his brothers in Big Brothers Big Sisters. Although Tory was first placed on the wait list for a male mentor, he immediately he became engaged in the program activities. Then at the age of 11, his Big Brother Roycame into his life.
Roy showed Tory that a life existed outside of his neighborhood. He demonstrated what it meant to work hard and be a good man. Roy involved Tory in life events, like weddings and births, which Tory reciprocated. More importantly, Roy instilled in Tory that you can really accomplish your goals and dreams.
In 2009, Tory gave the State of Scouting address to a Joint Session of Congress and was given the opportunity to meet with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the Oval Office.
Roy has supported Tory into adulthood, as he started his career path in law enforcement in Huntsville, Alabama; graduated college; became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; and ultimatelybecoming a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service.
NBC Nightly News Sunday Anchor and NBC News Senior National Correspondent
Kate Snow is the anchor of NBC Nightly News Sunday and an award-winning Senior National Correspondent for NBC News. Her reporting appears across all platforms of NBC News and MSNBC. She currently contributes regularly to Nightly News with Lester Holt, TODAY, and Dateline NBC.
She also hosts NBC News' The Drink with Kate Snow, a digital series and podcast where she speaks with innovators and influencers and dives into their success stories. In 2019, Snow created and hosted Relentless with Kate Snow, which aired on Oxygen and featured stories of crime survivors who were relentless in their pursuit of justice for a family member. From 2015-2017, Snow anchored a weekday news program on MSNBC, which featured newsmakers and fast-paced political coverage.
Snow is perhaps best known for insightful stories that make an impact, including her reporting on mental health, for which she was honored for by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In 2019, Snow won an Emmy for her 2018 exclusive sit-down with Andrea Constand, who broke her 13-year silence about the case that led to Bill Cosby's conviction. That Dateline hour followed Snow's 2015 Dateline special with 27 Bill Cosby accusers in one room, which also won both Emmy and duPont awards. Additionally, her 2015 series about transgender children was called a "phenomenon," as millions of people watched a video about 5-year-old Jacob that went viral on social media, and millions more watched stories on Nightly News and TODAY. Her Emmy-winning 2014 series, "Hooked: America's Heroin Epidemic," put a human face on a public health crisis, prompted congressional hearings and legislative action, and was praised by drug policy organizations.
Snow has also covered politics throughout her career, including six presidential elections, the White House and Congress. She has interviewed a wide range of newsmakers, from President Obama to Bono; Jeff Bezos to Ringo Starr. She pointedly questioned President Bill Clinton in his first interview after his wife lost the 2008 nomination. But she can just as easily sing a tune with Rick Springfield.
Prior to joining NBC News in 2010, Snow was the anchor of the weekend edition of ABC's Good Morning America for six years. Previously, she was a White House correspondent for ABC News and a Congressional Correspondent for CNN.
Snow is the wife of radio host Chris Bro and proud mom of Zack and Abby. She is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Master's degree in international affairs from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She works closely with many charitable organizations and serves on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, recently receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the national organization.
Judge, U.S. Circuit Court
Judge Wilkins was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on January 15, 2014. A native of Muncie Indiana, he obtained a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1986 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989. Following law school, Judge Wilkins served as a law clerk to the Honorable Earl B. Gilliam of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. In 1990, he joined the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where he served first as a staff attorney in the trial and appellate divisions and later for several years as Special Litigation Chief. In 2002, he joined the law firm of Venable LLP as a partner, handling white-collar defense, intellectual property and complex civil litigation matters. During his tenure with the Public Defender Service and in private practice, Judge Wilkins served as the lead plaintiff in Wilkins, et al. v. State of Maryland, a landmark civil rights lawsuit that inspired nationwide legislative and executive reform of police stop-and-search practices and the collection of data regarding those practices. Judge Wilkins also played a key role in the establishment of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (opened in September 2016 on the National Mall), serving as the Chairman of the Site and Building Committee of the Presidential Commission whose work led to the Congressional authorization of the museum and the selection of its location. As a practicing lawyer, he was named one of the “40 under 40 most successful young litigators in America” by the National Law Journal (2002) and one of the “90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years” by the Legal Times (2008). In 2019, Judge Wilkins received the Harvard Law School Association Award and the Washington Bar Association Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit. On December 27, 2010, Judge Wilkins was appointed United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, where he served until his appointment to the D.C. Circuit.
2022 National Youth Poet Laureate
Urban Word, the founding organization of the National Youth Poet Laureate Program, announced Alyssa Gaines as the 2022 National Youth Poet Laureate at a commencement program held at The Kennedy Center on May 20, 2022.
Representing the Midwest Region, Gaines is the first-ever Indianapolis Youth Poet Laureate as supported by Voices Corp. Her work has been featured in Scholastic’s “Best Teen Writing,” the Indianapolis Recorder, and was published by Teach for America. A recent high school graduate, she served as a leader in her school as the President of the Black Student Union, the Poetry Club Founder and President, and the President of the nonpartisan Young Democrats Club. Her leadership also extends to work with Purdue University and the Center for Leadership Development. She also has performed in numerous theater productions and was the captain of the lacrosse team. Alyssa will be attending University of Wisconsin at Madison this Fall and is a part of the college’s First Wave Program.
Singer and Musician
Damon Karl is a talented singer and acoustic guitarist born under the sign of Sagittarius. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, it was while he was in the fourth grade that he decided he wanted to be a singer. At age 16 he received his first guitar as a birthday present.
He counts Indianapolis native son Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Tori Kelly as the two artists that inspired him to want to play acoustic guitar and sing.
He enjoys listening to: Babyface, Usher, Raheem DeVaughn, Louis Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Al Green, Alicia Keys, India. Arie, Tori Kelly and John Mayer.
Music with passion is his favorite style to listen to.
Born under the sign of Sagittarius on December 2nd, the Arsenal Technical High School grad feels his purpose in life is to stand out and succeed.
When not making music he enjoys bowling and considers himself a good cook. His favorite dish is chicken and shrimp alfredo.
He was discovered by music industry veteran Sid "Uncle Jamz" Johnson at a talent contest presented by concert promoter DJ Geno Shelton to determine the opening act for r&b singer Tank.
Johnson whom has previously managed Babyface and has won Grammys, RIAA platinum and gold records and is a an inductee in the Soul Music Hall of Fame, felt Karl reminded him of a young Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.
In addition to performing in his hometown, he has performed in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Louisville and Chicago. He will begin working on an EP this Winter and will have a new single early in the first quarter of 2022, with the EP slated for late Spring.
His debut single "Colors Of The World" was written mostly by his labelmate Nut Bush. Damon added some parts to it as well. The song has a great message for these times where it seems people are so divided by race, religion and politics.
His second single release was "Beautiful Girl", and it was mostly written by Karl himself along with music producer Rob Hittz. There is a music video for the song.
His third single was "Motives" and it showcases his vocal abilities to the max. The music video was filmed in Miami, Florida.
His fourth single was "Love Again" recently hit #1 in the Atlanta market. The music video was filmed in Indianapolis and Atlanta.
His brand new single is "In Your Kiss" and was released July 2nd and was recorded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A music video filmed in Atlanta is available on YouTube.
One of the highlights of Damon's young career is having been able to meet and open for Babyface in concert in Louisville, Kentucky. He has also opened shows for Morris Day and The Time, The Isley Brothers, Zapp, S.O.S. Band and Ashanti.
On Sunday, January 16th in a special MLK Holiday concert he will be opening for Midnight Star at The Vogue in Indianapolis.
For a special Valentine's Day concert he appeared in concert with Keith Sweat, Tank, SWV and 112,
Damon also makes appearances in labelmates KB Da Monsta's "Spread" music video, and he sings on DJay Prodigy's "Underdog Anthem" and appears in the music video and Malik Row's "Watchers!", where he sings and appears in the music video.
He is also on the collaboration single "Rock Wit' Me" with his labelmates: Quasey, Nut Bush and Starm and special guest J. Chosen.
This Summer he will have a new single and music video.
President, SHRM Foundation
Wendi Safstrom is a senior non-profit leader committed to serving the public through philanthropic program management, cultivating strategic partnerships and managing and developing high performing teams. Ms. Safstrom has both association and nonprofit management experience including; national program development and administration, membership strategy, marketing and product development, grant management, development and donor stewardship, and leading cross functional teams. Ms. Safstrom currently serves as President for the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation (SHRM Foundation), where she leads the development and implementation of SHRM Foundation's programmatic, development, and marketing and communication strategies in support of SHRM Foundation's mission and vision, creating growth plans and ensuring alignment with SHRM goals. The SHRM Foundation is the 501c(3) philanthropic arm of SHRM, the world’s largest professional society for HR. SHRM Foundation mobilizes the power of HR to lead positive social change in the workplace, focusing on building inclusive workplaces where businesses and talent thrive.
Prior to assuming the role at SHRM Foundation, Ms. Safstrom served as Vice President at the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, where she led the development and implementation of the Foundation's programming, including workforce development initiatives, scholarship and event management, community relations and engagement initiatives.
Ms. Safstrom has also held human resource management roles with the Leo Burnett Company and Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Safstrom has a BS in Business Administration from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University and was recognized as a member of the 2014 "Power 20" by Restaurant Business Magazine as a leader in philanthropy within the restaurant industry.
President and CEO, BBBS of America
As the President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Artis Stevens takes the helm of the organization at one of the most critical moments for our nation’s youth. Artis grew up the youngest in a large family with modest resources but rich in positive relationships that inspired his potential. The son and grandson of preachers, he often shares, rather than going into ministry, his calling for the past 25 years has focused on youth development and empowering young people.
As the first Black CEO in BBBSA’s 100+ year history, he is inspired by the many leaders who blazed a trail before him and sees this historic announcement as fuel for more barriers to be broken. His hard work and drive led him to become an award-winning non-profit marketing leader with a passion for building purpose-driven brands, boards, and teams. He brings unique experience having led large-scale teams, affiliate systems and transformational outcomes across nationwide youth programs, fundraising, marketing, and initiatives focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
Highly skilled in developing innovative marketing and fundraising strategies at the grassroots and national levels, Artis has produced compelling purpose and cause-marketing partnerships with more than 50 iconic and global brands generating hundreds of millions in revenue and media to support kids.
A proven visionary leader, his experience in marketing strategy, partnership and celebrity engagement, digital transformation and board management provides a diverse mix of expertise positioning Artis as a sought-after speaker on revitalizing nonprofit brands, infusing brand culture, and converting marketing to engagement.
Before joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Artis served as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for National 4-H Council, leading the national marketing and communications efforts driving the organization's positioning, brand strategy, marketing campaigns, communications, digital presence, consumer insights, and affiliate marketing. His leadership doubled fundraising for 4-H and led to the recruitment of one million alumni. He was named American Marketing Association Foundation's (AMAF) 2018 National Nonprofit Marketer of the Year, the highest honor bestowed to nonprofit marketing professionals, for his leadership in revitalizing 4-H's 100-year-old brand image. Prior to 4-H, he served as National Vice President, Marketing, Strategy & Operation.
SHRM-CP, PHR, Chief Human Resources Officer, Totalhr
April is an HR Professional with 30 years of executive-level Human Resources experience. April’s experience and expertise, coupled with her continued study of Human Resources trends, have made her a trusted advisor for many in the business community. She has been a requested presenter and guest speaker for organizations that include Harvard University Extension School, Winthrop University, The Citadel, and the EEOC to name a few.
April is a board member for the York County Regional Chamber and the SC Small Business Development Centers (SCSBDC). She was a member of the HR Advisory Board for Winthrop University, where she along with other industry thought leaders, helped design the human resources undergraduate and postgraduate degree curriculum and programs.
April is also an advocate for mental health. She became an outspoken and visible advocate following the passing of her beloved daughter, Cheslie Kryst. Cheslie battled depression for many years. In January 2022, Cheslie succumbed to her battle with depression and died by suicide. April, a spokesperson for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), is committed to breaking the stigma of mental illness. April has appeared on Red Table Talk, CBS Mornings, and ExtraTV sharing Cheslie's story and emphasizing the importance of mental health.
April has received many awards and honors for her business acumen. She received the 2020 Women In Business Achievement Award from the Charlotte Business Journal, and in 2016 April was named one of Charlotte’s 50 Most Influential Women by Mecklenburg Times.
Commissioner, Los Angeles Police Department
Steve Soboroff is a businessman and philanthropist who has been serving as a Los Angeles Police Commissioner since August of 2013. Soboroff previously served as President of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission between 1995 and 2000. After serving on the L.A. Harbor Commission and as Senior Advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, Soboroff ran for Mayor of Los Angeles in the 2001 election and placed third.
In September 2011, Soboroff was appointed by the California Science Center to be the Senior Advisor to the museum in its project with NASA to bring, and permanently exhibit, the Space Shuttle Endeavour. He was Chairman of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University, and was a Senior Fellow and member of the Advisory Board at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs.
As the former Chairman and CEO of Playa Vista, one of the nation’s most significant multi-use real estate projects, Mr. Soboroff and his team oversee all aspects of the Playa Vista community. Described by the Los Angeles Times as “L.A.’s Urban Model,” the sustainable development provides critically needed housing, commercial office space and neighborhood shopping, while adding parks, preserving the environment and restoring hundreds of acres of wetlands.
Soboroff has a strong track record for creating, improving and protecting open space and park land for city residents. As president of the L.A. Recreation and Parks Commission, he reinvigorated the city’s park system to better meet the recreational needs of the people of Los Angeles. In addition, Steve was the driving force behind bringing Staples Center to Los Angeles and helped spearhead the Alameda Corridor Project.
Active in Big Brothers since 1968, Mr. Soboroff served as its President and then Chairman Emeritus, and continues to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. Mr. Soboroff’s company, Soboroff Partners, received the “Los Angeles Beautiful” Award for restoration of retail buildings on Montana Avenue and in Malibu. A successful real estate executive who was honored locally as Harvard Business School’s “Business Statesman of the Year,” and was given the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Soboroff holds Bachelor and Masters Degrees in the Dept. of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate from the University of Arizona.
Former President Emeritus, Do It Best Corp.
Don Wolf served for more than 25 years as president and CEO of what would become Do it Best Corp. and helped grow it into a multi-billion-dollar international home improvement co-op. He began his career at Hardware Wholesalers Inc. (HWI) in 1947, advancing in the company’s ranks through leadership roles in the purchasing, marketing and sales departments. He was appointed CEO in 1967, when the co-op consisted of one distribution center serving 12 states with $35 million in annual sales. By the time he retired in 1992, Wolf’s leadership and vision had helped the co-op grow to more than $1.2 billion in sales, with six distribution centers serving the entire continental United States and several foreign countries. Wolf played a key role in laying the groundwork for the merger between HWI and Our Own Hardware that led to the creation of Do it Best Corp. in 1998.
Wolf played key development, leadership and mentoring roles for a number of nonprofit and charitable organizations in Fort Wayne and throughout the state of Indiana. In 1972, he co-founded and served as the first president of Big Brothers of Greater Fort Wayne and later served as president of the national board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America from 1977-1980.
In addition, he founded Study Connection in 1989 in partnership with Fort Wayne Community Schools. Today, this program trains and provides approximately 1,000 volunteer tutors each year to help students with homework while building their confidence and self-esteem.
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Purdue University and an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Vincennes University. Wolf was also named the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette Newspaper Citizen of the Year in 1991 and, that same year, was awarded the Pathfinder Award for service to youth by Indiana Youthlinks. In 1993, he was named Indiana Business Leader of the Year by the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce.
On September 11, 2019, Don Wolf passed away at the age of 90. Wolf is survived by his wife Ginny, as well as their four children, Donna, Lisa, Rebecca, and Rick, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
