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More about Dante:

Dante Nicholas is a social media strategist, creative entrepreneur, and the founder of the R&B music curation platform YamsThePlaylist. From New Orleans and currently residing in Atlanta – Dante has worked in advertising and social media marketing for 10 years with clients ranging from Spotify and Netflix, to Essence Music Festival and Louisiana Tourism. His career passion has centered around strategically telling diverse Black stories. Dante is also a photographer who has worked with brands like Nike and Athleta. In late 2022, he created an Instagram page called YamsThePlaylist to spotlight R&B music and artists. In just a few short months, the Instagram page went viral and the official Yams brand was born. Today, the brand has over 350,000 followers across social media platforms. 

More about Deion:

Deion Thomas is a dynamic individual navigating the realms of finance by day and the world of mixology by night. With a firm foothold in the financial sector, he dedicates his 9 to 5 to managing the complexities of the business world. However, outside of office hours, Deion's passion for mixology takes center stage as he explores the art of crafting cocktails and experimenting with unique flavors.

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Dominique B. Fluker is a dynamic writer, editor, editorial strategist, speaker, moderator, aspiring screenwriter, and interior design storyteller based in Los Angeles. She currently is the Lifestyle Editor at ESSENCE Magazine.
She’s familiar with spearheading editorial strategy, video script curation, and influencer strategies to drive business results and brand awareness. Previously, Dominique served as SMB Marketing Manager at Instagram and Content Marketing Manager, Business Accounts, and SMB Growth at TikTok. Before joining Instagram and TikTok, she led consumer content at Glassdoor, voicing their B2C blog and amplifying employee stories within the Diversity and inclusion space. As a social media content and influencer strategist, Dominique produced high-performing digital content for powerhouse brands such as TIDAL, Adobe, AT&T, eBay, Air New Zealand, and more during her time at MWWPR, Edelman, and WeWork. Dominique consistently engages and inspires millennial women of color by profiling diverse public figures when she isn't supporting leading brands with data-driven digital storytelling.
She's created multicultural content for iconic web and print publications like ForbesWomen, Glamour Magazine, ESSENCE Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Business Insider, and more. As a culture and entertainment enthusiast, she's interviewed legendary celebrities such as Oprah, Toni Braxton, John Legend, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Robin Roberts, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Serena Williams, Regina King, Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae, Elaine Welteroth, Tia Mowry, and more.
Since 2021, Dominique has found solace in curating physical spaces while creating a name for herself at the intersection of digital content curation and editorial storytelling. She believes interior design is an extension of thoughtful storytelling. With DBF Interiors, Dominique brings her burgeoning interior styling talents to other modern professionals like herself, committing to curating enjoyable, comfortable, and inspirational living spaces for her clients. She has been featured as an interior design expert in Apartment Therapy, Martha Stewart, Hunker, Architectural Digest, and more.
Dominique has a Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. At USC, she was a Charlotta Bass fellowship recipient, Cowan scholar, teaching assistant, and research assistant for New York Times bestselling author Anna Tubbs.

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Dani Jackson-Smith is an award-winning creative powerhouse who champions justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the industry and beyond.

Dani’s worn several hats over her career, ranging from her early days as a freelance videographer and reporter at WKBW ABC 7, covering events including the BET Hip Hop Awards and Rip the Runway. After college, she launched Street Knowledge Media with her friends in New York City, helping to launch the career of the late Nipsey Hussle.

Eventually, Dani moved home to Chicago, where she excelled at some of the world's largest agencies, including Leo Burnett, Havas, and Edelman. Most recently, as VP of Influence at Edelman, she led partnerships for brands including Starbucks, Noxzema, Del Monte, Barilla, and Pivotal Ventures. While VP of DEI & Multicultural Marketing, she developed cultural strategies for brands including Foot Locker and Church & Dwight. As a Sr. Producer, she produced experiences with Kellogg’s, Nintendo, and Samsung.

Dani has been recognized as the ADCOLOR Rockstar and Chicago Ad Federation Rising Star. She’s also won a Silver Addy and a Gold Clio for her brand production work. When she isn’t working, Dani volunteers as an auxiliary board member for Chicago’s oldest Boys & Girls Club, Off The Street Club.

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Trent Walters is a Brand Management Principal at TRG (formerly The Richards Group). This May he will celebrate 27 years at the agency. He’s a graduate of the University of North Texas. He graduated on a Saturday and started at TRG the next Monday.

Trent is an alum of the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP), and he was also named to the inaugural class of the American Advertising Federation’s Top 25 Most Promising Multicultural Students, which led to his job at TRG immediately after graduation.

During his time at TRG, Trent has led and helped grow dozens of brands including AT&T, Starz, Scotts lawn care products, PGA TOUR Superstores, The American Cancer Society and the Southeastern Conference to name just a few. He’s helped the agency partner with groups like The Marcus Graham Project, the Dallas Independent School District, Project Unity, and other organizations as a key leader of TRG’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

In fact, last summer Trent partnered with his Atlanta-based client, Gas South and Clark Atlanta University to spearhead a one-of-a-kind internship for a deserving HBCU student. The student was able to do half of her summer internship on the “client side” with Gas South in Atlanta, and the other half on the “agency side” with TRG in Dallas, allowing her to see both sides of the marketing board room.

Trent recently published a novel called Exactly How It’s `Posed to Be which chronicles the decisions of three young men at fictional HBCU (Winton College) around dating, women and sex…and the consequences of these decisions. (Oooo!)

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Darryl Sharp Jr. is a well versed senior motion designer, currently lending his creative prowess to RCA Records. With a fervent passion for design, music, and culture, Darryl has cultivated a diverse background in the industry. His journey includes notable stints at advertising agencies such as 72andSunny and Laundry Service, where he honed his skills and contributed to cutting-edge campaigns with Beats by Dre, ESPN, and Activision. Venturing into the entertainment realm, Darryl made impactful contributions at renowned production companies like Funny Or Die, leaving his mark on comedic brilliance, and collaborating with industry giants Netflix and Warner Records. His unique blend of artistic flair and a keen understanding of the intersection between creative and culture trends has established him as a dynamic force in the motion design landscape.

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Jasmine Farooq is a Senior Brand Strategist, based in NYC. She has worked in brand planning and strategy for 4 years, having worked across a range of accounts in CPG, Health, and Retail – elevating DEI, brand purpose, and culture. She began her career interning at Deutsch LA, a role she earned through MAIP, a program created to enhance the talent and diversity in the Advertising industry. Since then, she has worked on Publix, Baskin Robbins, and AdventHealth at 22squared, and then made her way to VML, leading brand and multicultural strategy on Advil, Coca Cola, and AstraZeneca. Now, she recently started a new journey at Third Ear, a minority-owned advertising agency. Born and raised in South Florida, she comes from a Jamaican background, with a family full of cooks, singers, artists, and ultimately the best party crew. If you need any advice for Caribbean spots to check out in Miami, she's your go-to. When her laptop is closed, you can find her thrift shopping, perfecting her sewing skills, or feeding her sweet tooth at a cafe in the city!  

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Bennett D. Bennett (he/him) is founder and principal at brand and content development consultancy Aerialist, and the co-founder of talent advocacy nonprofit 600 & Rising. Through Aerialist, Bennett uses his multi-disciplined background as creative director, journalist, and content strategist to help future-forward brands create intentional, non-traditional campaigns and content. A career-long advocate of talent equity for media professionals from marginalized groups, he’s also carving out the next chapter of DEI with roles at 600 & Rising and as founding partner of the Allyship & Action platform. Bennett’s decade-plus in marketing and media have has included stints at Interbrand, BBDO New York, The Drum, Saatchi & Saatchi, and 22Squared—all shaping him into a hybrid creative/strategy director and innovation consultant. His most recent included a Cannes Lions’-winning campaign for Google, as well as work for Popeyes, Netflix, Varo, Bacardi, Mass Mutual, Black Voters Matter, and Amazon Prime Video. A 2013 MAIP Alum, Bennett’s been honored as a 2017 ADWEEK Young Influential and one of the 100 People Who Make Advertising Great by the 4As.

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Kenya Parham is the Global Vice President of Community & Partnerships at SPILL, a next generation social platform founded that puts culture, and the people who create it, first. In her role, she is the voice of the SPILL community within the company and also forges partnerships and activations with media partners and brands.

Prior to joining SPILL, Kenya led her own Strategic Communications, Culture & Brand Strategy consultancy, The Legacy Firm, where she worked with major entertainment properties and production studios. She also served as a political strategist & fundraising specialist, where she counseled political organizations and candidates to ensure their viability for office. 

In addition, Kenya is a political and cultural TV commentator. Acknowledged as a Founding Ambassador of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Kenya has been honored with special recognition by the Los Angeles Urban League, California State Assembly and Senate legislative bodies. She was also named “Top 40 under 40 Change-Makers to Watch” by The Empowerment Congress.

Kenya lives in Southern California. She is @kenya on SPILL.

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Alex Tyree—artist, creative director and music curator, is in the continual pursuit of mastering the art of living. In between creating award-winning advertising campaigns, curating enriching music experiences, and writing his own songs, Alex credits his journaling and meditation practice as balance.

As founder and host of Feel the SPACE — an emerging music community + curation company centered in mystery & discovery through intentional experiences. We exist to re-inspire a sacred connection to music, our truest selves, and gifted music artists. Alex is excited by uniquely creating ways for each of us to feel more deeply connected.

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About: Kendra Oyesanya Willis is a multi-talented actress and entrepreneur. Kendra started her career as a professional dancer working with the industries top recording artist such as P. Diddy and the Bad Boy family, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Ciara, and many more. In 2017, she transitioned into acting booking her first lead role in the Lionsgate scripted series "Step Up" as Poppy Martinez airing on Starz.  Kendra is also the Co-Founder and creator of Krump Fit, a fitness program that incorporates Krump-inspired dance with high-intensity

cardio.