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Ulysseses Wilcox is a passionate Alumni Relations professional with over 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in alumni engagement and brand growth. As the Senior Marketing Specialist for Adtalem Global Education’s Office of Alumni Engagement and Manager of the Walden Alumni Ambassador Program, Wilcox leads strategic initiatives that connect and empower alumni while promoting his institution’s mission of social change.

Recognized with the Military and Veterans Staff Award and the Pinnacle of Excellence Award, Wilcox is committed to fostering meaningful connections through mentorship, networking, and advocacy. Beyond his professional role, he actively volunteers with Walden alumni and youth mentoring programs, striving to inspire the next generation.

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Teron Buford is a champion of inclusion and intercultural awareness. He finds joy in empowering and providing resources to historically underrepresented and underserved populations while also helping allied powerholders understand their position of privilege and how to operate from that space to meaningfully promote systemic justice. 

 Teron spent the first 10 years of his professional career guiding historically underrepresented high school students to and through their college admissions processes en route to earning their undergraduate degree. He later spent three years leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts at a staffing agency in Minneapolis before transitioning into the role of Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at a non-profit company located in the Twin Cities. There, he is responsible for driving the DEIB strategy and ensuring the company’s ability to access, attract and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the communities it serves. 

In addition to a number of other involvements, Teron helped found the Minnesota Alliance of Officials of Color, formerly served on the Board of People Serving People (the homeless shelter he lived in when he moved to Minneapolis) and currently serves on the Board of a charter school in Bloomington/Richfield as the DEI Chair.  

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Omar Williams is the Americas Product Portfolio Leader for the  3M Precision Grinding & Finishing Business & interim board president of  Yellow Tree Theatre.  He previously served as the 2021 ERG Chair for the 3M Black Leadership Advancement Coalition (3M BLAC), where he was recognized for his exceptional leadership with the 2021 Melrose Twin Cities Principled Leadership and 3M BLAC Transformational Chair Leadership awards.  These accolades reflect his dedication to bold transformation and purpose-driven advocacy for equity & inclusion.

Before joining 3M, Omar, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), held influential leadership roles in accounting, finance, and consulting across various industries, including biopharmaceuticals and public accounting.  He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Clark University, a Graduate Certificate in Accounting from Worcester State University, and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Outside of work, Omar cherishes quality time with friends and family.  He also enjoys competing in the APA (billiards), snowboarding, and immersing himself in international cross-cultural experiences.

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In this episode, our podcast hosts, Dr. Gabriel Warren and Karl O. Benson take a moment to reflect on their journey through season 1 of the podcast. They express their gratitude to all the listeners who have made their first year a success. Listen to them reflect on their favorite episodes of season 1, talk about having the podcast being streamed in 14 countries, and discuss some of the feedback they've been receiving from listeners. Finally, Dr. Gabriel and Karl talk about their vision for season 2 and their hope to partner with organization's employee resource groups and doing some live recording of the podcast, along with the virtual interviews like you've been accustomed to from year one.  

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Thomas Jackson has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and has a career background in research and development in the food industry. Previous to opening PAR3565 LLC, with his wife and co-founder Mercedes, and beginning his journey as an entrepreneur he was an industry expert and in food science and food product development. He most recently developed products for Target’s food and beverage owned brands. Prior to Target, he created new and innovative food products for companies including Kraft Foods and Land O’Lakes.  He is also dedicated to finding opportunities to connect, coach, and mentor underrepresented youth to expose them to a myriad of opportunities to realize their potential.  

#BlackOwnedBusiness #Golf #Entrepreneurship #Community #GolfVibeFun #GolfLeagues

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Todd Western III servers as the Senior Donor Advisor for the Greater Twin Cities United Way. In addition to his work in the nonprofit sector, Todd's family owns one of  the last 10 black farms in the state of Iowa, with over 150+ years of stewardship. He is passionate about educating others about the importance of farming and the impact it can have on communities. Mentorship is also an important aspect of the work Todd does each day. He has served as a high school football coach for over 10 years, in addition to mentoring young boys through the 100 Black Men of the Twin Cities. Finally, Todd is the founder of the Farmers of Color Conference, where he focuses on bring farmers of color together from across the region to network and learn about ways to continue growing as a farmer of color. 

We'd love for you to consider supporting the show with a monthly contribution. Your support of any amount is greatly appreciated, as we continue our mission to change the negative narratives that are being put out about black men. 

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Marvis Kilgore is affectionately known as a Champion of Black Male Educators and Visionary Leader, born and raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Marvis Kilgore is a passionate advocate for diversity in education and a driving force behind the movement to elevate Black male educators. As the inaugural director of the “Sirtify” program at Normandale Community College, in Bloomington, MN, Kilgore is dedicated to transforming the educational landscape by ensuring that Black men not only see themselves in the teaching profession but thrive within it. Kilgore’s journey is shaped by his own experience of having Black teachers throughout his schooling, starting with pre-K. This early exposure planted the seeds of his commitment to creating pathways for Black men to enter the classroom. Under his leadership, the “Sirtify” program cultivates the next generation of Black male educators, addressing the critical lack of representation that has long existed in the profession. A true innovator, Kilgore is a recognized leader in international education, nonprofit management, and strategic communication. He spent nearly a decade as an ESL lecturer and program coordinator at the Community College of Qatar, where his cross-cultural expertise helped shape global education initiatives. His teaching experience also includes roles in Houston, Texas, where he taught elementary bilingual math and science through Teach for America. Known for his relentless energy, passion, and strategic vision, Kilgore continues to inspire, uplift, and transform the education landscape. Through his leadership, he is not just shaping careers—he is changing the face of education, creating lasting impact both locally and globally. 

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Kentalé Morris Sr. resides in Saint Paul, MN with his wife, 4 children and is a two-time University of MN graduate, earning his BS in Agricultural and Food Business Management & Master of Business Administration degrees. Kentalé has nearly 2 decades of Sales, Marketing, and Analytics experience while holding a variety of roles at Land O’Lakes, Inc. with cross functional breadth and increasing responsibility. As Director of Sales, he leads the foodservice Commercial Sales Team in building long-term strategies, developing high performing sales talent, and motivating them to achieve annual volume and profitability goals. 

Outside of work Kentalé has a passion for enabling others and spending time with family. He is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and U of MN’s CFANS Alumni Society Board. In 2021, Kentalé was elected President of 100 Black Men of the Twin Cities, Inc. where members activate mentorship-based programs to promote intellectual development of youth and community empowerment. 

To learn more about the podcast, visit www.drgabrielwarren.com/podcast 

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Tionne Reese is a husband, father, and sales professional in the car business. Tionne has had the opportunity to work alongside his uncle and two cousins to purchase a car dealership in Bourbonnais, IL. Tionne talks about some of the sacrifices he's had to make in order to pursue his dreams. This includes him working in Illinois, while his wife and 7 children are still living in Minnesota. To learn more about Tionne or the car dealership his family purchased, follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tionnereese or via the dealership website www.courtstreetfordbourbonnais.com.

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In this episode, we talk with Clifton Lovaloy who is a devoted husband, father and graduate student. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with two bachelor's degrees, he continues his educational and professional journey in pursuit of an Architecture license. Having a strong background and burning passion for Afro Studies and Design, he considers himself to be a multidimensional problem solver. His comprehension of language is at the forefront of his design thinking. This language he refers to comes in the form of a community's congregation style, familial structure, social economic outlook, and standing. He believes great design lies at the intersection of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

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