Yvette is a writer, director, producer and voice actor based out of Brooklyn, New York, originally from Wilmington, Delaware. She's worked in the fashion industry for many years, but film is her passion. Yvette recently produced, starred, and served as a costume designer for Harlem Love, which features Sonia Sanchez as the poet and voice for the film. Yvette has studied Acting, Screenwriting and Directing Actors with The Independent Film School, Fiction writing with Gotham Writers and Screenwriting with Women on Writing. Yvette is a member of Women in Film LA and New York Women in Film and Television. Her latest work the script, "DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE," will mark her debut as a screenwriter and director. It is the story of a failed emergency evacuation that leaves two dedicated research scientists trapped in their laboratory with a deadly airborne virus that will rapidly deteriorate their brain’s activity. Remembering one simple thing will determine their survival.

Chief Ayanda Clarke is an African American master percussionist, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, arts educator, and lecturer. He’s been performing professionally since he was five and has performed or shared the stage with some of the world’s most revered percussionists and most loved artists, including the late Randy Weston, George Clinton, Erykah Badu, M’bemba Bangoura, and Somi. A glance at some of his performing credits in the United States include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden, The Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, America’s Got Talent, the U.S. Open, Sesame Street, and many other places. He’s also recorded and licensed music that has been featured on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance. In 2014, Chief Ayanda was a featured percussionist on the title track of Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra’s major work, The Offense of the Drum. The project won a GRAMMY® Award that year: Best Latin Jazz Album. His talents have led him to perform or record with Chief Bey, Orlando Rios, Randy Weston, Batoto Yetu, The Amistad Project, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Forces of Nature, Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, pop artist Jewel, and many others. A business owner who is passionate about community wellness and development, Chief Ayanda founded THE FADARA GROUP LLC. By intertwining music, culture, and spirituality, the business organization serves the wholistic needs of its constituents. Through Palms Down, a percussion ensemble, he’s performed and co-produced music that was licensed for Elysium, the feature film starring Matt Damon and Jodi Foster. In 2016, sponsored by his mentor Chief Agbongbon Fakayode Faniyi, Ayanda Clarke was installed as a chief in Osogbo (Nigeria), presented as Chief Ayanda Ifadara Clarke, Ajibilu Awo of Osogbo.

Gabrielle Stewart is a 24 year old singer/songwriter from Michigan. She was raised in a small town Clinton Township just off of the Great Lakes about 40 minutes outside of Detroit.  Gabrielle started singing at the age of 3 and started writing her own songs at age 11. Since then, she's been putting all that she has behind her biggest dream to hopefully get discovered, move out of Michigan, and start a new chapter in life. The journey continues with her latest single "7 Seasons." Gabrielle wants to be a star for all seasons.

Women’s business author, 25 year entertainment industry veteran and beauty enthusiast Thembisa S. Mshaka will join us to speak on #LipGame LIVE. An intimate ticketed event where beauty meets business. An evening of net-worthing.The exclusive monthly afterwork experience will provide dynamic career women with a place to connect, get answers to burning beauty questions from professional makeup artists and estheticians, and unwind with unlimited champagne. LipGame LIVE is produced by Royal Life Entities, a music, multimedia an lifestyle event company and Mshaka’s creative content company Mshaka Media, LLC. The host for the kickoff event is Akim Vann, owner of The Bakery on Bergen. This dynamic businesswoman embodies the best of beauty and business.

For 16 years, The Pocono Mountains Film Festival has been exhibiting the work of up-and-coming screenwriters and filmmakers Film Producers, Directors, Actor’s & Actresses. The PMFF is based in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. The film festival is dedicated to creating a beneficial platform for artists in the film industry and we are driven and passionate about assisting them with sharing their creative works to a large audience. The objectives and goals are to increase self-esteem and positive role models through the vehicle of films. Provide life choices with a vision on how to secure a viable socioeconomic status via the “American Dream.” The goals are to remove the uninvited stereotypes that enter our homes and lives through various media outlets. They offer film workshops spearheaded by named professionals in the industry. Each year, the Pocono Mountains Film Festival honors the iconic and creative genius in the entertainment industry, affording aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to network with the best of the best in the industry.

Hasan Harris a.k.a Hocus 45th was born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx. Hocus’ love affair started at the early age of 8. Introduced to the art by his father, Hocus 45th use to rap to his father who told him that he was going to make it big one day. Tragically, his father who was his hero, mentor and best friend died from a heart attack when Hocus was only 12-years-old; leaving behind 8 sons and 2 daughters. Devastated by his father’s death, but still dedicated to the art form, Hocus 45th hit the streets looking for that connection he once shared with his dad. Unfortunately, as with many fatherless young boys, the streets got to him first. As a young teen, Hocus 45th started to sell drugs (crack cocaine) in the ‘hood. And when he was 17, he joined a gang known as SEX MONEY MURDER which would later haunt him in ways he could not have imagined. While doing his thing in the streets, Hocus 45th caught a couple of court cases ranging from attempted murder, direct sales and gun possession. Luckily for him, he either found his way around those charges or ended up doing little jail time. When he wasn’t dealing drugs, he would join cyphers in the streets and perfect his skills. By know he was getting noticed for his flow. In 2008, along with his friend P.O., they started a movement called Bang Bang Boogie which consisted of rappers Cuban Link, Lord Tariq, Mysonne, his brother S-1 and himself. Heavily cosigned by 50 cent and promoted by G-Unit, the movement was on its’ way to success.But little did he know his past would catch up with him. After being incarcerated for 4 years on Rikers island, facing life in prison, Hocus 45th would finally have his day in court. He was found NOT GUILTY on all charges. While in jail he began to read books on health/nutrition and decided to become a vegan. Hocus now goes to schools and group homes to talk to kids about health, gang violence and his life in hopes to help others.

On this episode, Raychelle is on site live at a pop up shop in downtown Atlanta with vendors displaying products from health care, skin care, food, clothing, electronics, and more. As you know, we celebrate independent everything on this program so today we put the spotlight on independent business owners and entrepreneurs selling dynamic goods and services.

A dynamic and powerful virtuoso with a soothing touch, Ali Caldwell's voice is as thrilling as it is comforting. This is modern R&B music that inspires a sense of nostalgia. With whispers that climb into full-throttle belting and back, Ali delivers emotional swings that pick you up, spin you around, plant you firmly back on your feet --- and then repeat, with ease. Jazzy notes and meandering harmonies punctuate her work, and her church-gospel background fuels pop sensibilities that provide intensity, conviction, control, and polish. Fresh off of Headlining her 6th International European Tour encompassing 6 countries as an independent artist, Singer-songwriter Ali Caldwell may be well on her way to accomplishing her dreams. Ali recently dominated on Season 11 of NBC’s The Voice. She garnered an impressive 4 chair turn in her audition, choosing Miley Cyrus as her coach and as the last standing member of Miley Cyrus’ Team she tackled every genre of music making every song selection her own while bringing the house down consistently every show. Ali was also featured on BET Centric TV’s Black Music Month series as 1 of 4 Independent Black Women in Music to watch. She is currently pacing to become the breakout artist on Fox Network’s New Show “The Four”, Season 2 (with Celebrity Panel consisting of P.Diddy, DJ Khaled & Mehgan Trainor. Ali attributes her successes to being consistent and persistent and by not letting anyone or anything define her. She believes it when she says “Always dare to be different”. She recently released her new Single entitled “To Be Loved” off of her highly anticipated album Entitled “88” which is due late 2018!

Once in a millennium rapper, lyricist Napoleon Da Legend is a Paris-born, East African (Comoros) and Washington DC-raised, Brooklyn-based artist uses his voice as weapon of hope, social-critique, conquest and joy. N.D.L.’s innovative short-film “Wise Men” featuring the late great Sean Price quickly became a cult hit among Hip-Hop heads with its overt challenge of the music industry establishment. Following the release on his "Steal This Mixtape" series in 2016, Napoleon Da Legend has been touring in the US and in Europe. He has been featured on Statik Selektah's Show Off Radio show, Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays, DJ Eclipse's Rap Is Outta Control and Sway in the Morning. N.D.L. later performed two shows on Center Stage at his first ever Essence Festival 2017 and was featured on the Recording Academy website and Revolt TV among others. In June 2017 he was invited to perform his buzz-hit "Black Privilege" on the Fox 5 News' Good Day DC program. He would then rock the stage at the prestigious Rocksteady 40th Anniversary on SummerStage in Central Park alongside of Mobb Deep and DJ Premier, as well as 2017 Bastille Day in Manhattan. In 2018, he released “Tupacrypha”, a full-length Tupac Shakur (RIP) homage, "Brooklyn To Mulhouse" EP, on French Label Media-pop, "Path of a Warrior" album on UK label, Chopped Herring Records, "Steal This Mixtape 3", followed by Afrobeat, Dancehall and Hip-Hop album “Afrostreet” and recently “Steal This Mixtape 4”. His mix of social commentary with introspective sensibilities paint a unique story seldom told in rap music making him poised to be placed among the most highly regarded names in Hip-Hop.

From plays and stand-up routines in front of his elementary school classmates; talent shows and statewide art competitions in middle school; to TV productions, and professional modeling gigs in high school and college, Stephen has always been a man of artistic expression. Upon graduating with honors in mass media/broadcasting from Hampton University, he began his professional career as a copier salesman in his native New York City. After a few years of door to door sales for Xerox Corp. by day and intense acting classes with famed coach Susan Batson by night, he received the fearful news that his mother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Witnessing her fatal bout with the debilitating disease at the young age of 61 was the catalyst that thrust Stephen back into the artistic world. Having raised five children, the youngest of whom with Downs Syndrome, his mother never got the opportunity to fully express herself creatively. Armed with the memory of his mother, the blessing of his father, and the support of his tribe, Stephen soon left behind the perks of a steady paycheck, healthcare, and printing free headshots and scripts, to pursue acting full-time. After years of student/indie films, plays, film festival circuits, and continued study he developed a hard-earned reputation for solid work in drama, comedy, voice-over, and commercials #ByIndieMeansNecessary. His dedication has filled his resume with Law & Order SVU, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Political Animals, Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, HBO’s Lewis & Clark, Luke Cage, among others. Most recently: Steve McQueen’s feature film Widows, Terence Nance's HBO series Random Acts of Flyness, Manhood (The National Black Theater), and the Cary Fukunaga helmed Netflix series Maniac. Follow Stephen's social media accounts for postings of his most recent work as Theodore TC Calvin in the 2018 reboot of Magnum P.I.