"At the age of twelve, Clavon had a dream of seeing people walk down the runway in his clothing. He did not fully comprehend the dream then, but saw the affinity for clothing and being well dressed grow as he watched his father. Appearance was important and his father’s care for style instilled in him his own passion to express himself through clothing. The freedom Clavon found in fashion became limited as high school required uniforms. With that restriction, then came a greater awareness of his skin color. The experiences of high school pushed Clavon to experiment with fabrics, colors, and patterns so his skin was not the only thing standing out.

Instagram- @Clayvonleonard

Website- www.Clayvonleonard.com  

Jackson earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education science and coaching from Long Island University in 2011 and three master’s degrees, one in Interdisciplinary studies from Long Island in 2012, liberal arts and science from Stony Brook in 2014 and educational leadership from Penn State in 2017. Jackson was a three-year captain and three-year starter for LIU Post. He was an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Second Team honoree as a senior after recording five sacks and 12 tackles for loss for the Pioneers. He was a member of the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society and was awarded two of the athletics department’s most prestigious honors, the Christine Webb Award and the Roy Illowit Award. Jackson spent two years as an assistant coach at Stony Brook, first as a graduate assistant and then as assistant defensive line coach. One of his players, Aaron Thompson went on to rank among the top 10 nationally in sacks and earn All-CAA First Team honors. Jackson started his coaching career at LIU Post as a graduate assistant. Prior to that, Jackson was a graduate assistant with the defensive line for two years at Penn State. He completed all opponent and self-scout defensive breakdowns and coached the scout team. Two players he worked with earned national attention, All-American Carl Nassib and consensus All-American Anthony Zettel. Nassib was the Big Ten’s Bronko Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and was the Hendricks Award and Lombardi Award winner. In 2017, Jackson coached the defensive line at Fordham. He was responsible for game planning the run game, pass protection and third-down blitz packages and prepared the opponent scouting report for the defense. Jackson was the defensive quality control coach at Mississippi State in 2018, where he helped the Bulldogs to an 8-5 record and berth in the Outback Bowl. MSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight defensive categories, including a No. 1 national ranking in total defense (263.1). Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat earned All-Southeastern Conference honors. Andrew Jackson joined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the defensive line coach in January 2021. He came to Morgantown after serving as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for defense at Old Dominion for the past year. Jackson joined the Old Dominion staff after spending the 2019 season at James Madison as the defensive tackles coach. While at JMU, the Dukes led the FCS in total defense and was third in scoring defense. Defensive tackle Mike Greene led the Colonial Athletic Association in sacks by an interior lineman and earned all-conference honors. #BlackExellence.

Brian Worthington was born in New York and raised in Woodside, Queens. He discovered very early on his love for flying. However, he never thought to become a pilot was possible due to a lack of accessibility, resources, and not seeing black pilots. Brian worked as an aircraft service technician at JFK Airport following High School in 1997 just to be amidst airplanes. Only one year later he enrolled himself in the airframe and powerplant aviation maintenance program at The College of Aeronautics and Technology.

In 1999, Brian decided to join the United States Army. During his active years in service, he served as a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, assigned to the 325th Combat Infantry Parachute insertion fighting force. In 2003 Brian joined the New York Army National Guard and was assigned to the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade where he served as a UH60 Blackhawk Helicopter Door Gunner/Crew Chief. During his eight years of military service, Brian has deployed for combat and peacekeeping missions throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Central America. Never losing sight of his passion for flying, in 2003 Brian began taking flight lessons which resulted in him earning his Private Pilot certificate. Through continuous training, he later earned his Commercial Airplane Pilot Certificate. Brian's dedication to serving his country landed him a job with the New York City Police Department as a Police Officer in 2004, where shortly thereafter in 2007 he earned an honorable discharge from the Military.

In 2014 Brian co-founded the NY Metro Chapter of the Black Pilots of America, Inc. He is currently in his second term as the Chapter President. The organization provides training and exposure within the field of aviation. In 2016 Brian founded Flight King NYC LLC, a small business that provides flight training, affordable aircraft rentals, and flight tours around New York City. Due to his hard work, dedication to his community, and extensive experience in aviation, Brian was elected to sit on the JFK Redevelopment Advisory Council with a seat on the education committee. After fourteen years of service as a Police Officer patrolling the streets of New York, in 2018 Brian was accepted into the NYPD Aviation Unit. Now assigned to the unit, he serves as one of New York’s Finest Elite Helicopter Pilots.

Brian is currently a New York City Police Officer, Commercial Rated Airplane Pilot, Commercial Rated Helicopter Pilot, Aircraft Owner, entrepreneur, minority business owner, CEO of Flight King NYC, LLC, United States Army Veteran, President of NY Metro BPA, and Vice President of Black Pilots of America INC.

Learn to fly or Schedule a flight around NYC at https://flightkingnyc.com/ 

Our next guest is a graduate of Brentwood High School on Long Island. He was the first athlete there to letter in four different sports. Football, basketball, wrestling, and lacrosse earning him the Iron Man award. He continued to play basketball, football, and track throughout his varsity career. However he was more than an athlete, he was an exceptional student as well, in fact, he brags about having a perfect attendance record in High School. After High school, he attended Long Island University where he played basketball and ran for the cross-country team. He then went on to graduate from Law School at Hofstra University. After Law school, he was a parole officer for some years and then started his own private practice as a lawyer. He has had his own practice for well over 15 years. Now he is moving on to his next stage in life serving as Islip District Court Judge in the fifth district. Among all the work that he does some of his most important work is the work that he volunteers for. He has volunteered to do many speaking engagements at local schools in his area. He represents underserved youth in matters of parole and school board hearings. He is also Treasurer for a local organization called to Keep Your Change that focuses on educating young people in the community. He has fought for the United States Congress in Washington DC for passage of Mental Health legislation. He is a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association. He received a Town of Islip Official Citation for his community service work, the Suffolk County Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Community Service Award, and was inducted into the Brentwood High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

Nia Jones is a consultant with the Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation, Inc. and is responsible for leading the Youth Wellness Initiative and other special projects as assigned. Nia is a licensed Social Worker with a passion for organizations and the people that work in them. She provides strategic human resources business partner support, talent acquisition training, project management support, and self-presentation strategy for individuals and businesses. Nia believes that she is purposed to bring "Resources to Humans".

Nia has created and executed recruitment plans for large and small companies with a 100% hired rate and managed HR portfolios for over 500 individuals in product lines generating revenue of over 5 million dollars annually. Nia’s unique approach to Human Resources involves an innovative approach that educates managers and employees about mental health, employs a strengths-based focus, and affirms both parties. She is the owner/operator of On Purpose with Nia, LLC- an organization dedicated to empowering small businesses and individuals to grow by promoting 360-degree wholeness through consults, mental health & wellness training, and project management.

Nia has a passion for working with youth and has been committed to youth development for over 15 years. She has held various roles in Youth Development organizations such as Life Skills Technician, Youth Ministry Leader, and Teacher. Nia's 10-year career in HR impacted youth in her hometown, and across the state of Maryland. Nia considers herself a mental health advocate and has been recognized for her support to NAMI Baltimore through a yearly fundraiser entitled "Always Forward"- an initiative born out of Nia's deep passion for ending the Mental Health stigma in her community.

In October 2019, Nia partnered with a friend to launch a wellness company called Uncommon Solutions, Inc. an organization that believes in the power of whole families to support and restore the village, cultivating wealth and success in our community. Uncommon Solutions combines complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with relatable and comfortable therapeutic approaches to create optimal health for people of color.

Nia is a native Baltimorean, and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University in 2010, and returned to her alma mater to receive her Masters of Social Work (with a concentration in School Social Work) in 2014. Nia is a RISE Fellowship program graduate at Kennedy Krieger Institute and a certified art therapy life coach. Nia is a wife (Bryce), and mother of 1 (Jackson).  She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, learning about new technology, and crafting.

Nia is accepting clients for therapy and life coaching. You can connect with Nia, and complete a referral for services at www.onpurposewithnia.com and follow her on social media @onpurposewithnia.

Crystal has been a mental health professional for over 10 years. She obtained her masters in Social Work from the University of Central Florida with a emphasis on childhood trauma. She has been part of and serviced under-represented youth, homeless outreach, community based advocacy, motivational speaking, foster care training and couple counseling. She aims to help individuals and couples regain their power back through various therapeutic modalities such as psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral therapy as well as family and marital therapy.A mental health professional with approximately ten years of experience. She believes previous experience and events have shaped the way we think and behave as as a result, these events may have kept us captive mentally and emotionally.