Erica Fraser is a writer and communications professional from the Bronx. You can find her writing on her sub stack, “On Being Seen Trying” where she shares notes on what it looks like to try, fail and succeed in real time.

#posttraumaticslavesyndrome

#drjoydegruy

#joydegruy

#bellhooks

Dr. Cherry-Ann Joseph-Hislop, Ed.D. is the Director of Special Education for Brooklyn North, where she provides strategic, district-level leadership to advance equitable, high-quality services for students with disabilities across a diverse portfolio of schools. A nationally recognized educational leader, international educator, and consultant, Dr. Hislop brings more than 20 years of experience in urban public education, with deep expertise in systems leadership, instructional improvement, compliance, and large-scale organizational change.

Dr. Hislop earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago, a Master’s Degree in Special and Inclusive Education from the University of Sheffield in England, and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Andrews University in Michigan. Her professional preparation includes advanced training in literacy education, therapeutic crisis intervention, emotionally intelligent schools, and school turnaround leadership through institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, and Cornell University. She holds New York State certifications as a School District Leader, School Building Leader, and Special Education Teacher, and is a trained Behavior Analyst.

Throughout her career, Dr. Hislop has served in leadership roles across K–12 systems, including Principal, Assistant Principal, Staff Developer, and Special Education Master Teacher. She is widely regarded for leading successful school transformation efforts, strengthening instructional coherence, and building leadership capacity among educators. Her leadership has resulted in measurable gains in student achievement, strengthened compliance and service delivery, and the successful removal of schools from state accountability designations.

Dr. Hislop’s scholarship and professional work center on special education systems, equity, and improved outcomes for students with disabilities. She has designed and led innovative transition initiatives, forged cross-agency partnerships to expand workforce opportunities for students with disabilities, and advanced inclusive practices that have produced historic academic gains for students with complex learning needs. She is the author of Beyond the Bell: A Guide for Parents and Educators to Raise Neurodiverse Children with Confidence, a practical, research-informed resource that equips families and educators with strategies to foster meaningful, long-term success for neurodiverse learners.

In addition to her district leadership, Dr. Hislop is a frequent presenter at professional conferences and educational forums, facilitating learning on school turnaround initiatives, data-driven instruction, leadership development, and special education compliance. Her work is grounded in a steadfast commitment to equity, accountability, and excellence for all students, particularly those with disabilities. Her leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including citations from the New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, the Borough President of Brooklyn, and the Office of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, as well as the Women of Distinction Award.

Dr. Hislop is married to Linden Hislop, an Assistant Principal in the New York City Public Schools. Together, they are the proud parents of two daughters: Cheryssa Hislop, a third-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, and Lynessa Hislop, a fourth-year psychology and marketing major at Oakwood University. In addition to her work in education, Dr. Hislop is a professionally trained singer and recording gospel artist who performs for audiences around the world during her spare time.

Please Follow Dr. Hislop on Instagram @cherryannjosephhislop and on Facebook : Cherry Ann Joseph Hislop

Cindy-Lee Dorcely is the President of the NAACP Middletown Branch, serving with humility, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice. First and foremost, she is a child of God, guided by faith and a calling to brighten her corner of the world through education, advocacy, and service.

Born in Jamaica and now a proud naturalized citizen of the United States, Cindy-Lee brings a deeply personal understanding of both the promise of this nation and the responsibility required to protect its ideals. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she earned a degree in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law and a minor in African American Studies—an academic foundation that continues to inform her civil rights leadership.

A lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Cindy-Lee has served in nearly every area of church leadership, with the majority of her work devoted to youth ministry through Sabbath School, Adventurers, Pathfinders, and Adventist Youth Society (AYS). Through this service, she has built deep, lasting relationships rooted in love, guidance, and connection—becoming a trusted resource and lifelong mentor to many of the young people she has served.

Professionally, Cindy-Lee has been a Paralegal for 25 years, working in various areas of law, with a specialization in real estate, which she continues today as an independent contractor. She is also a licensed New York State Realtor of nearly seven years. In that capacity, she has served on the Agent Leadership Council for three consecutive years and has chaired committees including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Agent Advocacy, and Finance. She also coordinates the Keller Williams Black Real Estate Network across three offices, advancing education, advocacy, and support for Black realtors and the broader community.

In 2025, Cindy-Lee began her NAACP service as First Vice President and ascended to the role of President when the position was unexpectedly vacated. She steps into this role with reverence and resolve, trusting God for wisdom and discernment in such a time as this—when civil rights are under threat and Dr. King’s dream remains unfinished.

Cindy-Lee is a wife of nearly 21 years and the mother of a 19-year-old college student. As the wife of a Black man and the mother of a Black son, she carries an intimate awareness of the daily vigilance required of Black families. This lived experience fuels her unwavering commitment to crafting a safer, more just future for Black women, men, and children.

Follow Cindy-Lee Dorcely on Instagram @dorcelyrealestate

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Sacha is a curious and creative thinker with a passion for exploring how people make meaning and express post-colonial identities in Caribbean culture. Her educational journey—an MLIS from Rutgers University, a degree in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a B.A. (Hons.) in History and Archaeology from the University of the West Indies, Mona—reflects her deep interest in human stories and cultural expression.

Sacha loves to travel and is a budding textile design enthusiast, finding inspiration in patterns and traditions from around the world. She also enjoys listening to gospel music and escaping into the world of fiction. Dedicated to lifelong learning, she brings creativity and curiosity to everything she does, from connecting with new ideas to enriching the lives of her two teenage children.

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Sacha is a curious and creative thinker with a passion for exploring how people make meaning and express post-colonial identities in Caribbean culture. Her educational journey—an MLIS from Rutgers University, a degree in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a B.A. (Hons.) in History and Archaeology from the University of the West Indies, Mona—reflects her deep interest in human stories and cultural expression.

Sacha loves to travel and is a budding textile design enthusiast, finding inspiration in patterns and traditions from around the world. She also enjoys listening to gospel music and escaping into the world of fiction. Dedicated to lifelong learning, she brings creativity and curiosity to everything she does, from connecting with new ideas to enriching the lives of her two teenage children.

Dr. Tiffany Llewellyn is a highly trained licensed clinical social worker, passionate speaker, transformative consultant. Dr. Llewellyn is the Owner & Clinical Director at Llewellyn Wellness and Consulting, LLC.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) from Medgar Evers College, Master Of Science in Social Work (MSW) at Hunter College, with a specialization in Children, Youth and Families and a Doctor of Social Work degree (DSW) at the University of Southern California with a specialization in Achieving Equal Justice and Opportunity. Her research focused on Policing, Racial Trauma and Black Mental Health.

Dr. Llewellyn has extensive experience in mental healthcare, working with juvenile offenders in the community, children and adolescent with severe psychiatric disorders, public school system, medical social work, and within higher education.

She previously created the Community Neighborhood Engagement Team (CNET)at the Yale Child Study Center, and was awarded the Viola Barnard Social Impact Prize to improve community relationships, train local schools administrators on managing behavioral challenges in the classroom, and create innovative mental health interventions for students of color.

Dr. Llewellyn is deeply moved by engaging community work on the ground, partnering with leaders, residents, and community stakeholders to advocate for a quality of life that all humans deserve. She believes that proximity to society's most vulnerable to the best teacher, and values time spent working directly with individuals, families, and communities.

As a trainer, Dr. Llewellyn enjoys partnering with institutions on challenging topics of racial trauma, structural oppression, inclusion and equity, and racially competent mental health interventions. For Dr. Llew, centering one's racial and social identity is a critical component of conceptualizing clinical treatment and she values the opportunity to work with emerging clinicians on bringing race into the therapeutic room.

Foundational to her work is supporting individuals and organizations in restoring legacies through social and cultural change.

Dr. Llewellyn is incredibly passionate about de-stigmatizing mental health in communities of color and religious institutions, and can often be found speaking on mental health, racial trauma, social justice, or community engagement for various universities, institutions, churches, and organizations.

She is the President and Founder of the faith based nonprofit organization, Adventists for Social Justice, a movement focused on developing faith based churches for activism in marginalized communities.

Website : https://tlwellness.org/index.html#/

After graduating from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Rashida S. Vassell, MD completed General Surgery training at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she served as Chief Resident in her final year. Dr. Vassell, during her research year at UVM, obtained graduate certification in Clinical and Translational Science. Dr. Vassell is double Board-Certified in Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine, and Anti-aging Medicine. Dr. Vassell spent years honing her clinical skills as a Medical Director at the teaching institution, Montefiore Mount Vernon, in Westchester County, NY; followed by Guthrie Corning Hospital. During her tenure at Corning she served on multiple committees, including the Credentialing Committee. Dr. Vassell served as a Trustee on the Chemung Valley Montessori School Board.

True to her desire to help people and love of life-long learning, Dr. Vassell founded the integrative, cutaneous surgery and medical aesthetics practice, Safahla Medical PLLC, in Corning, NY. With over 15 years of clinical experience, and as a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Vassell’s approach to integrative medicine incorporates evidence-based clinical judgment, an appreciation for wellness, and shared decision-making. The practice of Medicine is ever-evolving, requiring ongoing education and research. When not doing so, Dr. Vassell enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters.

Website : https://www.safahlamedical.com

Bridgette M. Bennett (aka the "Reggae Visa Lawyer") founded the Bennett Law Center in 2011 in Groveland, Florida focusing exclusively on Immigration & Nationality Law, with an emphasis on removal defense, waivers, and family, humanitarian and business immigration cases. She received a Juris Doctor from Barry University and was admitted into the Florida Bar in November 2011; she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Government from Georgetown University in 2000. Bridgette began her career as a Judicial Intern with the Orlando Immigration Court. Bridgette currently serves as the Chapter Chair of the AILA Central Florida Chapter. She formerly served as the Chapter’s Educational Vice Chair as well as the chapter's liaison with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Office of Chief Counsel. On a national level, she currently serves on AILA National’s Board of Governors. Bridgette manages a staff of 4 Attorneys, 8 Paralegals and 8 Administrative team members. She is a serial entrepreneur, a foodie, and an adventurer, who loves to travel the world! #reggaevisalawyer