CHERYL MCKISSACK

Architect Cheryl McKissack attended Peabody Demonstration School, graduating in 1979, in the meantime earning her B.S. degree in civil engineering in 1981 and her M.S. degree in 1983 from Howard University.. In 1991, she formed The McKissack Group (TMG), a full service construction management firm based in New York City. In 1999, Felder launched McKissack and McKissack Associates, an architecture and design company.

As The McKissack Group’s chief executive officer, Felder managed construction of the US Airways maintenance hangar in Philadelphia. She also served as project executive for the Medgar Evers Academic Building and Student Support Services buildings in Brooklyn, New York. Felder was the principal in charge of Philadelphia’s $395 million Lincoln Financial Field football stadium, the $450 million US Airways International Terminal in Philadelphia and the $1.5 billion renovation and reconstruction of the School District of Philadelphia. Other projects include the Brooklyn NBA Stadium, the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, the New York School Construction Authority and the African Burial Ground Monument in New York City. Felder and her husband Fred Felder belong to the 25,000-member Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York.

DJ OLIVIA DOPE

Olivia Dope (Brooklyn, NY) With humble beginnings as a classically trained dancer & later performing with artists such as Shaggy, Mac Miller & Chris Brown, music has always been the motivation. Olivia Dope found her true calling as a DJ using her talents as a dancer and fashion designer to create a beautiful fusion of hip hop, pop, electro, reggae, rock, R&B and house that keeps the masses engaged, both musically and visually.  “Being of Guyanese/West Indian decent, the genres of music I first introduced to was reggae, soca & calypso” Olivia share in and interview with pynkmag.com. “My father also had an extensive R&B collection so I knew who of Stevie, Diana Ross, Barry White, Donny Hathaway, and other amazing artists like them by age 5.”

That unique approach to DJing has caught the attention of clients such as Jennifer Hudson, Rita Ora, Essence Magazine, celebrity designers The Blonds, Lil’ Kim, Angela Simmons, Jones Magazine and Russell Simmons’ RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation. As a Brooklyn native, Olivia Dope is a sought after DJ in NYC’s music & fashion industry.

JACQUELINE GREEN

Jacqueline Green (Baltimore, MD) began her dance training at age 13 at the Baltimore School for the Arts. She is a 2011 cum laude graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, and also trained at the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, the Chautauqua Institution for Dance, and The School at Jacob’s Pillow. She has performed works by choreographers including Wayne McGregor, Jiří Kylián, Ronald K. Brown, and Kyle Abraham. In 2016 she performed as a guest artist with The Royal Ballet. Ms. Green is a 2018 “Bessie” Award nominee for sustained achievement, a 2015 Clive Barnes Award nominee, a 2014 dance fellowship recipient from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, a 2010 recipient of the Dizzy Feet Foundation Scholarship, and a 2009 recipient of the Martha Hill Fund’s Young Professional Award. In 2018 she performed on BET’s Black Girls Rock honoring Judith Jamison. She was a member of Ailey II and joined the Company in 2011. Instagram: @JaGreen711

REGINA FLEMING

Regina Fleming (NYC) is a photographic artist, photographer, CEO of Regina Fleming Photography,
former model and actress, a motivational speaker, and a marathon runner. As a model, she
signed with Wilhelmina and then Ford Models and pursued a long and fruitful modeling
career. Over a 20 year span, she has appeared in 100s of publications including O Magazine,
Good Housekeeping, Forbes, and Essence as well as numerous campaigns and
advertisements.
Regina earned a B.S. from St. John’s University but it was after graduating from the Fashion
Institute of Technology with honors that she opened Regina Fleming Photography.
Photography has allowed her to combine her love of the arts, people and travel, the need to
create and tell stories, and her passion to make a difference in this world.
Regina Fleming Photography specializes in weddings and women's portraiture. She
became an award-winning photographer when she placed first at the Wedding and Portrait
Photographers International (WPPI) Awards of Excellence Print Competition for both her
wedding and portrait photography. Photographing weddings has taken her to France, the
Canary Islands, Bali, Anguilla and beyond.
Regina is truly passionate in improving and empowering the lives of women and children and
volunteers regularly though her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She was also part of
a marathon runners group that has raised over $250,000 in the past two years for the
organization, Grassroot Soccer, that helps children in South Africa. She has personally raised
over 10,000 running over 8 marathons around the world.
Wellness and health is an important part of Regina’s own life and she wanted to share the
benefits with women over 40 by becoming a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Certified
Personal Trainer and Group Coach and Certified in Behavioral Therapy and Women’s
Fitness. In 2020, she became a certified RRCA running coach.

CHERIE WASHINGTON

Cherie Washington (Piscataway, NJ) is the Assistant Manager of Public Relations and Philanthropy for the Carol’s Daughter and SoftSheen-Carson (CDSC) brands at L’Oréal USA, the world’s #1 beauty company.

Mrs. Washington joined L’Oreal USA in 2006 and loves that in her current role, passion and purpose intersect as she leads philanthropy and community outreach for the division. In this role, she has spearheaded several partnerships for CDSC including the Light the Night Walk for Cancer, mentoring with The Women’s Academy of Excellence, and partnering with The Tom Joyner Foundation for scholarships. Most recently, she led the development of the Carol’s Daughter philanthropy initiative, Love Delivered which focuses on the Black Maternal Health crisis and aims to reach and empower millions of people to become advocates for Black birthing people.

In addition to her philanthropy work, she serves as a leader on the L’Oreal Women of Color Think Tank, an employee engagement group that promotes diversity and inclusion, career development, and community engagement for women of color in the organization. She also manages the office of the General Manager in the overall company strategies to drive profitability and share and leads a team of junior assistants helping them to grow and develop in their roles.

Mrs. Washington has also taken up the mantle and become an advocate for Body Positivity--- speaking on panels and supporting young women in their journey to self-empowerment.

Mrs. Washington earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Berkeley College. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. which she’s been a part of for more than 30 years, holding leadership positions both nationally and regionally. Currently, she is a member of Delta Kappa Sigma chapter in Plainfield, NJ and serves as the Vice President.

Mrs. Washington resides in Piscataway, NJ with her husband Keith Sr. of 25 years and 3 sons, Keith, Malcolm, and Jordan. She has also been a foster parent to 3 children. She lives by the motto “we are blessed, to bless others”.

J NYCOLE RALPH

J Nycole Ralph (NYC) As one of the top 2% of actors in the industry AND a certified life coach, theta healer, career and entrepreneurial coach, J Nycole Ralph loves helping other actors and entrepreneurs make an impact in the world and get paid well to do it!  She left her 9-5 to do what she loves and successfully built a six figure career, and now she helps other black women to do the same through acting and/or entrepreneurship.  She helps them to master time, money, mindset, and their career or business, so that they gain representation and book more and/or triple their business revenue!! 

J Nycole has been living her dream of performing on Broadway and touring around the world for the past several years, telling the heartwarmingly impactful yet hilarious story, The Book of Mormon (written by Matt Stone & Trey Parker, writers of South Park), while also appearing in other shows and films alongside Yara Shahidi, Essence Atkins, Andrea Lewis, and Brenda Braxton just to name a few. Additionally, J Nycole is an executive producer on the American Black Film Festival feature film selection, Lola, the first African-American female boxing movie, starring Taja V. Simpson (of Tyler Perry’s The Oval and Boo 2!), now streaming on Tubi!

MONIQUE HOLAMAN

Monique Holaman, Esq.(Brooklyn, NY) is a proud graduate of Spelman College where she received her B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in Management & Organization.  She started her career in finance and she transitioned from the corporate sector to begin working in the non-profit world as a Financial Counselor helping individuals manage their wealth and publicly speaking to the community about debt management, housing and bankruptcy counseling. 

Upon her decision to pursue her dream of becoming an attorney she began working full-time as a Home Loan Consultant in the mortgage banking division of Washington Mutual Bank, N.A. while attending Fordham University School of Law as a part-time law student.   

Currently Ms. Holaman works for the Office of Court Administration as an Associate Court Attorney. Prior to COVID-19, she handled all of the residential owner-occupied foreclosures in Kings County (Brooklyn). Her caseload included all motions and conferences dealing with the foreclosure process once an action has been commenced.

She is committed to community service and helping educate minority communities on financial and housing issues.  She has had an opportunity to organize and conduct seminars in the community on matters pertaining to Debt Management, Homebuying and the Foreclosure Process.  She has also spoken on panels on these same topics.

Ms. Holaman is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.  She has been actively involved in various programs in the Sorority, but her staple program has been the DRO HBCU College Tour which she has been involved since its inception in 2007.  Her commitment to exposing students to different opportunities led her to her position as a board member of I Am Cultured which is a non-profit promoting self-empowerment and appreciation for cultural richness and diversity.

Additionally, she is a member of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association and the Colombian Lawyer’s Association.

KARMIA BERRY

Karmia Berry What began as childhood appearances on Sesame Street led to Slantress magazine cover girl (New York edition), modeling for independent designers, film screenings throughout the United States, Canada and Africa and a lead role on the hit webseries Makeup x Breakup on BET HER Television.

This New York native, has performed and read for several industry heavy hitters, including the late Gerald Schoenfield, then chairman of the Schubert Organization. Broadway legend, Rosemarie Tischler, and director/producer the late Harold Prince. Her scheduled meeting with the late and great playwright August Wilson was canceled weeks before his untimely passing.

Karmia has trained professionally at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Stella Adler Studio, Thomas G. Waites Acting Studio, Susan Batson Studio and the On Stage Dance Studio. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University, in Hampton, Virginia, and a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University, in Long Island, New York. Karmia is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization,  I AM C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D., Incorporated, a board advisor for HBCU Night, Incorporated, and is an active member of the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

As a Best Actress nominee, and Slantess Entertainer Inspire award winner Karmia Berry, is a dynamic artist with limitless potential. Her path is led by God. Her continued success is inevitable.

NOELLA CHARLES

Noella Charles (NJ) Born on the beautiful island of Trinidad, Noella Charles moved as a child to Brooklyn. With a BA from Temple University in Broadcasting and Mass Media, she went to work in television production at BET networks. She became show runner of ESSENCE magazine’s first live digital series, ESSENCE Live. She also produced the ESSENCE Festival’s Inspiring Leadership Award Tribute to Tina Knowles-Lawson and curated a customized video from Michelle Obama to the young viewers of 106 and Park for Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. In 12 years Noella has produced content for MTV, FUSE, NBC, STARZ and Netflix, while raising two children: a daughter, Phoenix, and a son, Azai. She has recently launched Noella J. Productions with her husband, Seye Charles and they plan on creating content empowering women of the African Diaspora

MIMI BELLE

Sybil Mimy Wells (Mt. Sinai NY) currently serves as the CEO/Executive Director of the Boys & Girls of the Bellport Area. She is responsible for providing leadership and direction in overseeing strategic planning and operation of the organization in support of organizational mission and goals. She provides support to the board of directors in developing organizational goals, attaining/allocating and managing resources, and establishing policies; provides direction to staff management and partnership development in carrying out key roles.  Under her leadership, they received Gateway Impact Award for exceptional increase in attendance and North East Region Advocacy Impact Award.  Sybil says her most important role as CEO is helping at need youth in underserved communities imagine their possibilities, achieve their visions, and reach their fullest potential.

As the Title IX Coordinator and Director of Community Engagement at Farmingdale State College,  Sybil specialized in leading initiatives that actively engaged the community to listen, to join, enable and lead conversation to elevate educational goals for our youth and other civic engagement initiatives at the College. She also helped the college achieve the mission, which is dedicated to fostering a fair, non-discriminatory and diverse educational and employment environment for the entire College community. 

Mrs. Wells served as a senior administrator at Hofstra University for 15 years. During her career at Hofstra, she served as adjunct faculty in Africana Studies and Speech Communication & Rhetorical Studies Department. As an academic administrator, Ms. Wells served as the Assistant Dean for Freshman Advancement, Assistant Director for Student Affairs, Assistant Dean for the School of Communication, and Acting Chair for Speech Communication & Rhetorical Studies Department.  Mrs. Wells was also selected by the Provost and University President to serve on Hofstra’s Advisory Board for the Center of Civic Engagement, Diversity Taskforce, Academic Review Committee (ARC), and Multicultural Programming Committee.

As a longtime champion of educational opportunity for our disadvantaged youth, Mrs. Wells started her consulting company Achieving Visions, LLC in 2015 to help address the educational disparity for our economically disadvantaged young people, a mission she has vigorously and successfully pursued throughout her career.   She believes all students have the same will, talent, and academic potential to pursue their college and career goals. It is principally economic and social barriers and in many cases the reality that they are the first in their family to go to college that makes their educational path more challenging.

Mrs. Wells, who holds a B.A. in History and an M.S. in Education, both from Hofstra University. She also graduated from Adelphi University’s School of Social work with her certificate in Organizational and Community leadership. She is currently attending seminary school in NYC and pursuing her doctorate in theology. Recently, Mrs. Wells has been selected to become United Way New York City’s first Vice President of Justice and Opportunity. She will play a strategic role as the unit leader in identifying and developing social justice and criminal justice initiatives with the Mayor of Criminal Justice Office of Neighborhood Safety for NYC.

Mrs. Wells is a strong advocate for public service and social justice. She says, “to whom much is given, much is expected”.  As a public servant, Mrs. Wells served as the President of Suffolk County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and on various boards such as the NYS Alliance fighting food insecurity. She is also a member of the Easter Shore Chapter of the Links, Inc. where she served as the Chapter’s Financial Secretary, and a proud member of Jack & Jill of Suffolk County.

Mrs. Wells resides in Mount Sinai, New York with her family. Her most treasured role is being a proud mother of her identical twin daughters, Sabella and Solana, and her son, Oliver. 

SWAGGY SIE

Swaggie Sie (Brooklyn, NY) is a doperadio personality manning the airwaves at SiriuxXM. Sienna Garraway aka, Swaggy Sie, has been creating impactful digital content for over 10 years. The music industry is can be shaky, but Sie has proven that she is built to last in the game. Her passion for music has led her to the high ranks she has made it to now. At the age of 16, Sie took direction as an intern from 50 Cent’s own G-Unit Records. From there, she transitioned to the radio at SiriusXM. Initially she was a music programmer, but she quickly proved her worth as she improved her skills every day. Today, she’s an established voice in the industry that has conducted interviews with Bobby Shmurda, Megan The Stallion along with a host of other notable artists. 

New York City has endless opportunities for creatives. Swaggy Sie is further proof that the city truly never sleeps. It seems like she works every day to find different ways to shift the culture. After receiving co-signs from radio legends like Sway Calloway and Angie Martinez, Sie was winning. Her charisma and personality stand out and allow her to gain the trust of her interviewees.

PAT ROBINSON

Pat Robinson (Brooklyn, NY) is a trailblazing leader that is highly recognized for her contributions in the media industry, community and social activism engagement.

​Her exceptional work ethic, apparent leadership, commitment, consistency, and consummate professionalism has earned her a dynamic career as Vice President of HR and Community Engagement for Hot 97, WBLS, and WLIB–spanning over twenty years in the broadcast media industry. She has earned the respect and credibility of organizations and colleagues, as she consistently commits herself to ensuring people have equal and fair opportunity in the workforce, in addition to helping them identify their inner leadership potential. Patricia has recently switched career paths after 20 years in radio and accepted a leadership position at Sheltering Arms NY. This agency serves over 65 programs focused on human service issues that impact our communities in (Foster Care, Early Childhood Education, Youth Services, Developmental Disabilities, Adolescent Residential Care, Mental Health Services and more).  Patricia is actively teaching two courses as a  Professor at Westchester Community College. She is also currently the Director of Community Outreach for Colin Kaepernicks Know Your Rights Camp.

​​Patricia is a media advocate, leader, mentor, public speaker, and champion of all things community. Her passion runs deep for contributing to a better society, and she starts with being an example of excellence in every arena she is involved in.

Huffington Post said “She is on the Forefront of the Next Generation of African American Women Leaders in Media…..”

Patricia was also recognized for her achievements and was published as one of Radio Ink’s 2015 “Future African American Leaders in Radio.”  She won the 2017 Stars of NY Dance competition for $5K, where New York City leaders raise dance education funds for children from low-income communities to help them develop discipline, confidence and self-esteem to succeed in school and in life. Patricia has, and continues to receive numerous accolades and write ups from  the likes of Huffington Post, Radio Ink, Black Enterprise and more.

In the capacity of Director of Community Outreach, she works with Colin and team to coordinate camps that provide free campaigns for youth adults ages 14-18 across the country through social activism strategies, education, financial literacy, law advocacy/education, health & wellness and community leadership. Patricia was most recently acknowledged by Black Enterprise - April 2019 for her contributions to the radio industry and community advocacy work – “Women In Power.”

​​Patricia holds a Master of Management & Human Resources and a Bachelor’s in Business &Finance, and she is a certified HR professional. She is also a licensed Public Notary and a Public Notary Real Estate Agent.

​Patricia’s wide array of career achievements demonstrate a robust work ethic, but her passion and enthusiasm, coupled with her sense of humility, organically platforms her as the highly respected professional that she is today..

​She is a leader committed to evolve change both professionally and personally.