DREAMLEAPERS® with Harriette Cole

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Dr. LaJerne Terry Cornish, President of Ithaca College Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guy Stanley Philoche is an internationally acclaimed Haitian-American contemporary artist known for his richly textured works blending abstract realism, pop art, and cultural storytelling. His artwork has been exhibited nationally and collected by major figures and institutions, while his philanthropy supporting emerging artists has earned widespread recognition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A. Curtis Farrow is an American producer, director, and community leader best known as the longtime executive producer of McDonald's Gospelfest. He is widely recognized for using music and media as platforms to celebrate faith, diversity, and cultural unity across the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paulette Cleghorn is the Head Designer and Creative Director of Yumi Katsura Couture, where she leads the creative vision for one of the world’s most renowned bridal fashion houses. A seasoned fashion executive, she brings a global perspective to couture design, blending innovation with timeless elegance. With years of experience shaping luxury fashion, Paulette is known for her refined aesthetic, leadership, and commitment to excellence in the world of high fashion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on DREAMLEAPERS® with Harriette Cole, we welcome Desirée Rogers—CEO and Co-Owner of Black Opal Beauty and Fashion Fair Cosmetics, and former White House Social Secretary. In this powerful conversation, Desirée shares her journey navigating leadership at the highest levels—from corporate boardrooms to the White House—while remaining grounded in purpose and vision. She offers insight into building legacy brands, embracing reinvention, and making bold decisions with clarity and confidence. DREAMLEAPERS® is an educational platform designed to help people access and activate their dreams—turning real-life experiences into practical guidance and inspiration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blair Underwood has built a distinguished career across film, television, and theatre, earning acclaim as an actor while expanding his creative influence as a director, producer, and author. With a body of work defined by range, depth, and longevity, he stands among the rare artists whose impact extends both in front of and behind the camera. Underwood currently stars in Youngblood, a reimagining of the 1980s hockey film, and co-stars in RZA’s indie feature One Spoon of Chocolate, which premiered at Tribeca. He recently completed production on the upcoming Netflix romance Don’t Ever Wonder, alongside Larenz Tate and Nia Long. He also joins the cast of the hit FOX series Doc as Dr. Ben Grant—a world-class trauma and cardiothoracic surgeon whose confidence matches his extraordinary talent. He will appear in the two-hour season finale and return as a series regular in season three, premiering this fall. In 2024, Underwood garnered critical acclaim for his role in Longlegs, directed by Oz Perkins and starring Nicolas Cage, widely described as one of the most chilling films of the decade. That same year, he co-starred in the Starz drama Three Women, the Sky TV romantic comedy Smothered, and appeared in Ava DuVernay’s Origin, adapted from Isabel Wilkerson’s best-selling book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent. Expanding his work behind the camera, Underwood directed, produced, and starred in the psychological thriller Viral, portraying a man spiraling into paranoia after his wife’s disappearance. The film explores themes of trauma, perception, and emotional survival. On stage, Underwood earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Play for his role in the 2020 revival of A Soldier’s Play, which won Best Revival of a Play. He later served as a producer on Pass Over, the first production to reopen Broadway following the COVID-19 shutdown. His extensive television career includes standout roles in Quantico, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Dirty Sexy Money, The New Adventures of Old Christine, In Treatment, The Event, and the iconic L.A. Law. His film credits include Set It Off, Deep Impact, Rules of Engagement, Just Cause, and Madea’s Family Reunion. He also starred opposite Cicely Tyson in A Trip to Bountiful. Underwood has executive produced and narrated acclaimed documentaries including the Peabody Award-winning Mr. SOUL! and Olympic Pride, American Prejudice. He made his feature directorial debut with The Bridge to Nowhere and has directed music videos, commercials, and award-winning virtual reality projects. An accomplished author, Underwood has contributed to multiple best-selling works. His latest book, A Soldier’s Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood, will be released April 14 by HarperCollins. His accolades include an Emmy Award (as producer of Give), two Golden Globe nominations, 17 NAACP Image Award nominations (with eight wins), a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word, and an Audie Award for Best Non-Fiction Narrator. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Underwood is also actively engaged in philanthropic initiatives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J. Ivy is a Grammy Award-winning poet, recording artist, and author whose work bridges spoken word, music, and storytelling. Widely recognized for his contribution to “Never Let Me Down” with Kanye West and Jay-Z, he has built a legacy rooted in purpose, faith, and creative expression. His acclaimed piece “Dear Father”—which evolved into a bestselling book and a national letter-writing movement—encourages healing through creative expression, challenging individuals to confront pain, embrace forgiveness, and transform their stories into purpose. A driving force behind the establishment of the Grammy category for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, J. Ivy made history as its inaugural winner in 2023 for The Poet Who Sat by the Door, continuing to elevate the genre through his work. From Def Poetry stages to global platforms, his voice continues to inspire audiences through compelling narratives of growth, resilience, and transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ro Reddick is a queer Black playwright, songwriter, and educator known for writing off-kilter comedies—and the theme songs to your late capitalist nightmares. She is the 2025–2026 recipient of the Vineyard Theatre’s Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, where she serves as an artist-in-residence, and an Audrey Resident at New Georges. Her play Cold War Choir Practice won the 2026 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and premiered in Clubbed Thumb’s Summerworks 2025 (New York Times Critic’s Pick, directed by Knud Adams), co-produced by Page 73. The production was later remounted at MCC Theater in collaboration with Clubbed Thumb and Page 73. Ro was a 2024–2025 Playwrights Center Core Apprentice and is currently under commission with People’s Light Theatre as part of their Queerways PA commissioning and residency program. She holds an MFA in Playwriting from Brown University and an MBA from NYU—which she has no intention of using. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michaela angela Davis is a writer, creative director, producer, and image activist whose work explores the intersections of gender, race, fashion, culture, beauty, and identity. She is the co-author of The Meaning of Mariah Carey, a #1 New York Times bestseller, and has collaborated with Mariah Carey on additional literary projects. Davis is also the creator of the NAACP Image Award–nominated docuseries The Hair Tales (OWN + Hulu), a powerful exploration of Black women’s identity through the culture of hair. A pioneering voice in media and fashion, she has held editorial leadership roles at Essence, VIBE, and Honey magazine, and has worked with iconic artists including Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Prince, and Maya Angelou. Her work spans television, publishing, and global cultural commentary, with contributions to outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, and BBC. Davis continues to shape conversations around image, identity, and representation through storytelling, media, and creative direction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sue Hitzmann is an exercise physiologist, manual therapist, and the founder of the MELT Method®, a self-treatment technique designed to help people reduce chronic pain, improve mobility, and restore balance in the body. She is the CEO of Longevity Fitness, Inc., and an internationally recognized educator who teaches individuals and health professionals how to care for their connective tissue and overall well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Harriette Cole on DREAMLEAPERS® with guest Akeshi Akinseye, global luxury event planner and author. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tamika D. Mallory is a bestselling author, award-winning social justice leader, and movement strategist. A powerful organizer, she has led major justice movements, from fighting voter suppression to advocating for Breonna Taylor. As the youngest-ever Executive Director of the National Action Network, she helped create New York City’s $100 million Crisis Management System for gun violence prevention. She also made history as a national co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March, the largest single-day demonstration in U.S. history. In 2020, Tamika’s viral speech during the George Floyd protests resonated with millions worldwide and became the foundation for her bestselling book, STATE OF EMERGENCY: How We Win in the Country We Built. In early 2025, she released I LIVED TO TELL THE STORY, a coming-of-age memoir reflecting on her journey from a curious young girl in Harlem, NY to an internationally recognized activist. As co-founder of Until Freedom, she continues to advocate for marginalized communities and co-hosts the TMI Podcast (Tamika & Mysonne’s Information) on iHeart Radio’s Black Effect Network. Named one of Time 100’s Most Influential People and featured on Fortune’s World’s Greatest Leaders, Tamika has received numerous honors, including the Phoenix Award from the Congressional Black Caucus. She remains relentless in her fight for justice while embracing her most cherished roles as a mother and grandmother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Easter is a producer, writer and media executive and CEO of BlackBoxDigital Studios, which produces non-fiction multi-platform programming. The former CEO of streaming channel Black Heritage Network, he advises content-based media startups including streaming channel Kweli TV. A strong advocate for public media, he is the chairman of WHUT TV (Howard University Television) and a trustee of America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and its lobbying arm, APTS Action. A former chairman of Black Public Media, he also served on the board of the Public Media Platform, a joint effort to build a global digital resource of public media content. The former chief digital officer for Johnson Publishing, he launched and served as founding editor-in-chief of EbonyJet.com (now Ebony.com). As head of its entertainment unit, he spearheaded the company’s push into documentaries, online radio and short-form video. The partnership he established with Google led to the digitization of the archives of Ebony, Jet, Negro Digest/Black World and Ebony Jr. Prior to joining JPC, he directed communications outreach for Washington Post Newsweek Interactive (washingtonpost.com, newsweek.com, Slate) and served as executive director of Lawyers for the Arts, where he worked with content and music creators to navigate the impact of digital technology on intellectual property. He founded and published the DC-based cultural magazine, ONE, and co-published the scholarly quarterly, Black Film Review. He is a creator and co-author of the bestselling book Songs of My People (Little Brown 1992), a historic book and international photo exhibition on the lives of African Americans. In collaboration with actor Edward James Olmos and journalist Manny Monterrey, he produced AMERICANOS: Latino Life in the United States (Little Brown, 1990), a book, exhibition and award-winning HBO documentary which launched HBO Latino. A political veteran, he served as a media advisor to the campaigns of Howard Dean, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Governor Doug Wilder (VA), and as press secretary to the Rev. Jesse Jackson for the National Rainbow Coalition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Join Harriette Cole for a powerful conversation with award-winning filmmaker and media executive Keith Michael Brown, Executive Vice President of Content at Firelight Films. They discuss his directorial debut, A New Day Begun: The Black National Anthem, and explore the power of storytelling, truth-telling, and centering voices that shape culture, history, and social change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan L. Taylor is a legendary voice in media, widely known for her profound impact as former Editor-in-Chief of Essence magazine. For decades, she has shaped generations of Black women through storytelling rooted in empowerment, healing, and truth. She is also a longtime author, speaker, and advocate for personal and community transformation. Stephen Powell is a nationally respected leader in youth development and mentorship, with decades of experience building programs that uplift Black boys and young men through accountability, love, and community. His work is grounded in the unwavering belief that mentorship saves lives. Together, Susan and Stephen co-founded the National CARES Mentoring Movement, an organization dedicated to healing, empowering, and guiding Black children through culturally responsive mentorship. National CARES works to disrupt cycles of trauma by surrounding young people with consistent, caring adults who believe in their greatness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Lewis Jr. is a real estate professional, author, and lifestyle visionary focused on intentional living and personal alignment. Based in New York City, his work encourages people to think beyond success as a title and instead consider how they truly live their lives. His newly released book, No Apologies: Love the Way You Live, at Any Age, explores authenticity, self-acceptance, wellness, and living with purpose—offering reflection and practical insight for every season of life. A proud graduate of Howard University and the University of Texas at Austin, Charlie remains committed to leadership, mentorship, and community impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman is an award-winning Ghanaian-American researcher and writer. She is a postgraduate student at Harvard Kennedy School studying public policy and economics. She is the youngest recipient of a CEDAW Women’s Rights Award from the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Her first book received widespread coverage from outlets including NPR, ESSENCE, Telemundo, and The New York Times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeanni L. Johnson, a board-certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota and New York, brings a wealth of expertise as a psychotherapist based in Westchester, NY. Holding a Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice from Columbia University, Jeanni’s passion for destigmatizing mental health shines through her role as the CEO and founder of For Love & Psych, LLC. With a decade of focused experience in mental health and addictive disorders, Jeanni’s dedication to equity is exemplified through her collaborative research projects at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research. Her work providing behavioral mental health and substance abuse services underscores her commitment to supporting individuals on their healing journey. Grounded in the belief that healing is a collaborative process rooted in compassion and judgment-free care, Jeanni employs a multi-methodological and integrative approach to therapy. Through her guidance, clients are encouraged to introspectively address barriers hindering personal growth with clarity and self-compassion. Jeanni L. Johnson is a beacon of empathy and expertise, guiding individuals toward self-discovery and empowerment in their mental health and overall well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rev. Dr. Gary M. Speers is a veteran educator, administrator, and pastor whose five-decade career reflects an unwavering commitment to faith, leadership, and public service. A Birmingham native and graduate of Woodlawn High School, he has served in pivotal roles throughout Alabama’s school systems, local government, juvenile justice, and ministry, and currently serves as pastor of Aspel Community Church and as a member of the Scottsboro Board of Education. He was married to the late Kimball McQueen Speers—author of A Binding Love (2010), a historical romance—until her passing on December 17, 2023. Together, they raised three daughters and are blessed with eight grandchildren. MORE TO KNOW Dr. Gary M. Speers is an educator, community leader, and author whose life and work are deeply rooted in faith and service. He was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from Woodlawn High School—the inspiration for the Woodlawn story referenced in his book title. He continued his education on an athletic scholarship at Alabama A&M University, where he played football and earned his bachelor’s degree. Over the years, Speers has held a wide range of roles in education, including serving as the fifth and final principal of Brownwood Elementary School, assistant principal at other local schools, and positions in dropout prevention and attendance coordination within the Scottsboro City Schools system. He is also a board member of the Scottsboro Board of Education. In addition to his work in education, Dr. Speers has been active in public service and community leadership. He served as a city councilman in Scottsboro, founded New Harvest Ministries, and pastored Saint Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church for more than a decade. He remains involved with local organizations such as the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center and the Boys and Girls Club of America. His academic credentials are extensive. Along with his bachelor’s degree, he holds a Bachelor of Theology, a master’s degree in school counseling, an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree, and a Doctor of Education (EdD) with a focus on educational administration. Life After Woodlawn reflects Speers’s personal journey of faith, resilience, and purpose, showing how his beliefs have shaped his life experiences and service to others. www.lifeafterwoodlawn.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Esther Gokhale (pronounced GO-clay) is internationally recognized as “The Posture Guru of Silicon Valley,” a title given by The New York Times. Trained in science at Harvard and Princeton, Esther has taught the Gokhale Method® at leading institutions including Google, Facebook, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UCSF, and TEDx (Stanford). The Gokhale Method is currently the subject of a Stanford clinical trial focused on back pain treatment. Esther’s lifelong dedication to healing began in childhood while growing up in India, where she assisted her mother, a nurse, in caring for abandoned infants awaiting adoption. This early exposure to integrative care led her to study biochemistry at Harvard and Princeton, followed by acupuncture training at the San Francisco School of Oriental Medicine. After suffering debilitating back pain during her first pregnancy and undergoing unsuccessful back surgery, Esther committed herself to understanding the root causes of chronic pain. Her studies at the Aplomb® Institute in Paris and years of research in Brazil, India, Portugal, and other regions—where back pain is far less common—led to the development of the Gokhale Method®, a systematic approach to restoring the body’s natural alignment and movement patterns. Esther is the author of the best-selling book 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, which has sold over 300,000 copies and been translated into ten languages. She also hosted the nationally televised program Back Pain: The Primal Posture™ Solution. Today, the Gokhale Method is taught worldwide by certified teachers personally trained by Esther. The Gokhale Method focuses on restoring a natural “primal posture,” often described as a J-spine, through small, practical adjustments to everyday movements, including: Sitting & Standing: Stretchsitting™ and Stacksitting™ techniques to elongate the spine Bending: Hip-hinging to protect spinal discs Walking: Glidewalking™ to reduce joint stress Lying Down: Supportive sleep positions that maintain spinal alignment Interested in learning more? Attend a free online Gokhale Method workshop to explore practical tools for pain-free movement. 👉 Free Workshop Link: https://gokhalemethod.com/map/free_workshops?online=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coreen Simpson is widely known for her signature jewelry line, The Black Cameo, created in 1990. Motivated by the absence of cameos representing or celebrating Black women’s beauty, Coreen repurposed a traditional concept to develop imagery that could serve as a renowned symbol of Black femininity, style, and agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks is a renowned celebrity makeup artist celebrated for her signature “Flawless Face” technique. With over two decades in the beauty industry, she has crafted iconic looks for stars such as Taraji P. Henson, Alicia Keys, Janelle Monáe, LaLa Anthony, and more. Her artistry has appeared on red carpets, television and film sets, global beauty campaigns, and magazine covers worldwide. Ashunta is also an entrepreneur, educator, and founder of Ashunta Sheriff Beauty, where she shares her expertise through innovative products designed for diverse skin tones and everyday women seeking confidence through makeup. Her inspiring journey blends creativity, discipline, and a deep commitment to empowering others through beauty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LEARN MORE AT www.soptah.com - for inquiries CALL 929-316-6315 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Price’s journey begins like that of many entrepreneurs—with curiosity and determination mixed with moments of panic and a resounding belief that products that were made with love and delivered on their promise would find their following. It was a company born of Price’s love for fragrance and a passion for scent alchemy that formed the foundation of her high-performing products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrea Pitter is the founder of Pantora, a luxury bridal brand celebrated for its thoughtful craftsmanship, innovative textiles, and inclusive design philosophy. Created as a love letter to Black women, Pantora’s mission has always been to center and celebrate them—while welcoming and catering to women of all backgrounds. Black women are the reason Pantora began and remain at the heart of everything the brand creates. From dressing celebrated public figures to everyday women on their most meaningful days, Pantora designs with the same dedication to beauty, fit, and individuality. Known for its signature “Forgotten Skin Tone” illusion mesh and extensive size range, the brand offers a distinctive aesthetic that is both modern and timeless. Pantora’s collections are carried by select retailers nationwide, with flagship salons in New York City and Maryland. The brand has been featured in Vogue, Essence, The Knot, Ebony, Munaluchi Bride, and many more leading publications, and introduced its designs to an even wider audience when Andrea won Amazon Prime’s Making the Cut. With a commitment to representation, artistry, and a deeply personal approach to luxury, Andrea continues to design for a world where every woman feels seen, celebrated, and exquisitely dressed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Mathias Lassiter, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York City specializing in culturally informed mental health care for Black, POC, and LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. With a passion to use his Ph.D. for the culture, he serves as a therapist, scientist, educator, author, mental health columnist, on-air mental health expert, and international public speaker. Dr. Lassiter has appeared in outlets such as Forbes, NBC, PBS, SiriusXM, and iHeart Radio. He is the author of How I Know White People Are Crazy and Other Stories: Notes From a Frustrated Black Psychologist, published by Legacy Lit Books. In the book, he tells his story of becoming part of the less than 1% of Black male psychologists and explains how whiteness limits how we understand and practice mental health. Dr. Lassiter is also the co-editor of the award-winning text Black LGBT Health in the United States: The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation, published by Lexington Books. Follow Dr. Lassiter on all social media platforms: @lassiterhealth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She has ridden a camel in the Sahara Desert, been on a bird safari in Zimbabwe, survived driving into an electric pole while fighting off a kidnapping attempt in Haiti, seriously considered moving to the Andean mountains after her visit to the Inca Citadel Machu Picchu, and once ran a film foundation to bring cinema to underprivileged school children with Raoul Peck, the famed director of the popular film I Am Not Your Negro on James Baldwin. She is a Commander in the Niger National Order of Merit and a Magaram and Tambara, honorific titles, for she is the recipient of numerous recognitions for her advocacy work in child and women’s rights in Africa. Monique Clesca has led two incredibly fulfilling lives. First, as an activist, she worked in the field of international development, advocating for children’s and women’s rights, and participated in high-level policy around issues linked to Haiti and Africa. Since her retirement from full-time work at the United Nations in 2016, she has worked as an international consultant. Also a leading voice as a feminist, pro-democracy, and pro-social justice activist in Haiti, she has been a speaker at the Yale Law School Human Rights Clinic, the Parliament of Canada, and a guest on Democracy Now, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, NBC News, and Black News. She has been a long-time volunteer of a women-led organization that provides holistic support to girls and women who have suffered domestic and sexual violence. The President of Niger awarded her the country’s highest honor, Commander in the Niger Order of Merit, in 2016 for having spearheaded a countrywide movement for the elimination of child marriage. She has also been rewarded with several Royal Honorific Titles from the most powerful Traditional Chiefs in Niger. Her second life is writing. She is the author of two self-published books in French: her novel La Confession, a portrait of a woman asserting herself after love, grief, and loss in a patriarchal society; and Mosaiques, a collection of essays about women affected by human rights issues. She has just finished writing her memoir Silence and Resistance: Memoir of a Girlhood in Haiti, and an excerpt of it was featured as a Story of the Week by Narrative Magazine and another by the literary magazine Black Renaissance Noire, and still another in La Prensa. Her nonfiction, which has been dominated by Haiti, displacement, family bonds, gender, and identity issues, has appeared in The New York Times, Narrative Magazine, The Miami Herald, Foreign Affairs, Americas Quarterly, Foreign Policy, Just Security, Le Nouvelliste, and NYU’s Black Renaissance Noire Magazine, among others. Monique honed her memoir-writing craft at the Skidmore Writer’s Workshop with Phillip Lopate; at Tom Yenks’ Narrative Magazine Advanced Writing Workshop; with Dinty W. Moore and Allison K. Williams; at the Iowa Writers Festival; and at the Atelier Gallimard in France. Monique earned her master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Illinois and her B.A. in Philosophy from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She is the mother of two adult children—a daughter who lives in the United States and a son who lives in France—and the grandmother of two boys and a girl. A national of Haiti, she lives in Haiti and Miami. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Upon graduating from prestigious NYU with a business degree, Mark Ingram’s fashion career began at the legendary Fifth Avenue specialty stores Bonwit Teller and Bergdorf Goodman. As a young merchandising executive at these venerable institutions in the early 80’s, Mark was exposed to the world’s top designers and arbiters of style. Mark’s interest in fashion, however, dates back to his childhood. As a youngster barely out of the stroller, Mark was introduced to fashionable Fifth Avenue shops by his grandparents, who were avid shoppers and style setters. Custom-made clothes and Saturday fittings at such stores as B. Altman and Best & Co. remain fond childhood memories. By 1986, Mark had embarked on a successful wholesale career in New York’s garment center, securing merchandising and sales management positions with designer and luxury goods manufacturers. In 1995 he joined the renowned bridal house Amsale as National Bridal Sales Director. In this role, Mark traveled to the best couture bridal stores meeting brides-to-be across the country. All of this helped prepare him to realize the dream of opening Mark Ingram Atelier in 2002. Mr. Ingram established his own namesake collection ‘Mark Ingram Bride’ as a response to hearing firsthand the gowns that his customers were missing the most. The Mark Ingram Bride is a Collection brand first but truly so much more of an adjective. The title embodies the woman and the women who inspire their effortless look and feel. They are simple yet stately, they are delicate but impactful. The Mark Ingram Bride Collection is inspired by the women who adorn the gowns and their innate appreciation for chic, quality, and impeccable design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dynamic duo in life and purpose. From Hollywood to Harlem and beyond, Yvonna Kopacz-Wright and Brett Wright bring creativity, strategy, and heart to everything they touch — from the screen to the soil at Lomar Farms, where passion meets purpose in their mission to save the bees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curator Paul Alexander and Actress Maya Days in conversation with Harriette Cole on Women in Jazz — celebrating Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, and Billie Holiday, as well as the reopening of The Kaye Playhouse and the addition of the Billie Holiday Papers to Hunter College’s Jazz Archive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosemarie Ingleton is more than just the Medical Director of Ingleton Dermatology—she's the visionary behind its success. Dr. Ingleton has built a national reputation in both general and advanced cosmetic dermatology as the go-to dermatologist for many high-profile individuals. Her ability to seamlessly blend medical and cosmetic care, addressing skin and hair concerns with an artful touch, truly sets her apart. Whether you’re dealing with adult acne, seeking subtle cosmetic enhancements, or need expert care for ethnic skin, Dr. Ingleton’s deep understanding and precision make her a trusted leader in the field. Her achievements have been featured in publications like Vogue, Glamour, Essence, Allure, and Oprah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffrey Banks is an internationally recognized fashion designer. His consummate personal taste and way of putting clothes together have perennially earned him a spot on the “International Best Dressed” list. His professional style combines genuine talent for design and merchandising with an acute understanding of what contemporary men really want to wear. “For clothes to appeal to modern men, they really have to work,” says Banks. “Men like the look of modern clothes, but they have to feel contemporary.” For Banks the future of fashion is in the technological strides that allow designers to combine modern techno-fibers and fabrications with luxurious natural fibers. Banks strongly believes that menswear can always use an infusion of exuberant color adding, “men enjoy its liberating spirit.” Banks’ approach to design has earned him some of fashion’s most prestigiou awards and honors. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Banks earned a Special Coty Award for men’s furs with Alixandre, followed by another Coty for his signature menswear collection and an “Earnie” for his signature boyswear. Banks has also received the Cutty Sark Award for Outstanding U.S. Designer of Menswear as well as the Pratt Institute Award for Excellence. Banks designed with both Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein while in school. As the designer of Merona Sport, Banks built a $100 million sportswear line in less than five years. He launched the concept of “spectator sportswear” for men, women and children. In addition to designing his signature menswear line, he has had a long-standing menswear license in Japan. Banks has also designed private label sportswear and clothing for Bloomingdale’s. He conceived and developed the Johnnie Walker Collection of men’s sportswear as the first brand extension for this prestigious distiller. He has also recently designed Jeffrey Banks Womenswear and Jeffrey Banks Home Décor for HSN. Jeffrey Banks devotes a good deal of time serving the fashion industry and other favorite causes. He is a member of the Emeritus Board of Directors of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and was a senior Board Member of the Fashion Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dionne Williams is owner of D. Williams Public Relations & Event Management Group which specializes in public relations, brand strategy, experiential services, content creation, influencer marketing and event management. In over 25 years in the public relations arena Dionne has developed a proven track record for providing quality public relations campaigns and concepts that are executed in national and local urban markets. Her clients have been featured in local and major market newspapers, national magazines, national shows, such as Billboard Magazine, E! Entertainment, Black Entertainment Television (BЕТ), АBС, NBC, CNN, and CBS radio and television affiliated networks locally and nationwide. Clients have included: ORS haircare, tgin haircare, Ambi skincare, Jamaican Mango & Lime, Oscar Award Winning Actress Jennifer Hudson, R&B Legend Chaka Khan, Dwayne Wade's Wade's World Foundation, Playwright and actress Regina Taylor, American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), American Family Insurance, Johnson Publishing Company, Paul G Stewart Housing Campus, The N'Digo Foundation, The HistoryMakers, The Alliance of Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs (ABLE), The Goodman Theatre, just to name a few. Dionne Williams is a premier Event Management professional producing high-end and large events, galas, celebrity concerts and conferences. Dionne manages some of the most notable events in the nation and was nominated Event Producer of the Year by BizBash in 2012. Dionne is also the owner and producer of Emerge! Fashion Show which takes place during New York Fashion Week. Emerge! is one of the top collective emerging designer showcases during NYFW. Every year Emerge! presents the coveted Fashion Innovator Award which has been presented to Andre' Leon Talley, Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, Dapper Dan, Sergio Hudson, Law Roach, Beverly Johnson, Karl Kani to name a few. Emerge! has since expanded to London, spotlighting black emerging designers in the UK. Dionne Williams is a passionate advocate for diversity within the fashion industry, particularly among designers and the creative community. She serves on the executive board of the Chicago Costume Council at the Chicago History Museum and plays a pivotal role on the steering committee for Chicago Fashion Week, where she champions inclusion and innovation in fashion Prior to starting consulting, Dionne worked for the community affairs, publicity and promotions departments for NBC Chicago, Cook County Bureau of Health Services and Museum of Science and Industry. Dionne has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Chicago State University. She is currently the President of the Black Public Relations Society of Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Terence Lester is an author, activist, and founder of Love Beyond Walls. His upcoming book, Dropout to Doctorate, launches September 9th, sharing his journey from struggle to scholarship. His daughter, Zion Lester, co-authored the children’s book Zion Learns to See at age 15 with her father, bringing a fresh generational perspective to their shared mission and showing how young voices can spark meaningful change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pamela McBride has dedicated her career to fiercely advocating for others. As the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity in the largest division of an organization with more than 40,000 employees and 2,800 executives and managers, Pamela provides strategic leadership for Equal Employment Opportunity, Reasonable Accommodation, Anti-Harassment, and External Civil Rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Maros is a mindfulness coach, self-love expert, and the co-founder of the nonprofit organization Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life, dedicated to helping people cultivate happiness, fulfillment, and inner peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Homan is the founder and CEO of Orchestrated Connecting, a global community of connectors; Orchestrated Opportunities, an impact-focused advisory firm; and SOAR CONNECT, a start-up focused on the strength of authentic relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victoria Christopher Murray is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of more than 30 novels, including the New York Times Instant Best Sellers, The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danessa Myricks is a self-made beauty visionary whose impact runs deep across artistry, inclusivity, and innovation. Originally a nursing assistant turned single mom, Danessa’s pivot into makeup artistry began when she was laid off from a job that published hair and beauty magazines. Driven by passion, she self-educated in makeup techniques, photography, and product science — ultimately turning her creativity into a career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katherine Melchior Ray is a global marketing leader, consultant, keynote speaker, author, and educator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Fisher has spent a lifetime giving voice to the voiceless. From the hush of hospices to the halls of power, she’s proven that one woman’s courage can yield change. Not long after her own HIV diagnosis, Mary Fisher mounted a world stage in Houston, TX, to address the 1992 Republican National Convention where she stunned the assembled thousands (and broadcast audience of millions) with her historic speech, “A Whisper of AIDS.” Her address from that evening is well-remembered 30 years later and is featured in countless rhetoric texts as a model of advocacy persuasion. It’s been ranked (Oxford Press) as one of the “100 Best American Speeches of the 20th Century.” But Mary didn’t stop there. Twenty-two years and countless actions later, Mary was honored as a global Disruptor, receiving a Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award in the company of NIH Director Francis Collins and others. It’s one of many tributes paid to her including five honorary doctorates. Art and advocacy have filled Mary's life. She’s authored six books, given countless speeches and interviews, and traveled the globe as a Special Representative of the United Nations representing the call to justice and healing for those most affected by global neglect and AIDS. Throughout her life, Mary has balanced her love of making art with her commitments as an advocate. Her message-bearing sculptures, quilts, and stylized textiles have found a ready market from the halls of U.S. embassies to the homes of private collectors. Her work as a world-class jewelry designer has blended with her unending passion as an activist, yielding lines of bracelets produced by vulnerable women in Africa and nations around the world. Her work is a call to action: The 100 Good Deeds Bracelet generated over 4 million acts of kindness. Mary’s aesthetic is at once elegant and accessible, subtle and strong. Just as certainly, her advocacy is unquestioned. For decades, through art and action, she has inspired and given a voice to those muted by injustice, poverty, illness and fear. Mary has lived longer by any measure than the world thought possible that long- ago night in Houston. In 2012, while recovering from treatments for an aggressive breast cancer, she authored a second memoir. “My first memoir in 1995 was my story about dying,” she explained. “Messenger is my story about living.” The years have been a gift, and Mary has used them well. She’s never been quieted in her calls for diversity, equity and inclusion. She’s celebrated for her oratory that inspires others, is a recognized patron of the arts from Broadway to local theater, and is a proven and tireless campaigner for compassion and community, encouraging others to find ways to heal a broken world. In 2020, her long-held dream was realized when she hugged her first grandchild – an experience that could never have been imagined three decades earlier. Given her passion for action, Mary’s years of survival have become years of service to those she meets, a remarkable story of grace still unfolding. Beyond advocacy, Fisher is also a committed artist. Several of her art pieces are part of the Art for AIDS collection featured at UNAIDS in Geneva, and she frequently exhibits her work in U.S. galleries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A’Lelia Bundles, author, biographer, journalist, and great-great granddaughter of America’s first self-made woman millionaire Madam C.J. Walker, will be joining DREAMLEAPERS® on Saturday to share her own piece of history with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phylicia Rashad is a celebrated American actress, director, and educator, renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to television, theater, and the arts. Born on June 19, 1948, in Houston, Texas, she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Howard University in 1970. Learn more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices