David Augustine Jr, better known as Dee-1, has dedicated his entire life to changing the world for the better. Along the way, he has carved out a unique niche in the business community as an acclaimed rapper, mathematics teacher, financial literacy expert, public speaker, and social influencer. Born and raised in New Orleans, Dee combines the hustle of an independent business owner with heart of an educator and the lyricism of a hip hop heavyweight. After graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in marketing, Dee-1 began teaching middle school in Baton Rouge. But he wanted more. He devised a strategy to transition out of his 9-5 job into being a full time artist. Eventually, he signed a major label recording contract with RCA Records. He has toured the country for the last 10 years, moving crowds from coast to coast while becoming one of the industry’s most respected artists. His business mind allowed him to get out of his deal and establish his own label, Mission Vision Music. Along the way, Dee-1 has also successfully expanded his enterprise to clothing, public speaking, acting, personal finance, and more. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence” Award. Dee-1 is a frequent speaker at colleges, prisons, churches, and corporate events around the United States. He was also appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to the “Louisiana Council on the Success of Black Men and Boys.” This made him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become an appointee of the governor.

Joe Kennedy has dedicated his career to social and economic justice. A former Congressman, legal aid volunteer, and assistant district attorney, he founded Groundwork Project to address pervasive disparities in the American political system and to help build a Democratic Party that is more inclusive, representative, and fair.

Over four terms in the House of Representatives, Kennedy built an impressive legislative record around civil rights, health care, and economic policy, emerging as a national figure in some of our most pivotal political debates. From his headline-making fights for affordable health care and compassionate immigration policy to his legislative leadership on issues like mental health parity and transgender equality, he has become one of this generation’s most powerful voices for moral clarity.

Kennedy also serves as a senior advisor to the Emerson Collective, the Poor People’s Campaign, and the National Association of Community Health Centers and appears on CNN as a political commentator. He also serves on the boards of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps.

Haley Taylor Schlitz is 20 years old and the youngest Black person to graduate from law school in the history of the United States. In May of 2022, at the age of 19, Haley graduated with her Juris Doctor from the SMU Dedman School of Law. In May of 2019, she became Texas Woman’s University’s youngest graduate in history when she graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Woman’s University College of Professional Education. On February 28, 2020, she was featured by Beyonce as one of Beyonce's This Is Black History 2020 honorees. Haley also served as one of seven national editors for the American Bar Association Law Student Division publications during the 2021-2021 academic year. Haley is a recurring columnist for Blavity and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated. Haley feels called to give back and is taking an “IMPACT Year” to teach social studies and AP Seminar courses to 7 through 12 grade students at EA Young Academy in Tarrant County. After teaching, Haley will pursue a career in public policy to advocate for education equity and greater access to gifted and talented programs for students of color and girls

Verse is one of the true OG’s of the Tulsa hip-hop scene. He built the foundations of the scene that thrives today with his work in the influential Oilhouse collective. His debut album, “The City That Always Sleeps” is a local classic if there ever was one. Verse is so well-loved in Tulsa that he released his VSXO album in 2019 after a 3 year hiatus and sold over 350 copies in Tulsa at $30 each. Widely known as one of the top live performers in Tulsa, Verse assembled a band with some of Tulsa’s top musicians to support his live show – including superstar Fire in Little Africa producer Malachi Burgess. VSXO is schedule to hit streaming platforms in summer of 2020.

Jerica Wortham is a poet, published author, entrepreneur and native of North Tulsa. She attended Carver Middle School and Booker T. Washington High school. Her upbringing in North Tulsa helped develop her mindset and understanding of the importance of community. “One thing is, you live in North Tulsa, you learn to be resourceful, period.” She told The Black Wall Street Times. “When you have a vision for what you can contribute to the community, and even if it doesn’t necessarily have the resources or financial backing that you need to make that thing happen. You learn how to lean on community, you learn how to make a little bit go a long way.” She added.

Krisheen Suarez is a singer and songwriter representing the label Suarez !nspired Republic. Owned and operated by CEOs iamDES and Krisheena Suarez have said their official mission is to use music to touch peoples’ lives and to create a culture through supreme innovation. “Our inspiration, themes, and topics come from everywhere, really,” they write. “We pull from personal experiences, observing social settings, social media, movies, shows, books, and real world events. Everywhere!”