Barbara R. Arnwine, Esq., president & founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition, is internationally renowned for contributions on critical justice issues including the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the 2006 reauthorization of provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Currently, she also serves as Co-Chair and Facilitator of the National Commission for Voter Justice, the Millennial Votes Matters Convenings and the Voting Rights Alliance. She was the head of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law from February 1989 until June 2015 and holds the honorific title of President Emeritus. She has served as the Charles Hamilton Chair for the North Carolina Central University School of Law from 2016-2017 and has also taught at Columbia University School of Law. She also created the legendary Voting Rights “Map of Shame” in 2011, which exposed the new modern wave of voter suppression in the states. Her groundbreaking civil rights and human rights advocacy has been honored with many prestigious awards. She is the radio host of Igniting Change and is a regular presence in the national media and is often quoted in the press. A graduate of Scripps College and Duke University School of Law, she continues to champion civil rights and racial justice issues nationally and internationally in the areas of housing and

lending, women’s rights, especially issues affecting intersectionality and African American women and girls, community development, employment, voting, education, policing restructuring, and environmental justice.

Toya Beasley is a champion for empowering people to live their best lives. She is an ambassador for some of the nation’s most recognizable brands, building positive connections and inspiring people to reach higher.

Toya Beasley headlines Sunday mornings on 94.7 The Block, hosting and producing ‘Inspirations On The Block’ New York’s number one station for Throwbacks.

Most recently, Ms. Beasley was the inspirational format content director and on-air personality for InspireU with Toya Beasley at Radio103.9FM in New York City. She also hosted the weekly In Focus community affairs talk show and was heard in 48 markets across the U.S. through her Westwood One syndicated show, Sunday Inspirations. 

Glynda C. Carr (she/her) is a nationally recognized leader and co-founder, President, and CEO of Higher Heights, the political home for Black women. Under her visionary leadership, Higher Heights has become a powerful force in mobilizing Black women’s political participation—from the voting booth to elected office. Since its founding in 2011, Carr has led impactful movements such as #BlackWomenLead and #BlackWomenVote, helping to increase Black women’s representation in Congress, statewide offices, and historic moments like the elections of Vice President Kamala Harris and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

A respected political analyst and commentator, Carr has been featured in major outlets including ABC News, MSNBC, The New York Times, and USA Today. Her work has earned national recognition, including Essence’s Woke 100 list. She currently serves on the boards of the National

Women’s Law Center Action Fund and PicMotion, and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and The Links, Incorporated. With a foundation in grassroots activism and a background in public policy, Carr continues to empower Black women to vote, run, win, and lead—reshaping American democracy through community, resilience, and collective action.

Tamara E. Chrisler is Chief Operating Officer at Reproductive Freedom for All

In this role, Tamara has oversight of the organization’s day-to-day management, overall security, and fiscal well-being, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness, and driving continuous improvement through the implementation of policies and the application of the organization’s values. Prior to serving as Chief Operating Officer, Tamara held the position of Chief of Equity, Culture, and Talent at Reproductive Freedom for All, providing leadership in support of the organization’s internal infrastructure (hiring, procurement, staff wellness) and ensuring its external programming (organizing, donor relations, political and government relations) are embedded with the organization’s values. Prior to joining Reproductive Freedom for All, Tamara most recently served at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as Counsel and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). There, she built a solid DEI program, having created a DEI Steering Committee and Employee

Congresswoman Yvette Diane Clarke feels honored to represent the community that raised her. She is the proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants. She takes her passion for her Caribbean heritage to Congress, where she co-chairs the Congressional Caribbean Caucus and works to foster relationships between the United States and the Caribbean Community. Clarke is a Senior Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Clarke has been a member of the Congressional Black Caucus since coming to Congress in 2007 and today serves as its Chair.As the Representative of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, Congresswoman Clarke has dedicated herself to continuing the legacy of excellence established by the late Honorable Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman and Caribbean American elected to Congress. In the 118th Congress, Congresswoman Clarke introduced landmark legislation to advance the priorities closest to her heart and at the top of her constituent’s minds. She has led critical legislation to support the health of women, including the Menopause Research Equity Act, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid and Education Act, and the Uterine Cancer Study Act. As a trailblazing leader guiding

Congressional efforts to enact meaningful policy in the Age of AI, she also introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to stop the spread of malicious deepfakes with her DEEPFAKES Accountability Act and increase transparency surrounding political AI-generated advertisements with her REAL Political Ads Act. She has consistently stood against the rising tide of mis- and disinformation in traditional and new media spaces, and she is committed to ensuring Americans across the nation not only have access to the information they need but that they can trust it is accurate.

Congresswoman Clarke is a graduate of Oberlin College and was a recipient of the prestigious APPAM/Sloan Fellowship in Public Policy and Policy Analysis. She received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from the University of Technology, Jamaica, and the Honorary Doctorate of Public Policy from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Congresswoman Clarke currently resides in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, where she grew up. She is a proud active member of the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Jackson Gomes - Reclaiming Our Stories Workshop

From a young immigrant finding solace in Brooklyn Public Library (Bklyn Library) to a librarian nationally recognized by Library Journal, a Jackson Gomes' journey is one of impactful advocacy and innovation.  As BPL's Young Adult Internship Coordinator, he empowers teens (ages 14-18) through dynamic tech and library-focused programs, including, "Today's Teens, Tomorrow's Techies" and "Librarians of Tomorrow."  His leadership in helping to launch the groundbreaking "Books Unbanned" initiative, which provided access to over 8,000 digital banned books to teens across the U.S., earned him the Library Journal's 2023 Librarian of the Year award.  Driven by a passion to diversify the field, Jackson is pursuing his Master's in Library Science and participating in the Bklyn Library "Pathway to Leadership Scholar" program.  He aims to amplify representation of Black men in librarianship and will graduate from UA Albany in 2026

Lisa P. Jones is a dynamic serial entrepreneur, highly sought-after digital marketing executive, and a trailblazer in the travel, hospitality, and event industries. As the founder of Black Travel Maine, Black Travel Marketing, Jamaica Fit Trip, Worldwide Group Travel, and Leisure Group Tech, Lisa has built a portfolio of innovative brands that redefine group travel, tourism marketing, and outdoor recreation.

With over three decades of experience, Lisa has been a pioneer in group travel and influencer-driven experiences, curating high-impact events, retreats, and destination marketing campaigns. Her expertise in digital marketing, public relations, and strategic partnerships has positioned her as a leading voice in the travel, outdoor recreation and hospitality sectors.

Her groundbreaking work has been featured in TravelPulse, Essence, Black Enterprise, Mainebiz, Contemporary Bride, and the Portland Press Herald. She has also made television appearances on Good Day New York and News Center Maine, amplifying her mission to make travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation more inclusive and accessible.

Lisa is a visionary leader who understands the power of community-driven storytelling, data-driven marketing, and the economic impact of diverse tourism initiatives. Whether she’s leading destination marketing campaigns, organizing high-profile retreats, or advocating for more representation in travel and hospitality, Lisa is committed to shaping the future of the industry.

Connect with Lisa to explore collaborations, media opportunities, and strategic partnerships in the ever-evolving world of travel, hospitality, and tourism marketing.

Pamela Morgan is a distinguished leader in international women's advocacy and gender equality initiatives. As Chair of Zonta International's United Nations Committee, she leads representative teams across global hubs including New York, Geneva, Vienna, Paris, Africa, and Bangkok.

Currently serving as Co-chair for NGO CSW/NY, Ms. Morgan plays a pivotal role in coordinating the largest civil society convening at the United Nations headquarters through the annual NGO CSW Forum. Her leadership advances global gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives through crucial policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

As Founder and Executive Director of Women In Media – Newark, she champions women's issues through film and digital media, notably directing their annual Women's International Film Festival.

Jummy Olabanji co-anchors News4 Today, the #1 morning news in Washington, D.C.

A native of Fairfax County, Olabanji has spent most of her life in Virginia, graduating from Westfield High School in Chantilly and Virginia Tech. She earned a Master's degree in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.

Olabanji started her journalism career as an intern for NBC4. She has also worked for stations in Charlottesville, Norfolk, and New York City.

She has been honored for her work with two national Edward R. Murrow Awards for breaking news anchor coverage, two Virginia Associated Press Awards and eight EMMY Awards.

Olabanji is an advocate for organ donation and sits on the Board of Directors of the National Kidney Foundation. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, The Links, Incorporated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Along with her husband, Olabanji lives in Washington, D.C.

Grace Vandecruze is the Founder and Managing Director at Grace Global Capital LLC, a consulting firm providing M&A financial advisory, restructuring, and valuation to insurance companies and financial regulators since 2006.  Her distinguished career includes pivotal leadership roles at Swiss Re, where she directed regulatory advisory services and groundbreaking work providing expert testimony during the largest insurance bankruptcy in history. Ms. Vandecruze has provided IPO advisory in the largest public offerings of insurance companies throughout her career and has executed over $25 billion in M&A and financing transactions.  Ms. Vandecruze brings a unique combination of C-suite experience in banking, M&A, capital markets, and accounting.    

Before founding Grace Global Capital in 2006, Ms. Vandecruze served as Managing Director at Swiss Re and has held key positions at Merrill Lynch and EY. Her educational credentials include an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BBA in Accounting from Pace University.  She is also a CPA.

Ms. Vandecruze serves on multiple boards, including PIMCO Closed-End Funds, Blackstone PE Strategies Fund (BXPE), The Doctors Company, and Resolution Life Group Holdings. Her financial acumen and leadership have earned her recognition as "Directors to Watch" by Directors & Boards magazine, "Woman to Watch" by Business Insurance magazine, and "Corporate Woman of the Year" by Pace University.  She was also appointed to the Wharton Graduate Executive Board.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Vandecruze is the author of the international bestseller Homeless to Millionaire: 6 Keys to UPLIFT Your Financial Abundance, embodying the power of transformation and economic empowerment. An adventurous spirit, she is also a licensed sailor and experienced mountaineer who has summited over 25 peaks across three continents.

Eboni K. Williams is an American lawyer, author and television host. 

She hosts and is executive producer of Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams, a nationally syndicated court television show. 

Additionally, she hosts and is executive producer of the NAACP Image Award winning, Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams. 

In addition to frequently guest hosting The View and The Breakfast Club, Williams starred on season 13 of“The Real Housewives of New York City”, becoming the show’s first Black cast member ever. 

Her bestselling book, Bet on Black: The Good News About Being Black in America hit shelves in January 2023. The paperback version will be released in July 2025.Eboni is a proud and active member of the Pi Kappa Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She is also a NYC Gender Equity Commissioner. 

Williams holds a Bachelor’s degree in Black and African Studies from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Benedict College. 

She currently lives and owns in Harlem, USA.