Category: Uncategorized

Writer & Commentator on Africa’s Future

Eric Yaw Kissi Twerefour is a bold voice in Africa’s reawakening. With over 47,000 followers on LinkedIn, he is a respected thought leader challenging neocolonialism, confronting injustice, and advancing Africa’s global potential. As a finance and supply chain expert, he founded YawKissi.com and Twerefour & Kissiwaah Consulting, helping African and diaspora-led organizations build strong systems and strategic value. His work spans writing, public speaking, and consulting—bridging the gap between Africa and its global descendants. Yaw holds a BSc in Finance and Accounting from UCC and an MSc in the same field from KNUST, Ghana’s top institutions.

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CEO, Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce

Wallace E Goode, Jr is a dynamic Public Administration professional with proven success in directing academic, corporate, community service and municipal government organizations. Ability to lead high performing, cross-functional teams by encouraging collaboration, accountability and integrity.

Passionate about creating and implementing innovative programs to improve student development, campus life, and community engagement.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and Trainer with global perspective and understanding of diverse cultures. Solution-focused with strong communication, presentation and mentoring skills.

Committed to life-long learning, social action and accessibility in education.

CEO, Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce

Wallace E Goode, Jr is a dynamic Public Administration professional with proven success in directing academic, corporate, community service and municipal government organizations. Ability to lead high performing, cross-functional teams by encouraging collaboration, accountability and integrity.

Passionate about creating and implementing innovative programs to improve student development, campus life, and community engagement.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and Trainer with global perspective and understanding of diverse cultures. Solution-focused with strong communication, presentation and mentoring skills.

Committed to life-long learning, social action and accessibility in education.

Healthcare Access & Medical Racism • Black Maternal Health & Systems Reform • Immigrant Health Equity & Policy Navigation

Omobolanle (Mo) Kayode is a healthcare manager, speaker, and founder of NovaGold Auth LLC, where she advocates for equity in healthcare access and provider support. Her work centers Black and immigrant women navigating systemic bias in both care and career. With a background in medical administration and prior authorizations, she bridges gaps between patients, providers, and policy.

Award Winning Disabled Producer/Director/Actor/Father

Emmitt Thrower: I am a senior, disabled Black award-winning Filmmaker/Director from the Bronx who believes that greatness is embedded in our DNA and is looking to prove it. My journey from NYC Police Officer to Stand-up Comedian, to award-nominated theatrical actor/Producer, to Playwright, to book author, to Filmmaker has indeed been an exciting experience. I am most proud of my award-winning feature documentary entitled “Where is Hope: The Art of Murder which is available in colleges, universities, and libraries worldwide. It has become the ultimate motivator for my activism and work as a filmmaker. What’s next? Everything that I can imagine!!!

Artist, and Founder and Publisher of Pigment International

Patricia Andrews-Keenan is the founder of a Black woman-founded and led multimedia platform that reports on the art, people, issues, trends, and events shaping Black contemporary art, and examines the linkages connecting historical and contemporary Black art.

Founded in 2018 in Chicago, Pigment serves as a connector among Black creators, collectors, curators, investors, and other stakeholders.  Pigment convenes the Black art ecosystem for inspiring, cross-generational dialogue. It publishes Pigment Magazine and the Black Gallery Guide + and, under Andrews-Keenan’s leadership, founded Black Fine Art Month, first celebrated in October 2019, and now concretized in the Congressional Record. The organization’s digital and print publications aim to promote the contemporary Black aesthetic in the visual arts.

Andrews-Keenan is a former communications executive with extensive experience in corporate communications, public relations, advertising, community affairs, and event management. She received her BA in Journalism from Grambling State University and a certificate in Executive Leadership from UCLA.

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PIGMENT INTERNATIONAL

Producer/Director

Revealing Hard Truths

John Lewis is an International public speaker, Serial entrepreneur, and Wellness advocate. Lewis is an activist for the wellness of all living beings. He is the Film producer/director of the Documentary, “They’re Trying To Kill Us “, and the Author of “Badass Vegan”.

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Multimedia artist and Nonprofit Administrator

B.B. Cooper Browne (he/him) is a multimedia artist and producer with expansive nonprofit administrative experience including grantmaking for libraries and humanities organizations, data-drive collaborations, community outreach, and public programming.

Artist, Educator and Media Consultant

Claudette Roper is a dynamic combination of grit, innovation, and activism. As an award-winning interdisciplinary artist, her multimedia installations (other state and The Man Project), documentaries, and interactive endeavors explore an array of social justice issues through personal narratives. She has serviced an expansive range of clients via corporate communications and worked on historic media productions including: The Cosby Show, Donahue, and NY Committee to Welcome Nelson Mandela. A gifted educator, Roper has a B.A. in Radio & Television and M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts & Media — both from Columbia College Chicago where she is an adjunct professor of instruction.

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Producer of Grammy Winning “Sounds of Blackness”

Gary Hines, Producer of Sounds of Blackness

Since our beginning in 1971 at Macalester College, St Paul – 

Jazz, Blues, Spirituals, Rock & Roll, R&B, Gospel, Hip-hop & Soul.

These are The Sounds of Blackness!  

We’ve performed for Kings, Queens, Presidents, Ambassadors at Concert Halls, Colleges, Schools, Corporations, and Festivals all over the World.

Sounds of Blackness appearances include The Olympics, The World Cup, Ryder Cup, The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, 

World Figure Skating Championships, The Grammys, The Super Bowl,  The Essence, SoulTrain, Stellar, Billboard, and Image Awards, Denver Summit of 8, The NAACP National Convention, and The White House

Sounds of Blackness has appeared with Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Sting, Prince, Elton John, Maya Angelou, Usher, 

Dolly Parton, Harry Belafonte, Aloe Black, Common, John Legend & 

many more.

Sounds of Blackness has won Image, Soul Train, International Time For Peace, Stellar, and 3 Grammy Awards! Their Life-Changing Top 10 Single & Video “ROYALTY” was Nominated for 

2 Stellar and 2 NAACP Image Awards!

Sounds of Blackness Anthem Singles – 

“TIME FOR REPARATIONS” was Nominated for 2 NAACP Image Awards. “Juneteenth Celebration” was Released on May 3, 2022, and is The Juneteenth Holiday Anthem.

Our Groundbreaking Single 

“Hold Up Your Light” 

Also debuted in 2022!

March 8, 2023 “URGONNAWIN” our highly acclaimed Single and Video is motivating and inspiring people all over the world!  “WOKE” is featured in the film “Black Skin” by the 

Award-winning Director Marc Cayce.

“Thankful” in Honor of Amir Locke is

Nominated for NAACP Image Awards!

Sounds of Blackness Glorify God by Educating and Inspiring All People Through Black Music!