Actor/director/producer Eriq La Salle is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama ER. Educated at Juilliard and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Robin Williams in One Hour Photo and Hugh Jackman in Logan.

Bridgett M. Davis (pronounced Brih-jet) is the author of the memoir, Love, Rita, published by Harper Books in spring 2025. 

Quintessential Harlem girl, Gracie Award winner and life-long New Yorker Bevy Smith is the host of Sirius XM’s “Bevelations” on Radio Andy. Once a wildly successful luxury fashion publishing exec, Bevy shifted her professional goals over a decade ago to pursue a life in front of the camera.

“Born, bred, and buttered in Harlem,” as she likes to say, Melba Wilson has used her culinary savvy to open doors for herself, her franchise, her employees, and other members of her community. She is truly a Harlem hero.

Frederick Anderson has been in the thick of New York’s fashion scene for over 20 years.

Adrienne Jones, Founder/Chief Creative Officer of Black Dress.

George Ellis Johnson is the founder of the Johnson Products Company, the maker of Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen, the first Black-owned company to trade on a major stock exchange, the financial sponsor of Soul Train, and once likely the largest Black-owned manufacturing company in the world.

Tony Award®-winning actor, known for his electrifying performances on Broadway, including his award-winning portrayal of Genie in Disney's Aladdin and currently starring as jazz legend Louis Armstrong in the Broadway musical A Wonderful World.

Congressman Shomari Figures of Alabama’s newly formed 2nd Congressional District.

Kerika Fields is a Brooklyn, New York-based writer and photographer whose work has been published and exhibited widely.

Jeanni L. Johnson, LCSW, CEO of For Love & Psych, LLC, is a Westchester-based psychotherapist dedicated to destigmatizing mental health. With a decade of experience and a compassionate, integrative approach, she empowers individuals to overcome barriers and embrace healing.

Leah Smith, a visionary filmmaker and storyteller with nearly 25 years of experience in the media industry, shaping narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide. Most recently, her passion for music shines through Luther: Never Too Much, a project honoring the legendary Luther Vandross. Through her award-winning projects, Leah Smith continues to inspire, educate, and uplift audiences around the globe.

Join us in honoring Regina Taylor, an actress, director, playwright, educator, and activist whose impactful work spans television, theater, and film. Taylor has created powerful works like Crowns, Oo-Bla-Dee, and Drowning Crow, earning multiple Helen Hayes Awards and the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. Notably, she is the most produced playwright at the Goodman Theatre, where she also serves as artistic associate.

Acclaimed Actress, Juilliard Alum, Star of 'Madea's Family Reunion,' and Visionary Filmmaker of 'An Extraordinary Life.' With a career spanning film, television, and Broadway, she continues to inspire through storytelling and education.

Shirley Neal is a Los Angeles based journalist, author, and TV & Film producer whose works have focused on pop culture, Africa, Black identity, and cultural themes. AfroCentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture is the certified ghostwriter’s debut solo writing credit.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, born on February 21, 1969, in San Francisco, California, is an accomplished actress and producer celebrated for her compelling performances in film, television, and theater.

Dr. Trisha Bailey, a distinguished University of Connecticut alum, brings over two decades of expertise to the medical industry. As the visionary founder and CEO of Bailey’s Pharmacy & Medical Equipment & Supplies, she channels her passion for providing love and care to the elderly and disabled.