Taqueece Myers is an educator and community leader committed to empowering individuals and fostering inclusion. She is the founder of RBC Support Services, a nonprofit organization that provides the support necessary for individuals to live independently and actively participate in their communities. With a mission to create a supportive environment where everyone can thrive, RBC Support Services offers a comprehensive range of programs, including support for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Taqueece’s passion for serving others extends beyond RBC Support Services. She also founded iRIS Blooms (formerly Redefining Beauty Inc.), an enrichment and mentoring program for girls that inspires personal growth and broadens career exploration opportunities. By partnering with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, local organizations, and businesses, she has cultivated a collaborative approach to creating collective impact within the community.

With over 15 years of experience in urban education and six years in community youth development, Taqueece combines her professional expertise with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underserved populations. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education from the University of Detroit Mercy, where she earned a certification in Emotional Impairment and Behavioral Disorders.

In 2017, Taqueece was presented with the Spirit of Detroit Award in recognition of her achievements and dedication to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Detroit. This year, she was a featured honoree in Who’s Who in Black Detroit, highlighted for her contributions to service and advocacy.

As a proud mother of twins, Zoey and Zachary Rogers, who are preparing to enter high school, Taqueece draws inspiration from her family to continue creating opportunities for others. When she’s not working or spending time with her children, she dedicates herself to exploring new ways to expand her impact. Through her leadership at RBC Support Services and iRIS Blooms, Taqueece Myers is transforming lives and paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in Detroit.

Terrell Thomas (He/Him/His) works to build high-level relationships and community power through various tactics, such as creating coalition partnerships, lobbying elected and other government officials, recruiting and developing volunteers, and engaging voters. He helps to develop, strengthen, and nurture alliances and work in coalitions with different communities, youth groups, formerly incarcerated peoples, and other advocacy groups. Terrell is the Executive Director of The Isaiah Project youth development program, President of Power University community education initiatives, CEO of My Brother’s Keeper transitional living facility, and owner of Last Fix Lawn Care for returning citizens. Terrell spearheaded the LOVE Project, which is a group of disparate individuals who identify and address root causes to issues that have a systemic effect in our environment. Terrell is also a Senior Field Organizer for the ACLU-PA and the NAACP’s National Criminal Justice Director. Terrell was named Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh in 2015, 40 under 40 by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2016, both a Man of Excellence by The New Pittsburgh Courier and the Ronald Dillon Organization Man of the Year in 2017, received the Pittsburgh Business Times Innovators Award, BMe Black Genius, and Pittsburgh Human Resource Association’s Leader of the Year in 2018, and named Incline Magazine’s Who’s Next in Activism in 2019. Terrell received a BA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Sociology and Political Science, studied Organizational Leadership at Point Park University, and received a certificate from the Vanderbilt Divinity School in Public Theology and Racial Justice.

Terri Williams was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Ms. Williams graduated from Turtle Creek High School and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1985 and retired in June 2008. While enlisted in the United States Navy her duty stations included: boot camp at Recruit Training Command in Orlando, Florida; HELSUPPRON ONE in San Diego, California; Naval Air Station, Guam; Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia; Fleet Composite Six, Virginia; and Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group (Atlantic), Virginia. In May 1998, she was commissioned an Ensign, Medical Service Corps (Health Care Administration). As a commissioned officer she was assigned to duty stations at Bethesda, Maryland; Okinawa, Japan; and Naval Operational Support Center, Pennsylvania where she was responsible for instructing and assisting Marine and Navy reserve units to maintain a continuous state of readiness for mobilization; inspect and render technical advice to those units in command functions including administration, logistical support, and public affairs; and execute such collateral functions as directed by higher authority. She retired after 23 years of service. Ms. Williams received her Master of Science in Health Sciences, Health Care Management graduating Magna Cum Laude from Touro University International, a Master of Education from Troy State University and Principal’s Certification from Point Park University, a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Saint Leo College. Williams is currently the Director of Operation and Innovation at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship. Her extensive experience includes alternative education, recovery support, socio-economically deprived public schools and restorative practices.

Tonya Guinn is a senior program assistant on the education team at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the largest private foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $2 billion. She provides support for education-focused initiatives through research, program development, program and event management in addition to building relationships. For the past 4 years she has served as the co-chair for the Amplify Conference, an annual convening for educators and leaders of color. As a Kansas City native, Tonya was a student in the Kansas City Public Schools K-12 and this drives her passion in doing what she can to work in establishing an equitable, fair, and quality education for students in the urban core. As an adult, she realized the importance of higher education and its potential benefits and obtained her associate and bachelor’s degrees, both in business administration, and a master’s degree in management, all from Baker University. She is an active member of her church and a volunteer for several local organizations and charitable causes in the community. She enjoys binge-watching shows on Hulu and Netflix, reading, dancing, cycling, running 5 and 10ks, and spending time with family and friends. She is a wife, mother and grandmother.

Trent Findley is Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Metro United Way in Louisville, KY. Born and raised in the city of Louisville, Trent strives to improve and impact the community in both a professional and personal capacity. Trent seeks to help Metro United Way to both internally and externally improve in implementing a collaborative impact framework in order to invest in systematic and structural root causes of community needs. Outside of Metro United Way, Trent is a passionate youth chess enthusiast. He founded the Newburg Legacy Chess Club, a US Chess Federation affiliated chess club in the community where he lives that provides a positive and creative impact option for youth to learn and compete in the game of chess. Trent also is the head coach of Newburg Middle School’s chess team. Formerly a licensed financial professional, Trent has also been passionate about teaching financial literacy in community centers and churches in the community. Trent’s family has been a part of the Louisville community for generations. He is a graduate of Louisville Male High School. He was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee-Martin, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Trent is married to Ashli Findley and has two sons, Trenton Jr. and Ashton.

Twanna is a self-described cultural anthropologist, a champion for equity and change, an advocate for authentic storytelling and an activist focused on asset framing. As an accomplished executive with two decades of strategic brand, multicultural and experiential marketing expertise, Twanna utilizes her experience and passion to launch a social impact entertainment studio (Tribal Good), bringing creatives, innovators and change makers to the front lines of solving the world’s greatest challenges. The firm utilizes insights and data as the foundation of its directional roadmap, while bringing greater cultural context, insights and perspectives to the forefront. Twanna also leads Atlanta BeltLine’s branding efforts in her role as VP of Brand, Content and Strategic Initiatives. Her focus on community building and creating a ‘sense of belonging’- through storytelling – ensure that Atlanta’s beloved communities continue to embrace the residents and businesses that have historically built the neighborhoods closest to the redevelopment project. Prior to ABI, she held marketing posts at Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, United Way, The Potter’s House (Bishop TD Jakes), Octagon and Commonground (now Ten35). She is the mother of four children, and lives in Atlanta with her husband Will. Twanna, who also professes to be a ‘data junkie’, is relentless when it comes to debunking current narratives, and constantly strives to defy the status quo. When not solving the world’s greatest dilemmas, she enjoys spending her free time people-watching, reading, traveling and attending sporting events with her family.