Marcell Copeland is a community organizer and a dynamic speaker. He has previously served his neighborhood as a community safety expert, training residents and block clubs on how to do community policing. Marcell assists with the day-to-day operations of M.A.N. (Maintaining A Neighborhood) Network, a non-profit organization serving the Northeast side of Detroit by providing community safety, community strength, and community support. Marcell previously worked as community patrol coordinator and dispatcher for the St. John Providence Health & Safety Initiative, Safe Routes to School Initiative, and the Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. In addition to his community safety efforts Marcell is also a founding board member of the Osborn Neighborhood Alliance, a governance board supported by the Skillman Foundation that partners with the community to make sure kids are safe, healthy, well-educated and prepared for adulthood. Marcell currently enjoys employment at Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan where helps to advance the mission teaching young people three crucial lessons: personal financial responsibility, workforce readiness and entrepreneurial thinking. Marcell Copeland received his ministry license in November 2012 from New Covenant Of Peace World Impact Ministries under the authority of Bishop Tony Russell and Pastor Valerie Russell, senior pastors.

Melanie R. Brown is a global speaker and writer on racial justice, philanthropy and Black women’s intersectional leadership across the charitable sector. She began her career as an educator, teaching in Washington, D.C., Beijing, China and Hong Kong, before transitioning into philanthropy. With nearly 13 years in the field, Melanie’s grantmaking has focused on accelerating academic achievement for Black and Latinx students, dismantling systems of exclusionary discipline, advancing parent and youth organizing, disarming deficit narratives about Black men in the media and advocating for the rights of students of color with disabilities. She is currently a senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she focuses on constituent engagement across the foundation’s education, economic and health priorities in the United States and Canada. Melanie is also an Atlantic Fellow in Social and Economic Equity at the London School of Economics. She has written for Alliance Magazine, the world’s leading publication for philanthropy and social investment and addressed audiences in Havana, Cuba, Oxford, UK and Cape Town, South Africa. She serves on boards for the American University Alumni Association and the Women’s Funding Network, an international network of women’s funds. Melanie earned degrees from American, Harvard and Carnegie Mellon universities. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and resides in Washington, D.C. with her wife, Natalie.

Single custodial father of two, I finished high school & college in Pittsburgh and then served in the U.S. Air Force. After working job after job, I decided to step out and open my own business (wine making). Initially I was laughed at and told that “black people cannot be successful in the Wine biz”. 7 years later, I am one of the top minority wine makers in the United States. My company, Unico Vino, serves at parties and events around the country. I have built this business by myself and will continue to grow it. My goal is to be the top Wine producer in the Country. Graduated from Valley High School (New Kensington Pa) in 1993 Graduated from Southern Ohio College (Cincinnati OH) in 2002 (Computer Science) Single father of 2 children (full custody) Air Force Veteran and medal recipient