Taqueece Myers is an educator and community leader who founded Redefining Beauty Inc., a Detroit based enrichment and leadership program. She works to empower the next generation of leaders by developing and implementing workshops, programs, and events that promote leadership and broaden career exploration exposure. She also collaborates with community partners and innovative youth organizations to make a collective impact on Detroit’s youth. In 2017, Taqueece was presented with the Spirit of Detroit award in recognition of her achievements, leadership and her dedication to improving the quality of life. This year she was selected to be featured as an honoree in Who’s Who in Black Detroit to highlight her service to others in the community. With more than 15 years of experience in traditional (urban) education and 6 years of experience in community youth development, Taqueece has demonstrated her commitment to reach and serve Detroit’s next generation of leaders. As an educator, she has first-hand knowledge of the many things that inner city youth face, and a top-down view of their needs. As a community leader, she has the opportunity to help. Taqueece holds a BBA and Master of Arts in Teaching from UofD Mercy. She is the proud mother of twins, Zachary and Zoey. When she’s not working or spending time with her children, you can find her volunteering or researching ways to increase the value of her organization in order to help youth reach their fullest potential.

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.