Trabian Shorters is one of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs and the catalyst of a national movement to first define black people by their aspirations and contributions, then to secure their fundamental freedoms to Live, Own, Vote and Excel.

He is a retired tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and former vice president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation where he was responsible for $300M in active grants and endowments in 26 US cities.

Shorters is the international authority on an award-winning cognitive frame-work called “Asset-Framing for Equity” which is in high-demand by heads of influential philanthropic, journalism and social impact networks.

Asset-Framing equips its practitioners to have far greater social impact, raise more money, engage broader populations, and make fundamentally stronger cases for equity and systems-change.

Shorters is also the giddy husband of international purposeful branding coach, Yetunde Shorters, and proud father to two adult sons and toddler twin daughters whose brilliance lights his heart daily.

Sarah Multidor is a native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti and currently serves as Chief Operations Officer for BMe Community.

As a key member of the Operations Team, Sarah helps to create and manage BMe’s relationships and enhance BMe’s supportive staff. She previously served with City Year Los Angeles helping raise their $10.3M annual budget, engage alumni, and train corps members.

Sarah is a proud alumna of the University of Miami where she graduated with Honors. Today she is passionate about leading teams to impact and seeking areas of shared humanity.

Benjamin Carlton is Co-Founder and National Fellowship Director of BMe Community, a national movement of people of all races and genders who believe in valuing all members of the human family, recognizing black males as assets, and building more caring and prosperous communities together. Benjamin’s pioneering work with BMe earned him a Miami Fellows Fellowship with the Miami Foundation in 2015 and he was a finalist for Forbe Magazines 30 under 30. The central premise of BMe’s work is to identify people by their contributions rather than their deficits and then to engage them in living out their aspirational identity for themselves and society. 

The core mission of BMe Community is Benjamin’s life story. He has been breaking glass ceilings and weakening the stereotypes that have been created concerning black men in the United States. He was raised in Philadelphia, PA by his mother Gilda Henry-Rolle and step-father Ricardo Rolle who worked their best to ensure he was equipped with the tools to achieve well beyond what the cynics were saying concerning black men in the city.

Benjamin attributes his passion for community involvement to his late mentors, Benjamin Evans Sr. and Lana Felton-Ghee, who were successful community leaders and entrepreneurs. Lana had Benjamin civically involved in the Philadelphia community starting at the age of 12.  Benjamin is best known for being a strategic leader for creating and implementing innovative professional development, youth empowerment, and community enrichment programs.

Benjamin has over 10 year’s experience in social innovation, public relations, and as an executive director. For three years he directed Florida Department of the Elder Affairs STARS Program before going to work for Price Waterhouse Coopers LLC and eventually SecuriGlobe where he was marketing and brand director. He is a graduate of Florida A & M University School of Business and Industry in Tallahassee, FL where he received his bachelors in Accounting and Masters of Business Administration. He is enthusiastic about mentorship and public service and spends his time volunteering in youth and civic organizations. He resides in Los Angeles, CA. 

As Director of Allies for Equity, Shantaa Foster leads the Allies for Equity Partnerships team. She develops strategy and growth for BMe’s nationwide partnerships, which includes 3 core elements – contributions to the Black L.O.V.E. Fund; participation in campaigns that fulfill aspirations to Live, Own, Vote, Excel; and offerings of professional services, publicity, and advocacy in partnership with BMe to build racial equity without stigma.

Shantaa is a business strategist with over 12 years of experience in social innovation, partnerships, and public relations. She designed and executed campaigns for over 100+ partners and philanthropists annually at DonorsChoose.org, one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies in the World” and a leader in crowdfunding $1.22 billion for 85,000 public schools nationwide. She’s been recognized as a high-performing leader of multi-million-dollar portfolios in both Finance and Tech, and for system optimization at Goldman Sachs.

Shantaa spearheaded innovative partnership campaigns, winning achievements such as Association of National Advertisers’ Reggie Award for Consumer Loyalty and Ragan’s CSR & Diversity Award for representation and equity campaigns. Since 2019, she has also been a visiting lecturer at NYC Small Business Services’ New Venture program, an entrepreneurship bootcamp that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills to launch successful businesses in NYC.

As a proud alumna of Columbia University and Prep for Prep 9, Shantaa is grateful for the opportunity to drive partnerships & social impact that build and empower our communities! She holds awards as the Columbia University Zauner Scholar, Università di Bologna Forlì Scholar, Oval Society Fellow, and NFTE Entrepreneurial Fellow. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering in her community, fun DIY craft projects, and all things nature!

Tatyana “Taty” Denson joined the BMe Community staff in November of 2019. As Experiences Manager (formerly Special Events Manager), Taty manages Asset-Framing Talks and Trainings, BMe Community’s annual signature events and experiences.

Taty is an alumna of Florida Atlantic University, where she earned a Master of Business Administration in Sport Management (2018), and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication: Media & Cultural Studies (2015). Prior to joining the BMe staff, she held roles in marketing, and game & event operations at ESPN (Birmingham Bowl), the Arizona Sports Foundation (Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl), and Florida Atlantic University Athletics.

In 2019 Taty returned to her native Miami, Florida to continue her events management career in a way that would contribute to the community. As an avid Arts and “Sportainment” supporter, Taty enjoys assisting event operations teams at various community & major events throughout the year sharpening her skills, pursuing her passion for this work and most importantly serving her community.

Leonard Hammonds II is a United States Marine Corps veteran and Founder of Hammonds Initiative. He is also a recognized presence in the community for his years of activism, advocacy, philanthropy, and leadership. He is a 2018 Leadership Pittsburgh CLCV (Community Leadership Course for Veterans) Cohort V graduate, and 2019 Leadership Pittsburgh Lead Now Pittsburgh II Fellow.

Hammonds is the District Office Director for State Representative Jake Wheatley Jr. in the 19^th Legislative District of Western Pennsylvania.  He is also a Community Builder with BMe Community.  As Community Builder, Leonard is driven by his passion to serve, whether it is country or community.

Hammonds has gone on to earn various awards and proclamations for his work. He has received proclamations from State Representatives Ed Gainey, Jake Wheatley Jr., and Anthony Deluca.  A few of his awards include 2021 Marlon J. Lucas “Love is Action” Community Humanitarian Award, 2018 VBC Veteran of the Era Award, 2018 BMe Black Genius Fellowship Award, 2018 Passion Meets the Road Entrepreneur Award , 2018 CEA Nation Building Award, and 2017 New Pittsburgh Courier Men of Excellence Award, amongst several others.

Hammonds serves on various boards and committees including President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Committee in Pittsburgh, and the Heinz Endowments Just Arts Advisory Committee.

Leonard is married to LaShaundra Hammonds and has two beautiful children, Leonard J. Hammonds III and Camilla Hammonds.

Daryle W. Unseld Jr. serves as the Chief Equity Officer for Metro United Way – charged with providing executive leadership, strategy development, planning, execution and accountability for Metro United Way’s focus on internal and external equity, diversity and inclusion.

Prior to his service at Metro United Way, the 11-year U.S. Air Force veteran held positions in Louisville Metro Government and the YMCA of Greater Louisville.

Daryle earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisville, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Saint Leo University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Indiana University. 

Daryle is a member of numerous civic and professional organizations including 100 Black Men of Louisville, the National Black MBA Association, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, Theta Omega Chapter. He currently serves on the governing boards of the West Louisville Performing Arts Academy and 15,000 Degrees. He was selected as a 2015-16 Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), Connecting Leaders Fellow and is a member of the 2018 Leadership Louisville Bingham Fellows class. He and his wife Cecily are proud parents of two daughters, Jasmyne and Natalia.

Yvenide “Yve” Belizaire is a first-generation Haitian American college graduate. She graduated with her Bachelor in Government from Hamilton College in 2021. While in college, Yve interned at nonprofits with missions of equity. At the Women’s Fund, she helped the organization foster relationships with its donors to raise funds for several women-focused programs throughout south Florida.

As a Resettlement intern, she worked remotely with resettled refugee clients to help them apply for grants during the first wave of the COVID outbreak. Yve is passionate about empowering communities with the resources they need to succeed. She is ecstatic to join the BMe community as the Program Associate.

Bruce Weinberg is the Florida Managing Partner and Stockholder with Weinberg & Company, P.A. a regional accounting firm with offices in Boca Raton, FL, West Palm Beach, FL, Lantana, FL, Los Angeles, CA and China. He has over 33 years of experience in the field of accounting and tax through his work with Weinberg & Company and prior to that with Weinberg, Tubbs & Company.

Bruce began his career in 1986 with the firm of Weinberg, Tubbs & Company as a Jr. Accountant. He ultimately was promoted over the years to staff accountant, then senior accountant and manager. In 1993, he followed his father Elliott and was instrumental during the beginning years of Weinberg & Company, P.A. in expanding the operation to more than just a local accounting firm, but into a regionally, nationally and now internationally respected accounting & auditing firm. As a member and ultimately a stockholder in the firm, Bruce has risen to the level of Florida Managing Partner and Firm Administrator. He is responsible for the day to day operations of the firm including head of the accounting and tax department. Bruce has utilized his skills both as an accountant with a master of science in accounting and as an entrepreneur to not only run the operations of the firm, but to eliminate the typical stereotypes that people think of when dealing with an accountant. He has tried to manage the firm as a business and break the stereotypical mold of how other accountants “think” a firm should be run.

Bruce moved to Coral Springs, Florida in 1979 and graduated from Coral Springs High School in 1981. He currently resides in Coral Springs with his wife of 22 years, Laura and their two lovely children Jared and Samantha. Bruce has been very active in the community including his work on the Board of Directors of the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce where he was the first two time Chairman of the Board of the Chamber. He is also currently the Chairman of the City of Coral Springs Economic Development Advisory Board since its inception. Part of Bruce’s other life has been in the restaurant industry where he has owned three restaurants previously and is a gourmet chef.

Bruce believes in giving back to his community and has done so with his fundraising work previously with the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Fund, Boys and Girls Club and Wings of Gold in their efforts for Joe DiMaggio’s Children Hospital. Bruce was an officer in the Wings of Gold and through his efforts assisted in running the Fun in the Sun Toy Run which has risen over $5,000,000 for the hospital over the last 15 years and 25 tractor trailers worth of toys for the Boys and Girls Club.

D’Wayne Edwards founded PENSOLE to give talented young design students—regardless of socioeconomic background—an opportunity to learn from the industry’s best, without financial barriers, and to provide the industry with a farm system for the next generation of footwear designers.

In less than two years since the first PENSOLE class, there are more than 30 Academy graduates working professionally—full-time or as interns—for footwear companies worldwide such as Bluehaven, Anta, North Face, New Balance, Wolverine, Under Armour, Stride Rite, adidas, JORDAN and Nike.

Dr. Pamela Jolly is the CEO of Torch Enterprises Inc., for 16 years she has advised organizations to develop meaningful strategies through the use of policy, research, and the practical application of business and financial acumen. Pamela is a business strategist and a data-driven thinker with over 25 years of proven leadership and strategic management expertise; her primary focus is the design of legacy wealth strategies in communities of color.

She serves on the boards of the Good Work Network in New Orleans, Louisiana, BMe and and The University of Pennsylvania Board of Alumnae. Dr. Jolly is the President of the Wharton African American Alumni Association.

Pamela is a graduate of Hampton University (B.S.), the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business (MBA), Boston University School of Theology (MTs), and The Graduate Theological Foundation (Ed.D). Pamela holds certificates in theology from Oxford University, Christ Church, in conflict resolution from the Boston Theological Institute, and in private equity and venture capital from the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business.

Dr. Jolly launched the Legacy Wealth Initiative to further the impact of The Narrow Road, a proprietary method created based a national study of behaviors and beliefs related to wealth-creation, faith, and entrepreneurship. The Initiative educates and guides black men, women, business owners, pastors, and young professionals on ways to create wealth via increased financial and business acumen and pooled capital strategies that produce increased ownership and equity specifically for and with communities of color.

David Bornstein is a journalist and author who focuses on social innovation. He co-authors the “Fixes” column in The New York Times “Opinionator” section.

His books include How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, The Price of a Dream: The Story of the Grameen Bank, and Social Entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs to Know.

Marlon A. Hill is a partner in the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Hill is an experienced corporate, intellectual property and government transactions lawyer of over 22 years in an array of areas, including mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations; partnerships, joint ventures and LLC’s; closely-held corporations, shareholders’ and operating agreements; corporate startup governance and strategic development; trademark and copyright prosecution and licensing; marine contracts including charter contracts, passenger tickets, concessionaire agreements, and maritime employment contracts; and entertainment/arts agreements and contracts. Mr. Hill has also managed the filing of numerous business immigration petitions for investor entrepreneurs (EB-5), specialty occupation professionals (Hl-B), intra-company transferees (L-lA), and entertainers/artists/media talent (P/O).

Mr. Hill serves as outside general corporate counsel to a number of entrepreneurs, corporations, sovereign governments and related agencies, and not-for-profit organizations, especially in the tourism, hospitality, and media/entertainment industries.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Mr. Hill has been featured in the Daily Business Review as one of the “outstanding members of the emerging generation of South Florida business and professional leaders.” He is a past recipient of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Bill Colson Leadership Award (2016), M. Athalie Range Foundation, Bridge Builder Award (2012) and the inaugural Miami Foundation Ruth Shack Community Leadership Award (2010).

Mr. Hill is one of the Inaugural Fellows in the Miami Foundation’s Miami Fellows Initiative; a model of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation National leadership Program. Mr. Hill is a past president of the Caribbean Bar Association (2001-2003) and currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Miami Parking Authority, Miami Book Fair International, and the Orange Bowl Committee. Mr. Hill is a weekly civic commentator, “The Peoples Politics”, on Caribbean Riddims, WZAB 880AM, every Saturday at 4 pm, an op-ed writer for the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel covering issues of civic interest, legal concern, and social or cultural impact, and a recurring contributor to WPLG Local 10 “This Week in South Florida” Roundtable.

In addition to building and refining his practice of law, Mr. Hill is a MC/DJ host for local bar association and special events in South Florida.  He is the voice of the annual Kozyak Minority Mentoring Picnic and host of countless weddings for colleagues in and out of the profession.  He also volunteers in his Emmaus Ministry of St. Louis Catholic Church in Pinecrest.

Ben Jealous is a civil rights leader, community organizer, investor in startups for good, educator, former investigative journalist and a Rhodes Scholar who has spent his life bringing people together to get big things done. He specializes in building diverse coalitions for change and holding government leaders accountable to the needs of everyday people.

At age 35, Ben was named the youngest ever National President and CEO of the NAACP. During the depths of a national recession, Ben guided the NAACP through an unprecedented era of growth, nearly doubling the organization’s revenue in just five years. Online activists grew from 175,000 to more than 600,000 while donors increased from 16,000 individuals per year to more than 120,000. The NAACP’s membership increased three years consecutively for the first time in 20 years under Ben’s leadership.

A graduate of Columbia and Oxford University, Ben comes from a long line of activists. He is also the proud father of two children who attend public schools. Ben is currently running for Governor for the state of Maryland.

Chris Wilson lives in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the owner and founder of the Barclay Investment Corporation, a multi-service social enterprise, specializing in residential and commercial contracting work.

Barclay works closely with local workforce and social service providers to connect unemployed Baltimore City residents with clients who are in need of services.

His other business ventures include the House of DaVinci, a high-end furniture restoration and design company, and Master Plan Productions, a social impact content development company.