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.