Jennifer C. Smith – J. Cheree Bridal
For more than 20 years, Jennifer C. Smith and her J. Cheree Bridal brand have been the catalyst for helping brides find the right…
Ross Mac, Financial Educator – CEO/Creator of Maconomics
Ross Mac is a man on a mission. The Chicago native is recognized as one of today’s most influential financial educators. Through his brand,…
Q&A – Will Thompson, CEO, Urban Visionary Films
Will Thompson is an award-winning actor and filmmaker who is determined to use his platform via his company, Urban Visionary Films, to give voice…
Gary Green – Artist/Owner, SVNGRN
Gary Green is a community advocate, collector, curator, and art dealer with a deep passion for expanding access to the arts. He is the…
Actor, Author, and Singer Hattie Winston – A Gathering of Voices
For more than five decades, Hattie Winston has made a name for herself as an acclaimed actor, singer, producer, and veteran of the Broadway…
Grace Sandra, Author, Host, Mental Health & Survivor Advocate
Survivor is the word you’re looking for when describing Grace Sandra. As founder of her Out Here Tryna Survive platform, which includes a podcast…
Antoinette L. Rayburn, M.ED – Career Academy Lead at Rich Township – District 227
A testament to the adage “Life is a journey with many paths“, Antoinette L. Rayburn has traveled down multiple roads and succeeded in multiple…
Samantha Dockery – Owner, LOVELUVV Sparkling Wines
Sometimes life can swing you in unexpected directions, and sometimes those swings can lead you to new passions and callings. For instance, Samantha Dockery,…
Chef Brandon Rogers, Contestant Season 4 – Fox’s “Next Level Chef”
If there’s one thing Chef Brandon Rogers doesn’t do, it’s play it safe. With a career spanning nearly 20 years in luxury hospitality, his…
Ari Fulton – Costume Designer, Children’s Theatre Company’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical
Ari Fulton is an award-winning costume designer for stage, film, opera, and dance that has dedicated herself to building a diverse career designing costumes…
Dr. Mildred Dixon, Panache Holyfield & LaGena Cain – Your School of Beauty
Founded by Dr. Mildred Dixon in 1966, Your School of Beauty Culture, then known as Mildred’s Beauty College, originated on Chicago’s west side and…
Q&A – Cherish Hicks – Founder, Beyond Wellness
Cherish Hicks is the founder of Beyond Wellness, a wellness collective that offers classes, workshops, and one-on-one coaching to help people start and sustain…