Roger was born in Harlem, New York in 1953. He attended Catholic and public schools through grade 8. He then attended St. Emma Military Academy. This school is now a part of the history stored at the Smithsonian Institute. He graduated after serving as the Battalion Executive Officer and Company Commander, demonstrating leadership skills very early in his life. He then went on to graduate from Morehouse College where he majored in Political Science. He was the first in his family to attend and finish college. As a student, not only did he succeed academically, but he also displayed great concern for his fellow students and the next generation of students. He was President of the Political Science Club and reinstituted the Frederick Douglass Tutorial Institute to help struggling high school students and to help prepare them for college.  During college, he interned for former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson at the law firm of Jackson, Patterson, Parks and Franklin. He is married to Angela, an Educator, and has three children, Andrea, Brandon, and Ariel and four grandchildren.
Rep Roger Bruce represented District 61 in the Georgia House of Representatives. His district includes parts of South Fulton County, which includes parts of the new City of South Fulton, North Atlanta, Douglas County, and Cobb County. With the drawing of new maps following the last census the district will no longer include Cobb County and will take in more of Fulton and Douglas counties. He served as the first African American Chairman of the Douglas County Delegation for eight years.
He was first elected in 2002, began serving in January 2003, and has been re-elected every two years since then.  During his time in office, Rep. Bruce has focused on issues related to children with special needs, aging, education, working families, economic development, voting rights, and criminal justice. He has served on the Insurance, Education, Motor Vehicles, MARTOC, and Intergovernmental Coordination Committees.  He served on the robust Judiciary, Appropriation,  Game Fish and Parks, Small Business and Job Development, and Human Relations and Aging Committees. In his role on the Appropriations Committee, he had a seat at the table in developing the state’s 64-billion-dollar budget. The budget includes money from state and federal funds.
Representative Bruce has served twice as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. This gave him the opportunity to vote for President Obama to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. He is a post seat holder for the Democratic Party and, in his earlier days, served as the Vice President for the Young Democrats of Georgia.  He has been recognized for his work by many organizations, including A. Philip Randolph Elementary School, Herndon Elementary School, All Children Are Special, Another Way Out, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and the Georgia Council on Aging. The Atlanta Police Department recognized him for his efforts to protect the officers by organizing the community and business owners to raise money to purchase bulletproof vests.
His first major piece of legislation was to provide for a licensing process for developers in response to elderly constituents who were being taken advantage of by contractors.  He then sponsored the Time Out for Schools Legislation to protect parents who needed time off from work to address issues at their child’s school. After being asked to provide the same protection for parents that were providing assistance to their aging parents, the bill was amended and became known as the Parent Protection Act, receiving support from many groups, including the Georgia Federation of Teachers, Georgia  Council on Aging, AFL-CIO, PAGE, Georgia PTA, AARP and many more. He also sponsored a bill that was signed into law in June 2013 to prohibit internet companies from charging a fee to remove mugshots from their sites if you have been exonerated for the offense you were accused of.  He has also introduced legislation to assist minority and women entrepreneurs in accessing state contracts. His Bill HB 78 was used as the basis for a portion of the Governor’s legislative package on the topic of minority equity and fairness in state spending. Rep Bruce also sponsored  HB 22 which allows citizens to vote at any precinct within their county versus going to a specified location to vote. His legislation, HB 514, allowed citizens of Unincorporated South Fulton County the opportunity to vote to establish their own city. Voters overwhelmingly chose to create what is now the City of South Fulton. A few years later he passed legislation that added 8 miles of Fulton Industrial Blvd to the new city adding 12 million in new annual revenue to the city. His work to get Douglas County the TAD legislation passed allowed them to fund numerous improvement projects throughout the county.
He has introduced legislation to create a department to look at the impact slavery is still having on descendants of that awful time in our history. Once that Information is gathered, recommendations will be made to provide reparations to those descendants.  His campaign slogan, “Bruce Will Produce…Again” is most appropriate.
He currently serves on the Board of Trustees at The Interdenominational Theological Center, the Board of Directors for Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority, Inc., and All Children Are Special. He is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 1980 and the 2006 Class of the Flemming Leadership Institute.
Outside of his community and government responsibilities, Representative Bruce has had a distinguished career as a Human Resources Executive, serving as Vice-President of Human Resources for Burger King Corporation, American Hospital Supply, Nationwide Credit Corporation, and Atlanta Life Financial Group. In these roles, he was responsible for recruitment and retention, training and management development, legal compliance, benefits, and all other aspects of Human Resources.
He served as Chief Executive Officer for University Community Academy, a public charter school in the Atlanta Public School system. His role was to set policy for the school and to gather the resources needed to operate the school.
He was the founder of Saving Our Society Pretrial Intervention, LLC. The company works with first-time offenders and others who have minor infractions and assists them in getting back on track. Once they complete the program, they will be eligible to have their arrest record removed. While he has left SOS to pursue other interests, his impact on the lives of those who were kept out of the prison system because of his work, will last a lifetime.

Cierra Jackson is a commanding presence across music, film, fashion, and live performance. A singer, actress, model, and host, she has taken the stage as a vocalist for NBA and WNBA teams, performed at the White House, and walked the runways of New York Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week. Her acting work across film, stage, and commercials—sharing the screen with talents like Clifton Powell, Reginae Carter, and Taye Diggs—shapes the depth and authenticity she brings to every performance. She has hosted landmark events, from the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball and The Bronze Lens Film Festival to red carpets, awards shows, and movie premieres, moving with ease between glamour, culture, and storytelling. Together, these experiences place her at the crossroads of art and influence, establishing Cierra as a multidimensional artist whose career moves seamlessly between spotlight and substance, and whose presence and energy command both the stage and the screen. A proud graduate of Spelman College and Yale University’s Women’s Campaign School, Cierra combines artistic excellence with leadership and advocacy. Yet, arguably most notably, as Miss District of Columbia—a title she won three times—she became the first woman to compete at Miss America with an Afro, a trailblazing act that, combined with her advocacy and community work, led to features in Cosmopolitan, Essence, People, MSNBC, The Washington Post, Bossip, and on First Lady Michelle Obama’s Instagram and national service campaigns.

A proud third-generation HBCU graduate, Cierra is an alumna of Spelman College and Yale University’s Women’s Campaign School, and the fourth of eight women in her family to attend Spelman. Selected as both a White House and Capitol Hill intern, she served in the Obama White House, where she singlehandedly spearheaded convenings for Black interns and staffers and was the only intern in her class to serve in the Chief of Staff’s Office. She has worked on numerous political campaigns, including Michelle Nunn, Eshé Collins, Stacey Abrams, and Kamala Harris, and has been officially trained through the Obama for America Organization.

Cierra is also a trailblazer in pageantry, holding titles across collegiate, state, national, and international stages. She was crowned Miss Phi Beta Sigma (Chi Chapter at Morehouse College) and went on to reign in the Miss America Organization as Miss Brookhaven, Georgia, Miss Columbus, Georgia, her hometown title, the first African American Miss Rome, Georgia, and Miss District of Columbia. As Miss District of Columbia, she won the Miss America Swimsuit Competition. In the Miss Universe Organization, she reigned as Miss City of Atlanta USA, Miss Capital City USA, and Miss District of Columbia USA—placing Top 16 at Miss USA, becoming the first woman to win both the DC Miss America and Miss USA titles with natural hair, and earning recognition as the longest-reigning Miss DC USA.

Internationally, she was crowned Miss Black International Ambassador in the Bahamas, the first woman to compete and win following the pageant’s global expansion. She continues to train politicians, beauty queens, and public figures through Cierra Jackson Consulting, and most notably has trained two Miss Ghana winners for Miss Grand International and Miss Universe in the same year, as well as Miss Saint Lucia for Miss Universe.

Committed to advancing women and girls, Cierra is the founder of It’s Her Power, a growing community initiative dedicated to redefining leadership, empowering women and girls, and inspiring men and boys to use their power and influence to advocate for gender equity for women and girls. Beyond her professional and pageant accomplishments, Cierra’s dedication to community service remains a cornerstone of her life. She leads impactful initiatives through her church, Impact Church, including hurricane relief projects in South Georgia, raising over $1,000 to provide aid to communities impacted by storms, volunteering across multiple ministries—including Impact Gives Back, Single & Connected Ministry, Women of Impact Ministry, the Experience Team, and the Community Garden—singing on praise and worship teams, and leading youth music ministries.

You can learn more about Cierra and how to support her community initiatives at CierraJackson.com.

Tes Sobomehin Marshall, founder of runningnerds, LLC, is a visionary leader whose work sits at the intersection of movement, culture, and community impact. As a race director and community organizer, Tes has created inclusive, culturally affirming experiences that uplift Black runners, walkers, youth, and small businesses. The most celebrated of which is The Race Half Marathon & 5K which takes place annually right here on the campus of Impact. Her commitment to wellness, representation, and collective growth has left a lasting imprint on Atlanta and beyond — paving the way for future generations to lead with purpose, pride, and intention.

After retiring from the City of Atlanta after 36 years, Susan J.“Sue” Ross now pursues her passion for documentary and fine art photography full-time as the PhotoGriot, Atlanta’s photo-cultural historian.

Sue managed the City’s Small Business Development Program, while serving as the unofficial city photographer over the administrations of the first six African-American Mayors. She is a founding member of Sistagraphy: the collective of African-American Women Photographers.
Sue has exhibited her photography widely since 1985 with
Zone III, Sistagraphy, African-Americans for the Arts (A-AFTA)and many others. Selected exhibits include “The World of Toni Morrison” at the Auburn Ave Research Library, “Sistagraphy Selects” at Buzz Coffee & Winehouse, “The Beauty of a Woman” at Haugabrooks Gallery, “Shero” at the Arts Xchange,“In Conversation - Visual Meditations on Black Masculinity” at the African-American Museum in Philadelphia and the Atlanta Jazz Festival public art exhibit Downtown. Her photo of Atlanta’s African-American Presidential Medal Honorees was the cover photo for Trendsetters to Trendsetters magazine. Her iconic photo SHEROES was featured in the FOR THE PEOPLE
photo-mural exhibit along Auburn Avenue. Sue curated the
Sistagraphy BLACK HISTORY 365 exhibit at Atlanta City Hall.

The Office of Cultural Affairs honored Sue in the 2018 Elevate Atlanta SWATS Artists Mural in Southwest Atlanta. Rolling Out magazine awarded Sue the 2019 Social Justice Award at Sisters with Superpowers. The Arts Xchange named Sue the 2019 Arts & Justice Bridge Builder at the Ebon Dooley Awards. The Atlanta Business League honored Susan's lifetime achievements by induction in the ABL Women’s Hall of Fame at the 2019 Super Tuesday Women of Vision Breakfast. In 2021, Sue was named a REMARKABLE honoree and her work was in the REMARKABLE exhibit at ZuCot Gallery. Sue was named a 2021 Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association for her documentation of Jazz in Atlanta. In 2023, the National Black Arts Festival honored Sue, Camille Love & Alice Lovelace as “Champion For The Arts”. The Atlanta Journal Constitution honored Sue with a feature article and video during Black History Month 2024. Congresswoman Nikema Williams presented a Congressional Proclamation to Sue and she was inducted into the 2024 Class of The Historymakers. In November, Sue was an honoree at the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards for her artistic excellence and community service. In late 2023, Sue and Jim Alexander had a retrospective exhibit PARALLEL PERSPECTIVES at the Path Museum in Buckhead.

In 2024, Sue and Jim Alexander’s exhibit A PHOENIX REBORN was in the Mayor’s Gallery at Atlanta City Hall celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the election of our first Black Mayor Maynard Jackson and exploring his legacy through the years. Their Jackson legacy photos were also featured at the Alliance Theatre production of Pearl Cleage’s latest play “Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard.” Recently Sue’s work was featured in the exhibits EmpowerHER & the 10th Anniversary Exhibit: A Decade of Creativity at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum and Conference Center and the AAFTA exhibit at Callanwolde. Sue’s work is featured in the 25th Anniversary edition of Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present and in the accompanying exhibit at NYU Reflections in Black: A Reframing.

Currently Sue’s work can be seen at the Southwest Arts Center, the Sun Gallery ATL and the Rialto Lobby. Sue’s permanent exhibit on civil rights leaders - Stayed On Freedom - can be seen at the Georgia Stand-Up Movement Center. She has been honored as one of 6 Atlanta Icons in MARRYAM MOMA’s public art installation ICONoclasts on Auburn Avenue and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Upper Circle Artist Collektive.

Portia Bruner is the host of the nationally distributed lifestyle show ‘Portia’—a program designed to inform, empower and inspire people who value a daily dose of positivity.

‘Portia’ airs weekdays on Fox stations in Atlanta and San Francisco, weeknights on Fox Soul and at 12:30 a.m. in Washington, D.C. The show focuses on issues of faith, family, finances, physical health, mental health food and fun.

The show debuted in Fall 2022 and was renewed for a fourth season in Fall 2025.

Portia Bruner brings decades of experience as a television journalist and motivational speaker to her new role as a talk show host. From the legendary South African President Nelson Mandela to children giggling on the playground, she’s always loved talking to people whose stories leave the kind of impression that makes a difference in the lives of others. The opportunity to have candid and thought-provoking conversations—particularly with remarkable Black women from across the country—is just an extension of Portia’s mission to tell unforgettable stories about women, men and children of all backgrounds.

Before her transition from FOX 5 News anchor, Portia built a reputation as a compassionate and dynamic storyteller who genuinely cares about the people whose life events she covered. She covered crime, breaking news, government affairs, natural disasters and human-interest stories. As a former consumer reporter, Portia has always had a passion for giving viewers valuable information they can use in their own lives.

Before joining FOX 5 News in 2003, Portia was the consumer reporter for WTKR-TV in Norfolk, Virginia, and an anchor/reporter for WAPT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi. She started her professional career as a researcher and producer in the Consumer News Unit of NBC4-TV in Washington, D.C. — just a few weeks after she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University in 1995.
The Denver, Colorado native became a vocal advocate for therapy and mental health awareness after overcoming her own struggles with depression, anxiety and a subsequent diagnosis of psychogenic stuttering that took her off the air for three months in 2017. She publicly and unapologetically shares the benefits of therapy, prayer and meditation in her own self-care routine.

Portia enjoys mentoring girls, young women and aspiring journalists and, as an avid thrift shopper, she loves sharing her strategies for budget-friendly fashion and money-saving styles. As the proud daughter of two Air Force veterans, she also has a passion for putting a spotlight on women and men who serve in the military. While she has received several awards for her community service and journalism, Portia’s most rewarding job title is "Mom." She has two wise, witty and wonderful teenage boys who keep her motivated to be a voice for other mothers who juggle careers, family and their own sense of health and well-being.

Be sure to watch ‘Portia’ on Fox stations in Atlanta, D.C., and San Francisco and on Fox Soul. You can also find your daily dose of positivity anytime at PortiaShow.com. The ‘Portia: Raw & Real Podcast’ takes a deeper dive into the conversations you see on ‘Portia’ and is available wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

When a singer/songwriter/entertainer almost single handedly drives 90’s R&B to a new level finds himself the Ringmaster of one of the most powerful R&B/Soul homage bands in the country, what’s a guy to do? Keep going, of course!
 
That’s just what R&B/Soul music legend Kipper Jones is doing! Jones is the songwriter of hits like “I Wanna Be Down”, “Baby” , and “Brokenhearted” for Brandy, “The Right Stuff” and “The Comfort Zone” for Vanessa Williams”, “Never Too Busy” for Kenny Lattimore, and for films like the cult classic “The Five Heartbeats”.

Flint, Michigan born, Kipper grew up in Los Angeles, where he trained as a session singer atage 15 under the tutelage of the Berry Gordy school of Motown, through hit songwriters Marilyn McLeod and Pamela Sawyer (“Love Hangover” for Diana Ross, etc.). It was in L.A. where he
continued his soul education under the wings of such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Luther Vandross.

Kipper’s career is a timeline through the history of modern black music, from performing and recording as part of the venerable R&B outfit TEASE, as well as working with an eclectic, multi-generational collection of musicians including Teddy Pendergrass, Darius Rucker, Teena Marie, Lauryn Hill, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Eric Clapton, Chaka Khan, and Sly Stone. Kipper was the first male singer signed to Virgin America Records’ Black Music department, and released his debut solo project, “Ordinary Story”, in 1990.

Although hailed by the L.A. Times as, “…one of the best kept secrets in Soul”, Kipper is no longer just an entertainer. Currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, for the last 18 years, Kipper has become a very respected activist and educator who hosted his own webcast called Know Better with Kipper Jones, and created the award winning Civil Rights multimedia presentation, Respect Yourself: The Music of a Movement, in tribute to what he calls, “the unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement; the music”, among his many other socially conscious endeavors. All while completing his degree in Music Business at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music.

For one of his exciting new projects, Jones has jumped back in his songwriter’s seat and is helming a new era for his first muse, Vanessa Williams! The first single, “LEGS (Keep Dancin’)”, is the first look at Williams’ new album, ‘Survivor’. Also, while focusing on his own journey with Prostate Cancer, Kipper has developed ‘Spirit & Truth’ - the multimedia podcast project about the ongoing conversation regarding Black men and prostate cancer, and is creating his own course, “Respect Yourself - The Course: A Look at Contemporary Black Music History.

For Kipper, “Soul” isn’t just about the music, it truly is about the soul of a people.

Dr. Murdell Walker McFarlin is a pioneering leader in television, media, and communication education whose career spans over five decades of industry and academic excellence. From her early inspiration in Bennettsville, South Carolina—where a childhood visit to a television station and her high school radio broadcast foreshadowed a life of purpose—she has consistently leveraged her voice and vision to break barriers. Dr. McFarlin worked as a public affairs producer, news reporter, on-air talent, scriptwriter, and technical editor with major media organizations including WXIA-TV, WJDX-FM, Mississippi Educational Television, CNN, and WTBS Superstation 17. She designed the Media Center at Jackson State University, authored the first Bachelor’s degree curriculum in Mass Communications at Savannah State College, and led the launch of WCAU-TV at Clark Atlanta University, expanding public broadcasting access while creating pathways for African American women in media at a time when opportunities were scarce.

Beyond the screen, Dr. McFarlin has shaped generations of students as a faculty member and senior administrator at HBCUs and technical colleges, instilling technical skill, professional standards, and a commitment to storytelling with integrity. She served as the first African American president of the National Association of Higher Education Television Administrators and has received numerous accolades, including Outstanding Citizen of Georgia, recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential African American Women by the Atlanta Business League, and the 2025 Gold Award honoring 50 years of excellence. Through her mentorship, consulting, and ongoing civic engagement with 4A Productions, Dr. McFarlin continues to uplift communities, living the principle that “to whom much is given, much is required.” Her career is a testament to faith in action, excellence with purpose, and a lasting legacy that continues to inspire future generations.

If you say, Emmy Award Winning, Best-selling Author or Poet Laureate, you have to be talking about Mr. Hank Stewart. Stewart is a poet, author, activist, philanthropist, humanitarian, motivational speaker. Stewart is celebrating over 25 years as an artist. Stewart’s talent has afforded him unique opportunities to recite his work to the mother of the civil rights movement Mrs. Rosa Parks, to the (Former) First Lady Michelle Obama. Stewart has written and performed commercials for The McDonalds Corporation and WAGA-Atlanta Black History spots which resulted in the attainment of 2007 Emmy, Promax, and Gabby Awards.
 
The year of 2003 was good for Stewart, he collaborated with bestselling author Kendra Norman-Bellamy and Co-Authored two bestselling novels, loosely based off poems Stewart had written, 3:57 AM and The Morning After.  Also in 2003, Stewart was commissioned by the Coca-Cola Company to write and perform a special piece for the Essence Music Festival, and he became the first poet to perform on the main stage in front of 90,000 people. Stewart had the honor of performing on The Trumpet Award which aired in over 150 countries.  When listening to Stewart’s work without a doubt you hear the influence of Stewart’s mother and spiritual guidance growing up in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
Stewart’s appreciation and respect for Civil Rights Legends, their sacrifices, and cherish having the luxury of sitting at the feet of Dr. Joseph Lowery, Mrs. Xernona Clayton, Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. C.T. Vivian, Dr. Charles Steele, Congressman John Lewis, Attorney Janice Mathis, Dr. Thomas Todd and of course his mentor Dr. Cameron Madison Alexander.   Those conversations have been captured and are regurgitated into Stewart’s poetry.  Stewart’s poetry on Love, History and Spirituality will indeed move you to new heights.  Stewart prides himself on not being a one-dimensional poet, so you will hear poems on sensitive subject matters such as Breast Cancer, Domestic Violence, Sex/Human Trafficking, Adultery, etc. Stewart has 5 books of poetry 6 CDs, two novels, a DVD and a coffee table book commemorating his 25 years as a poet and his latest work a children’s book “I know who I am.”  Stewart believes serving others is imperative, that’s why he co-founded The Stewart Foundation with Gwen Mason. The foundation is a youth leadership organization, developing A Leader of Tomorrow (A.L.O.T.) where they have impacted thousands of youth/students since 2006. Stewart has registered thousands of voters and helped reshape local, state, and national elections.
 
In 2016 Congressman Hank Johnson recognized Stewart’s work and declared him Poet Laureate of the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Stewart’s latest Venture him hosting his own TV show called "The IT Factor" where Stewart interviews some amazing people with that “IT” factor.  Stewart has many honors, awards, and recognition. Stewart, a Father to Austin O’Connell Stewart, a new Grandfather to Amir Wesley Stewart, Friend to many, A Brother to humanity, A History Maker, but most importantly a child of God.

Ms. Duckett is an accomplished architectural interior designer with extensive design and facility planning  experience in both the public and private sectors. As Founder and CEO of Duckett Design Group, Inc., the firm  of has developed more than five million sq. ft. of executed projects with more than $2.3 billion in construction  costs, during its 35 years. Ms. Duckett built the firm upon a perceptive understanding of client needs and a  responsive and consistent execution of the best service delivery. Her dynamic management style promotes  “Everything is Possible”. The firm was the first african-american female commercial architecture and planning  firm established in Atlanta at a time when the design and construction industry was male dominated.

A Registered Designer, Ms. Duckett earned degrees in architecture, urban planning and law. She has more than  50 years of project execution that reflects a diversity of commissions. Project types include medical facilities,  office buildings, courthouse and justice facilities, education, airport, transit stations and the 1996 Atlanta  Olympics Venues. Augmented by her law degree, she has developed expertise in courthouse facility planning  and design. Her additional expertise includes facility programming and planning, space planning, operations  analysis, budget control, specialty design, project management and client liaison.  

In 2012, Ms. Duckett gained national attention for the design and completion of the first LEED certified Gold  Maynard Holbrook Jackson International Terminal at Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The $1.3  billion project was the largest commission completed by an African American-Female certified design firm.  

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT  
In September 2021, Ms. Duckett was asked by the Xernona Clayton Statue Committee to oversee the  management, design and installation of the first African American female statue to be located in the center of a  major US city. Karen accepted this responsibility with no compensation as funds to complete the project were  still being solicited. Little had been accomplished on the actual fabrication of the statue other than approval by  the City of Atlanta to proceed with completing the work and donating the statue to the City once it was installed.  The sculptor was the renowned Ed Dwight. Her work included contract development, artist coordination and  statue approval, coordination and approvals from the City of Atlanta, cost estimation, civil engineering and  construction contractor selection, fund raising and In-Kind donations and overseeing the actual installation and  final approval of the work. On March 8, 2023, International Women’s Day, the Xernona Clayton Statue was  unveiled.  

Karen’s commitment to empowerment and education of women and minorities in her community is a defining  element of her “give back” culture. For years Karen has been actively involved in her time, energy and talents  as evidenced when she Co-Founded the 100 Black Women, Atlanta Chapter where Karen served as the 2nd President. During her, the Women’s Economic Development Agency (WEDA) promoting women’s  empowerment through entrepreneurism was launched. The Agency received funding from SBA and other  fundraising mechanisms. The program is now an independent nonprofit corporation and is still operational in  Atlanta today. At a time of severe abuse of Georgia’s female prison inmates Ms. Duckett was appointed by the  Governor to chair The Women’s Commission for the Georgia Department of Corrections. Under Ms. Duckett’s  tenure, correctional officers who had sexually assaulted female inmates were charged with rape and convicted.  Women were given better personal hygiene support and clothing was finally purchased to fit women who had  historically been required to wear the same garments as men.  

Mary Lee’s vision for the company is to give consumers of color the quality and differentiation they have been longing for.
 
Born into one of the most prominent families in the ethnic beauty industry, Mary understands today’s consumer and market trends like few others. She represents a new generation of consumers – ones with more buying power and greater expectations of the brands they choose.
 
All of this coupled with knowledge imparted on her by her grandfather, Ernest P. Joshua (creator of the ISOPLUS® brand), parents, aunt and other family she is a powerhouse of knowledge and eager to share NexSheen Arganics® with the world!
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The black hair care industry is rich with stories of pioneers and trailblazers. How can it not be with historical icons like Madam C.J. Walker defining it so many years ago? Between the three of us co-founders – Marty, Mary and Mary Lee – there were more than 40 years of experience in this business at the inception of M3 – it had been our life and our livelihood for as far back as we could remember.
 
With this as our back-story, we embarked on M3 Cosmetic Labs with high expectations for ourselves and our products. Our first brand, NexSheen Arganics® is built on what we call a "Magic Marriage of Oils" – a lightweight blend of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Moroccan Argan Oil. We loved the blend of these two exotic oils because it's superior to either oil alone when it comes to repairing damaged hair, improving moisture and restoring shine and luster. It's this kind of creativity we want to bring to the market, so we can help women and men solve some of their toughest hair health issues.

​Since debuting Arganics® in the summer of 2010, we've continued to see excitement build around our line. We're reaching out to customers the old-fashioned way – talking and sharing. We want you and our customers all around the world to try the products and see the NexSheen Arganics® results for yourself. If you like what you see, tell your friends, tell your customers, and most importantly, tell your family!
 
In the recent years we have had lots of changes in M3 both in the United States and South Africa. In February 2015, our beloved co-founder Marty passed away after a valiant 10-month fight against lung cancer. Mary Harris, Marty’s identical twin sister and another one of our co-founders has retired from the business. She is a trailblazer in the hair care industry and it is time for her to enjoy the fruits of her labor and Live Her Best Life!!! Our third co-founder, Marty and Mary’s daughter/niece, Mary Lee, continues to run M3 Cosmetic Labs and grow the brands with the help of her brother and father, Michael Jr. and Michael Sr. We are still M3 and we are still a Black family owned business devoted to bringing our founders’ dreams to a reality by reaching women and men of all ages around the world and giving them the hair of their life! Michael Jr.’s fresh, young approach has brought new ideas and approaches to the company and Michael Sr.’s years of expertise and knowledge are helping NexSheen Arganics® to continue to grow and differentiate.

www.arganicshair.com
www.arganicshair.co.za

Judge Shermela J. Williams was elected to the Fulton County Superior Court in June 2020, in a history making election, wherein she unseated an incumbent gubernatorial appointee. Such a feat had not been accomplished in Fulton County since 1996. Judge Williams has wanted to be a judge since she was a child, and thanks to the voters, she is living her dream. Judge Williams formerly served as the Chief of the Family Division where she oversaw the entire Family Division, in addition to her individual docket.Prior to coming to the bench, Judge Williams had a distinguished career with approximately 15 years of hands on litigation and trial experience. Judge Williams was a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, plaintiff and civil defense lawyer; in addition to representing parties on both sides in family law matters. Judge Williams tried over 25 jury trials and hundreds of bench trial during her career. A former law clerk with the United States Department of Justice, Judge
Williams has worked with various high-profile civil law firms and non-profit organizations. She was a Senior Litigation Associate at Thomas Kennedy Sampson & Tompkins LLP (“TKST”), specializing in premises liability, negligent security, personal injury, and high stakes litigation cases. Prior to joining TKST, she was a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Fulton County, DeKalb County, and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Offices. In said capacities, she prosecuted complex felony cases, including: Murder, Rape, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault/Battery, Burglary, Aggravated Child Molestation, Aggravated Sexual Battery and other crimes. Judge Williams served as the director of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office’s Domestic Violence Task Force and was a member of the Fulton County Gender Equality Initiative Panel. In 2012, she received the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office Trial Court Lawyer of the Year and Trial Court Best All-Around Lawyer awards. In 2018, Judge Williams was selected a Lawyer to Watch by Attorney-At-Law magazine and Mentor of the Year by The Daily Report in 2019. She also received the We All Value Excellence (W.A.V.E) Community Service Award in 2023.

Judge Shermela J. Williams is a proud native of Atlanta, GA who volunteers her time and talents to her community. Judge Williams has been an Adjunct Professor at Spelman College for over a decade. Judge Williams ran youth leadership programs for five years, wherein she taught and oversaw conferences, as well as developed GirlsLead – a program geared towards arming young ladies for what they are sure to face ahead; educating them on etiquette, self-esteem, leadership, self-image, debunking media stereotypes, branding, goal setting, and other issues specific to today’s women. She received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, and her Bachelor of Arts from Howard University. She is a member of a host of civic, community and professional organizations. Judge Williams is a 2010 alumna of GABWA’s Judicial & Public Officer Academy, 2015 alumna of Lead Atlanta, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and IMPACT United Methodist Church where she also serves as a Worship Facilitator and in various other capacities. Judge Williams’ interests include traveling, writing, cooking, “restaurant-hopping”, anything that makes her laugh, and spending time with loved ones.

Travis is the CEO and founder of HBCU All-Stars LLC, an Atlanta-based, Black-owned sports marketing, events, media, and television production company committed to elevating HBCU basketball on national and global stages. A
former NCAA Division I & II head men’s basketball coach at two esteemed HBCUs, Tennessee State and Fort Valley State, Williams spent over 27 years developing championship programs, mentoring athletes, and shaping future leaders. His coaching, athletics, sports marketing, events, and media legacy includes more than 350 – 400 players who have advanced to professional careers in the NBA, G-League, and international leagues.

HBCU All-Star Game: A Premier Showcase for HBCU Talent
Williams founded HBCU All-Stars LLC in 2019 to provide Exposure, Access, Recognition, Opportunities, Resources,
and Results (E.A.R. & O.R.R.) for the proud, prestigious, and tradition rich HBCUs, hardworking, ambitious, deserving, and very talented students, student-athletes and brilliant coaches across the country.

His GOD-driven vision led to the launch of the first ever HBCU All-Star Game during the 40+ history of the Men’s NCAA Final Four Tournament Championship, a nationally televised event on CBS Sports, CW Sports, and streamed on Paramount+, NBC Universal, and Peacock. This national event during College Basketball’s Biggest Weekend debuted during the 2022 Final Four weekend in New Orleans, and in 2025 hosted the first ever women’s HBCU All-Star Game in epic doubleheader, and now celebrating 5th Year Anniversary in Indianapolis in April 2026.

As the centerpiece of the five-day HBCU All-Star Game & Experience, the game showcases the nation’s top HBCU talent. Williams work with HBCU All-Stars addresses a notable gap while creating a national platform around the HBCU brand and culture, amplifying Black college excellence in athletics, bands, cheerleaders, dance team, College admissions Fair, Legacy court dedication, welcome
reception, awards ceremony, cap & gowns donation to graduating high school seniors, and community engagement to the host city. The event has become a direct pipeline for HBCU athletes, who receive less national media and market exposure and with over 70% of its alums advancing to professional basketball.

ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge is a premier Black college basketball sports event Williams successfully launched “ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge in November 2022 to focus on the best HBCUs and metro ATL high school teams, students, student-athletes, and coaches across the country and in the great city of Atlanta and Fulton County. Williams mission-
driven vision is to highlight, showcase, and expose HBCUs, metro high school teams, students, student-athletes, coaches, administrators, parents, and alums and bring visibility to our prestigious and tradition rich HBCUs, brilliant coaches, and respective academics and athletics programs. He brings big-time recruiting, youth development, prestige, credibility, leadership, business, and entrepreneurship to his historic sporting events for some of the best HBCU and high school basketball coaches and students, and student-athletes representing MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC, Independent schools Tennessee State, Hampton, North Carolina A&T State Universities, and NAIA.
The ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge continues to magnifying community outreach and initiatives, financial commitment, resources, and love for HBCUs, prospective Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools students interested in attending HBCUs, current HBCU students, student-athletes, and academic scholarships, and celebrate Black History, Black Excellence, and Black Cultural Experiences. It is not just about basketball, and has the many HBCU cultural experiences surrounding the game for fans and supporters. There will be a HBCU All-Stars High School Battle of Bands Competition, Power of HBCU Sports Symposium, Welcome Reception, College Admissions Fair, and Student-Athlete
Empowerment Seminar for middle and high school students, and student-athletes, Community Outreach, Initiatives, Civil Rights Panel Discussion, Legacy Court Dedication, and much more. The ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars High School Challenge Game Day Experience Festival is big-time game atmosphere and includes live music, DJ’s, College Admissions & Scholarship Fair, Black Business vendors, battle of the bands, dance
and cheer competition, Divine 9, Greeks competition and stroll-offs, activities, games, and much more.

All road lead to Indianapolis for the fifth year anniversary HBCU All-Star Game Experience “Celebrating the Best in HBCU basketball during Final Four Weekend on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at Corteva Coliseum located at Indiana State Fairgrounds.Beyond the HBCU All-Star Game, Williams expanded the platform with key initiatives such as the HBCU All-Stars National NBA/WNBA Scouting Combines & Pro Day, Legacy Court Dedication, College Admissions & Scholarship Fairs, HBCU All-Stars Foundation awarding prospective high school students interested in attending HBCUs, and current HBCU students in need of financial assistance,

Social Justice & Civil Rights Panel Discussions, Community Awards, and the HBCU All-Stars Coaches Clinic, creating direct career pathways for HBCU players and coaches.
Expanding HBCU Basketball on a Global Stage Williams continues to push boundaries and create new opportunities for HBCU athletes. In 2024, he made history by launching the HBCU All-Stars International Tour, sending top alums to Quai 54 in Paris, the world’s largest streetball tournament, in partnership with Jordan Brand. This landmark initiative introduced HBCU talent to global audiences, reinforcing Williams’ commitment to expanding professional opportunities beyond the U.S. Celebrating Legacy & Impact
With an unwavering dedication to HBCU excellence, Williams is not just building sports events—he is shaping a movement that ensures HBCU athletes receive the local, regional, national, and global recognition they deserve on the biggest stages.

He resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Kya Williams, the company’s CFO and Co-Founder, and their two
adorable children, Teagan and TJ, both 8th and 7th grade students at the Ron Clark Academy, and HBCU All-Stars Ambassadors.

Empowering Excellence. Celebrating Community, Philanthropy, and Inspiring the Future.

In 2025, Williams established the HBCU All-Stars Foundation, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization is dedicated to advancing the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by providing transformative scholarship opportunities for students. He believes in the power of education, cultural pride, and leadership to shape future leaders and inspire generations. He is making a difference in the lives of HBCU students every day. From
scholarships that break financial barriers to leadership programs that cultivate future changemakers, the HBCU All Stars Foundation is where potential meets opportunity. His mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate HBCU students by providing scholarships, mentorship, and resources that foster academic success, leadership development, and personal growth. HBCUs have been pillars of academic excellence and cultural empowerment for generations. The HBCU All Stars Foundation is committed to preserving this rich legacy while propelling students toward a future filled with opportunity, achievement, and pride. His HBCU All-Stars Foundation through local, regional, and national corporate partners has donated over $250,000 in scholarships to deserving high school students interested attending HBCUs and current HBCU students in need of financial assistance. Also, in
collaboration and partnership with CBS Sports, $300,000 was donated to the UNCF through his annual HBCU All-Star Games during Final Four Weekends in hosting cities of New Orleans, Houston, and Phoenix.

About Travis L. Williams Foundation & Patricia’s Blessed Closet The Travis L. Williams Foundation (TLWF) and Patricia’s Blessed Closet (PBC) is a 501 c-3 non-profit organizations founded in July 2020. They are headquartered in Atlanta and Tifton, Georgia. This is a GOD-driven vision of love for youth and families in need through philanthropy, community outreach, engagement, mentorship, exposure, academic scholarship opportunities, mental, physical, nutritional health awareness, academics,
athletics, financial assistance and resources. PBC was established in memory of Travis L. Williams deceased mother Patricia Ann Willians and through a life of service and purpose. The TLWF has touched countless lives and families through coaching, academics, athletics consulting and scholarships, ministry, food, clothing, shoes, furniture, books, toys, while devoting valuable time, money, and resources to provide for children and families in need in Tifton and Atlanta.

In July 2025, Cause of E.F.F.E.C.T., the Travis L. Williams Foundation (TLWF) and Patricia’s Blessed Closet (PBC) organization partnered to fight hunger and homelessness in their community. Together, they will provide food, clothing, and critical resources to those in need. The Cause of Effect Fitness, Travis L. Williams Foundation, and Patricia’s Blessed Closet, have amazing organizations that truly believe in giving back and serving the metropolitan Atlanta communities, surrounding areas, and the people.
The Travis L. Williams Foundation and Patricia’s Blessed Closet is a GOD-driven vision of love for youth and families in need through philanthropy, community outreach, engagement, mentorship, exposure, academic scholarship opportunities, mental, physical, nutritional health awareness, academics, athletics, financial assistance and resources. It is his sincere hope, pledge, honor, duty, and responsibility to continue helping people, making a difference in our communities, and impacting the world we live in with Cause of Effect Fitness. For the past five years, Williams has done that and more in memory of his deceased mother Patricia’s Blessed Closet and through a life of service and purpose through the eyes of GOD. He
has been using his gift from GOD through coaching, academics, and athletics consulting, ministry, and devoting valuable time, money, and resources to provide for children and families in need in Tifton and Atlanta with food, clothing, shoes, furniture, books, toys, academic scholarships, and will continue paying it forward.

Williams started also “Patricia Williams Scholarship Fund” in memory of his deceased mother providing financial and academic scholarships to graduating seniors from his alma mater Tift County High School and metro Atlanta High School students to assist them in college.

Williams loves his alma mater Tift County High School and truly committed and instrumental in fundraising, volunteerism, community service projects,
initiatives, basketball camps, clinics, and finds the necessary time, energy, and resources to give back to youth sports, basketball, baseball, flag
football, and so on.

He constantly gives back to the children in Atlanta, and surrounding metropolitan areas, and his hometown of Tifton, GA with free basketball camps and
clinics.

Dr. Claudius “C.B” Claiborne is the first African-American to play on the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team. It wasn’t easy being a trailblazer; he was grudgingly accepted to Duke. One professor told him flatly it would be impossible for him to get an A in the class. Dr, Claiborne, a native of Danville, Va., just about 90 minutes north of Durham, enrolled at Duke in 1965, just two years after the university admitted its first five African American students. He had other college options, like N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro, a historically black college, and Wake Forest. But he chose Duke, which at the time was beginning its ascent from regional power to a nationally known institution. Dr. Claiborne graduated from Duke in 1969 with a degree in engineering and went on to earn three graduate degrees before becoming a professor in the business school at Texas Southern University.
Dr. Claiborne played a pivotal role in founding a new business school and university at California State Channel Islands as part of a six-faculty team. Dr. Claudius Claiborne currently serves as the Interim Dean of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University. He has led multi-year projects with faculty and community leaders, including the Jones Leadership Fellows’ project, "Peace, Power, Respect, Dignity, Love: the Development of a Black Arts Exhibition," which was recognized by Apple Inc. as an example of educational innovation.

Dr. Claiborne is the father of Impactor Corrie Claiborne.

This Roots family reunion was more than a gathering; it was a reckoning with history and a reclamation of identity. With the assistance of a Mandinka tribesman from Gambia, West Africa, the ancestral line was affirmed, bridging centuries of separation caused by the transatlantic slave trade. Names, faces, and family stories merged into one collective narrative, reminding us that despite displacement and loss, lineage survives.

Held in Henning—Alex Haley’s hometown and the resting place of his legacy—the reunion stood as a sacred moment of remembrance and restoration. It was a powerful affirmation that our story did not begin in bondage, but in Africa, with people, culture, language, and pride. Long remembered and echoed in later commemorations, the Roots family reunion remains a testament to resilience, connection, and the enduring power of knowing who we are and where we come from.

Alex Haley is the cousin of Impactor, Karen Wood.

1914-2009

Ethlyn Saunders was a remarkable woman of God whose life was a living testimony of faith in action. A true disciple of Christ, she spread the Word unwaveringly and helped lay the foundation for four churches across the districts of Northeast Manchester, Jamaica ensuring that generations would come to know God’s love through her obedience and courage.

Beyond the pulpit, Ethlyn served her community with compassion and humility. As a midwife, she welcomed countless lives into the world with gentle hands and a prayerful heart. She fed the hungry, lifted the weary, and loved without boundaries or limitations. Her faith was not only spoken—it was lived daily through service, sacrifice, and steadfast prayer.

Ethlyn Saunders showed us what a true disciple of Christ is meant to be. Because she prayed, served, and loved so deeply, the Northeast Manchester community is stronger, richer, and forever blessed by her legacy. She watches over all of us prayerfully and is still encouraging us to Serve God and Live, Love and Laugh. Ethlyn was the proud grandmother to Impactor, Kevin Saunders.

1939-2021

Rev. Dr. Missick was born in Turks & Caicos.From age 3, Dewey was diagnosed with polio which resulted in muscle weakness in his left leg that caused a-symmetrical limb movement. He didn’t let that put a limit on the things he’d accomplish in life.  Rev. Missick had some harrowing experiences in life, including being shipwrecked and lost at sea with his brother and son for two weeks. Rev Missick didn’t allow life’s challenges or his disability to hinder him, he worked in a salt mine, was a member of The Florida Sunshine Band, built a house for his family, was a mechanic and proudly earned a Doctorate Degree in Divinity.

He began his faith journey when he was called  at the age of 23. He served as the pastor and Sunday school teacher at Miami #1 Church of God of Prophecy for many years.  At his 80th birthday celebration, he gave an inspirational speech; “You are judged according to the life you live. The scripture says If you sow good seeds, good seeds will follow you. Live a good life. Be a light in your community and everybody can look at you and say “look at that light”  not a blinking light. But a light that is constant, that somebody can follow.”

Rev. Dr. Dewey R. Missick touched so many lives, especially the lives of the ones that knew him best from his family to his church family and his neighbors.  Reverend Dr. Dewey Missick didn’t let life’s trials and tribulations stop him from achieving his goals. He simply rerouted and found another way to accomplish what he’d desired.  

He was the grandfather of Impactor, Jahzmin Tull.

1909-1971

Alonzo Moron was the first black president of Hampton Institute, now Hampton University. He was born in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Alonzo arrived in Virginia and enrolled in Hampton Institute in 1923 at 14 years of age. With a brilliant mind and a quest for learning he enrolled at Hamptons Institute trade school and graduated in 1927. In 1928, he enrolled in Brown University and received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. In 1933, he went on to receive a M.A. in sociology from University of Pittsburgh and was appointed commissioner of public welfare, Virgin Islands. He returned to the United States from the Virgin Islands in 1936. Alonzo enrolled into Harvard Law School in 1944 and received Bachelors of Law in 1947.  In 1949, he
was appointed acting President at Hampton Institute.
Alonzo made some amazing accomplishments and contributions to many communities. Among his most notable accomplishments to the civil rights movement was offering Rosa Parks a job when she was unable to find work after the Montgomery bus boycott. Alonzo was a member of the Urban League Board of Trustees, NAACP, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Phi Alpha, Sigma Pi Phi, and the Rotary Club.  His greatest devotion was to his daughter/niece, Shirley Elaine Holliday, of whom he raised.  Shirley was the mother of Impactor, Aissa Holiday-McDaniel.

1942-2008

Emily Coles had a dream. As a child in school in South Carolina, Emily was known as the little girl with the "big voice". When she was 3 years old, her father was killed in World War 2. She had to take on the role of caregiver to her family.  In the 1950's, her musical dream and education were the reasons that she eventually moved to New York City.
Emily worked at a nationally known bank and pursued her dream of singing while working full time and raising a family. She was a Mezzo Soprano and studied with Laconia Smedley and Carlo Menotti.  Her determination and perseverance proved fruitful as she shared her musical gift at various venues in New York.

She performed with the Bronx Opera Company, the New York City of the Arts, the Goethe House, and the Guggenheim Museum. Emily was a paid soloist at Calvary Baptist Church and made her first album " My Heart is Ever Faithful" where she features the spirituals that she heard her mother sing daily as a domestic in South Carolina. Emily was the mother of Denise Coles-Pointer.