J. Ivy is a GRAMMY, Peabody, Clio, Telly, and NAACP Image Award Winning Poet, Spoken Word Artist, Actor & Songwriter, widely known for his appearances on HBO Def Poetry and for his feature with Jay-Z on Kanye West’s album, The College Dropout. J. Ivy’s most recent works include his 3^rd book, Dear Father: Breaking the Cycle of Pain, his Best Spoken Word Poetry Grammy winning album The Poet Who Sat By The Door, the Best Spoken Word nominated CATCHING DREAMS: Live at Fort Knox Chicago, and his role of lead writer for the Emmy nominated Netflix documentary jeen-yuhs: A Kanye West Trilogy.

He is also the Resident Poet for the foundation of famed visual artist Ernie Barnes. Fun fact, J. Ivy is who gave John Stephens the stage name John Legend. J. Ivy served as the Recording Academy’s Chicago chapter president from 2019 to 2021 and also became the first poet to hold a Trustee’s seat in the history of the Academy. The Recording Academy decided to create a Best Spoken Word Poetry Album category after J. Ivy took charge and led 100+ poets in a petition to add the category for this year’s awards- which he is now the first winner of.

J. Ivy is the first poet to win a Grammy since Maya Angelou, who was actually the only other poet to ever win. April is National Poetry Month and Hip Hop’s favorite poet J. Ivy will be doing a country wide tour at City Wineries late March through April. Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Oni Omoregie is the Business Funding and Advising Coordinator for Higher Purpose Co. He received his bachelor’s in sociology from Mississippi College, his master’s in sociology from Jackson State University, and is currently obtaining his doctorate in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University.

He has a background in research and administration as well as finance. Oni’s skillset not only consists of the skills mentioned earlier but is also an avid reader and historian. In his spare time, Oni enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games. After finishing his education, Oni plans to publish his writings in various formats. In addition, he is an animal lover and is the proud dog parent of a Shih Tzu.

Tim Lampkin is the Founder and CEO of Higher Purpose Co, a 501c3 economic justice nonprofit building community wealth with Black business owners across Mississippi by supporting the ownership of financial, cultural, and political power.

Lampkin has over a decade of community development and entrepreneurship experience. The Mississippi Business Journal selected Lampkin as one of the 2019 Top Entrepreneurs in the state. Ashoka selected him as the first person in Mississippi for the lifetime social impact fellowship. The Motley Fool Foundation recently announced him as Mississippi’s first Financial Freedom Fellow.

He serves as President of Lampkin Impact Ventures, LLC providing economic justice advising, impact speaking, and creative digital content. Lampkin is a proud graduate of Mississippi Valley State University and has completed graduate degrees at Delta State University, Bellevue University, and the University of Arkansas.

With a career spanning over 19 years within the financial services industry, Mr. Ralph Brown has gained a diverse & vast array of knowledge and experience that has both shaped and propelled his career as a banking, credit, and lending professional. Ralph currently serves as a Chief Lending Officer for Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP). Prior to joining SBCP, Ralph held positions of increasing responsibility over the course of his career such as Business Banking Relationship Manager, Regional Director of Commercial Lending, Vice President of Business Lending, and Senior Commercial Credit Analyst.

He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mississippi State University with a major in Banking & Finance and a minor in Economics in 2004 and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Belhaven University in 2010. In 2012, he became a Co-Founder & Co-Pastor of Towdah Praise Worship Center.

Further capitalizing on his educational & professional journey, he has also embraced his entrepreneurial spirit and officially launched his very own professional career resume writing and business advancement company, Rightway Resumes, LLC, in the latter part of 2021. In 2022, Ralph was nominated and chosen as a Top 40 Under 40 Business Leader of the State of Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal. Ralph has a big heart and in his spare time, he loves spending time with his family, attending his children’s educational and sporting events, giving back to the local community, and enriching the lives of others through ministry and with his talents as a banking and finance professional.

Demetrice Evans is a native of Starkville, Mississippi. The youngest of four born to a middle-class family, Evans’ father was devoted to providing a modest and honest living as his mother spent most of her life as a housewife; providing full-time care to his elderly maternal grandmother who lived to be 94 years of age. As hardworking blue-collar workers, Evans’ parents very well understood the importance and value of a good education, and to the extent possible, were committed to ensuring that each child had an opportunity to receive an education.

After finishing high school at B.L. Moor Attendance Center, Evans went on to obtain an Associate of Applied Science degree in Forestry Technology from Itawamba Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Forest Products and a minor in General Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Woods Products Business Management from Pennsylvania State University. After finishing from Pennsylvania State University, Evans was employed as Special Accounts Manager for Franklin Corporation, which is one of the largest privately-owned furniture manufacturer in Mississippi, employing approximately 1,500 employees. Evans who was the company’s first black executive officer was later promoted to International Sales Manager.

In 2008, Evans decided to apply for a position with the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA). He started his career with USDA as a county operations trainee (COT). After one year as a COT, he was promoted to a County Executive Director and was later elevated to the Mississippi State FSA office as an Agricultural Program Specialist in a little over two years. While he possesses a clear admiration of the furniture industry, Evans has found a home in Farm Service Agency, a place he’s been for over 15 years. Evans has come full circle by helping farmers like his grandparents succeed even when things don’t go as planned.

I’m fortunate to not only have a job in the agricultural field, but to also maintain a family farm in rural Mississippi. Although I always envisioned owning a beef cattle operation, I never once thought I would have a prominent career with the United States Department of Agriculture. I now oversee farm programs through an agency my grandfather once depended upon. While it’s unfortunate that I never had the opportunity of meeting him, I’m certain he would be proud that his legacy continues. Since 2021, Evans has served as the Chief of the Price Support Division and is the first black to hold this position in Mississippi. Evans enjoys spending time on the farm and traveling with his family.

I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, and have called Atlanta home since 1986. I purchased a used camera out of the truck of a car almost 40 years ago, and with that, I found my life’s passion. I love being a photographer and everything that comes with it. I appreciate the people I meet, the places I go, the hours I keep, and the spontaneity in every shoot.

Quintin, the Creative Director of GOAT by James King is married with four kids; 3 girls and 1 boy. Quintin was born and raised in the southside of Atlanta, GA and is a graduate of Georgia State University. With no formal design experience, Quintin began designing in 2007 and launched his first brand that same year. Over the next several years, Quintin would pivot multiple times until he landed on GOAT by James King; a Classic, American, Luxury brand.

A brand that truly represents the essence of who he is, his convictions, and what he represents. In essence, the brand was created to make classic/timeless style the new standard. Just one year later after launching GOAT by James King, his 13-month-old son was diagnosed with Stage 4 Germ Cell cancer. Quintin initially wanted to give up but decided to put his faith in God for his son to be healed. Ultimately, God healed Quintin’s son which provided even more confirmation that we all have purpose, and we must fight to fulfill it. As a black owned brand, there is often a negative stigma tied to us in the clothing space.

A stigma that says we won’t last long and is often placed in categorical boxes. Quintin wants the world to know that GOAT by James King was created in part to break that stigma. Inspired by all things classic, Quintin is committed to creating and building a sustainable brand that will live forever by focusing on quality and critiquing each design with the premise of, “Will this design be relevant quality and aesthetic wise 50 plus years from now?”

With securing a new partner in Derrick Hayes; owner of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, Quintin is looking to scale the brand to become global. Quintin lives by the quote, “Ambition is what you want out of the world, but purpose is what the world needs from you.” Quintin is truly convicted that the world needs GOAT by James King.

Winfield Ezell, Jr. is founder and CEO of Obsidian Creative Studios. He brings nearly 30 years of experience in Film/TV Production, and storytelling. While studying Television Production and Broadcasting at Washington State University, he received a nomination for a College Emmy as Producer/Creator of the series Non-Stop Hip Hop.

After leaving WSU, he entered the world of Independent Film and Production in Seattle. Projects Produced, Directed, and/or Written by Winfield have been featured at the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival (Seattle), Urbanworld Film Festival (New York), American Black Film Festival (Los Angeles), as well as Anchorage International Film Festival(Anchorage).

The last 5 years, he has grown the Obsidian footprint to include the Delta Region along the mighty Mississippi River where the stories of art, culture, and people are rich, and abundant. Bringing his past experience together with his vision for the future, Obsidian Creative Studios is designed to be a major force in the new media industry taking advantage of the latest streaming media technologies. Winfield is dedicated to telling stories from the people’s perspective that impact and connect communities from around the world. Winfield proudly serves the community in the following capacities:

Whipsmart! Foundation Board, Chair – Washington State
Alma Wisdom Council [Advisory Board] – Tacoma, WA
Inspired Child Community Board of Directors – Seattle, WA
Safe House Black History Museum – Greensboro, AL

Previously Director of A&R for Roc Nation; Recently appointed Director of Artist Relations for Roc Nation’s Distribution platform Equity. Nephew of Rap Icon Jay-Z, Rel has consistently exhibited determination to create a path of his own that doesn’t rely solely on his family history. The executive and music entrepreneur currently influences and supports the journey’s of artists around the country with several tour based programming platforms including The Rel Carter Culture Tour and The Art of Music Tour. He most recently announced the beginning of work on his 2nd artist compilation album No Handouts 2 and was awarded “Innovator of the Year” via Nerve DJ’s.

Aaron Craig Mitchell is an LA based Entrepreneur, Advisor, Coach, and Changemaker with nearly 20 years experience across various industries. He is currently the Co-founder and CEO of Pega Visão Salvador Club (PVSC), a culture defining Web3 company as well as CEO of Aaron Craig Mitchell Enterprises, LLC (ACME, LLC), a coaching and advisory business. He was recently the Director of HR for Netflix Animation, one of the largest and fastest growing animation studios in history and prior to that spent his career as a leader in Talent Acquisition across various industries, companies and geographies .

An experienced business leader with a demonstrated history of executing change, Aaron has become globally recognized for his historic work pioneering Netflix’s 2% Cash Holdings Pledge of $100 Million into Black Owned Banks. This initiative anchored a movement for financial equity & inclusion and opened doors for marginalized communities to flourish. His work has led to features in The New York Times, CNBC, and Wired.

Born in New Haven, CT, he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School, and BBA from Temple University. He serves on the boards of The Atlanta Music Project, The People Concern and UNICEF USA where he also serves as Co-Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee. He resides in LA with his wife and two daughters.

Isaac Yowman is a very multifaceted talent across a variety of entertainment industries. The Fullsail University Alumni is a Grammy Nominated,12x Platinum producer/songwriter and an award winning filmmaker. He is the CEO & Creative Director at IYO Agency, a minority owned & operated video production company with over a decade of film, tv & commercial experience.

Isaac and his team are passionate about telling powerful stories and serving underserved communities through film and art. Yowman is a part of Sony Pictures’ Incubation Lab and has directed projects for Marvel, Netflix, Nike, McDonalds, The NBA, General Motors, Adidas, AirBNB, Facebook and many more. His visual tribute to the music icon DJ Screw was acquired by Columbia Pictures and is now being redeveloped as a feature film biopic, in which he will serve as Executive Producer alongside Travis Scott. His latest NAACP Image Award nominated documentary “Memory Builds The Monument” was licensed by Paramount, and is now streaming on BET+.