Tarell Alvin McCraney (Playwright)
Tarell Alvin McCraney is an acclaimed writer. His script In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue is the basis for the Oscar-winning film Moonlight directed by Barry Jenkins, for which McCraney and Jenkins won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. He wrote the film High Flying Bird which premiered on Netflix directed by Steven Soderbergh. McCraney’s plays include MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT (co-written with Tina Landau), The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy, Head of Passes, Wig Out!, and Choir Boy which was nominated for four Tony Awards. McCraney is the recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" Grant, the Whiting Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, the Evening Standard Award, the New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, the Windham Campbell Award, and a USA Artist Award. He is currently Chair of Playwriting at Yale School of Drama; an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre Chicago; and a member of Teo Castellanos/D-Projects. McCraney is currently working on an original scripted TV series, David Makes Man, for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network, produced by Michael B Jordan and Page Fright Productions.

Randy Coleman (Ogun Size)
Randy Coleman was born in Greenville Mississippi. Randy has been acting for over 2 years. Recently, Randy was seen in the stage play “Loose Lips” by Director Yonel Aris whom he also received private training. Randy is also working on a film entitled “Jesus Christ” the G.O.A.T. Randy works daily on his craft reading monologues and creating content.

Trey Harrell (Elegba)
Trey C. Harrell is a senior at Valdosta State University, majoring in musical theatre. Trey got his start in acting at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, where he was being mentored under the tutelage of Jamel Booth and Jazmin Jones-Oliver. Trey has done productions such as Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, etc.

Jamall Lynch (Oshoosi Size)
Jamall Lynch is 19 years old and was born in Boynton Beach, FL, but raised in the Oh-So-Live 305! Jamall began his acting journey with “The” Tanisha Cidel at Norland Middle. From there he attended New World School of The Arts, and graduated from Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High School under Jamel R. Booth. Through his time with theatre, he has played Hamilton in “Hamilton: An American Musical”, and C.C White in “Dreamgirls” the musical.

Mo Beasley (Panelist)
Mo Beasley, a Universal Man in the world of theater and performance, is an award-winning poet, published writer, arts educator, and activist. In 2006, the New York Daily News heralded him as one of "50 Unsung New York Heroes," citing his selfless work uplifting the arts for youth and adults alike. Beasley earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Howard University. The Boston-born, Miami Beach-based artist sees Art as a Leader In Social Evolution. AUTHOR: Be a Father to Your Child (Counterpoint Press); No Good Nigga Bluez (Scripted Linguistics). PLAYWRIGHT: Ferocious Love (Arts Garage-Delray Beach, FL.), Iced Out Shackled and Chained... (National Black Theater Festival-Winston-Salem, NC); No Good Nigga Bluez (NY International Fringe Festival). ARTS EDUCATOR | PUBLIC SPEAKER: The National Black Writers Conference, CatalystCon, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality(FUREE), Brooklyn Academy of Music, Penn State Black Lawyers Association. FEATURED POET: Blue Note, Nuyorican Poets Café, BAMcafe, Joe's Pub, Center, Bowery Poetry Club, and the American Museum of Natural History. PRODUCER: Mo Beasley's UrbanErotika and LoveSuites. STAGE MANAGER: Broadway's Bring In Da Noise/Bring In Da Funk; Off-Broadway's Blue Man Group, Boys Choir of Harlem.

Brian Knowles (Panelist)
Brian Knowles is a dynamic speaker, writer, researcher, and educator with the distinction of being twice named by Legacy Magazine as one of South Florida’s Top Black Educators (2018 and 2022). His research and writings have been featured in the Journal of Literacy Innovation: Rethinking Literacy Instruction and XanEdu Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Blog. Brian is the founder of Power Builders Curriculum and Pedagogies, LLC - an educational consulting company that supports schools, community organizations, and education-focused nonprofits in creating culturally affirming spaces. This includes, but is not limited to, policy, curriculum, research, professional development, and professional speaking engagements. Brian also currently serves as Manager of the Office of African, African American, Latino, Holocaust, and Gender Studies within the School District of Palm Beach County, the tenth–largest public school district in the United States. The Office of African, African American, Latino, Holocaust, and Gender Studies has been in existence for 29 years with a major focus on providing best teaching practices for students of color and the development of a culturally responsive curriculum.

Brandon Vega (Panelist)
Brandon Vega is a Miami, FL native. He graduated from Florida International University, with a Master's Degree in Urban Education, with a concentration in Community Engagement. Vega is a Student Success Advisor at St. Thomas University (Miami, FL) and he is the founder of The EATN Project Inc. Vega's mission is to help satisfy the hunger for success and positivity through enlightenment. His goal is to inspire the youth by sharing the power of resiliency, perseverance, and persistence. His survival enlightened his commitment to serve as a positive resource to those around him, by remaining active in his community. Vega has worked with numerous youth group programs, helping to promote character development, high self-esteem, and positive peer relationships. He is a Father to his son Messiah Roy-Al. He uses his time in his pursuit to evolve his artistry, by the books he engages with, his writing process, his public speaking engagements and elevating his mentees. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Ethical Leadership and is currently working on his 2nd book - Ghetto Conscious: Dancing with the Shadow.