Via Yoga N Da Hood (YNDH), Ebony Smith offers self healing and stress reducing methods for a healthy lifestyle; through the practice of Yoga and mindfulness in under served communities. The foundation of YNDH combines the physical with the inner emotional and spiritual journey. By integrating body, breath, movement, and meditative awareness, we promote awareness of the interdependency of all these aspects in personal health and wellbeing. 

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Entrepreneur, author, speaker, business strategist, branding guru, culinary maven Nadège Fleurimond wears many more hats than her white chef toque. She skillfully draws from her Haitian heritage to effortlessly fuse the traditional and the modern. Nadège is a passionate innovator who harnesses her entrepreneurial skills and creative inspiration to serve communities. Her expertise runs the gamut, from brand development to event planning, fundraising, business coaching, and more.

Iya Bashea Imana started out as a professional vocalist, musician, and radio personality.  However, her love of helping children get the best start in life drove her towards a career in education, where she put her natural skills as an entertainer to good use - captivating and inspiring kids to learn and love it. She founded Kuumba Kids™ to provide arts-integrated, culturally relevant materials and programs to young people. Kuumba Kids™ aims to inspire the imagination of children through energetic and captivating educational programs that motivate children to reach their highest potential and use their Kuumba (Creativity) to make the world a better place. 

Valerie Tutson graduated from Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling as a Communication’s Art, and a Masters in Theatre Arts. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Rhode Island College. Since 1991 she has traveled the country and world teaching and sharing stories and songs.  Her repertoire includes folktales, personal and historical stories with an emphasis on black traditions. She has also developed a reputation for her style of re-telling age-old Bible stories and works with churches and interdenominational conferences across the country.

Her Majesty Queen Mother Dòwòti Désir of the Royal Palace of Dada Daagbo Hounon Houna II Guely, is the Founder and President of, The AfroAtlantic Theologies & Treaties Institute. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the Queen Mother is the Kpodjito (Reine Mate of the King). An interfaith leader and Manbo Asogwe (High Priest) in Haitian Vodou, Her Majesty is an independent scholar, human rights activist,  educator, curator, photographer, and author. She has traveled extensively documenting the historic sites, memorials, and monuments of the transatlantic slave trade in captive Africans.