A Big Brother's Support Leads to Academic Opportunity - Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Aloe Blacc
Singer, Songwriter, Philantropist

Raised on salsa, merengue, and cumbia, Blacc fell in love with hip-hop as a kid and started writing rap songs when he was nine. With his lyrics drawing influence from socially conscious artists like KRS-One, he put out his first hip-hop mixtape at age 17. Later developing a fierce admiration for such soul musicians as Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye, he also discovered an affinity for folk-rock singer/songwriters during his college years. “One of the most important factors in my transition from hip-hop to being a singer was listening to people like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Kris Kristofferson, and Cat Stevens,” Blacc says. “Their songs are full of emotion that’s expressed in strong lyrics, and that had a big impact on me.”

After inking a deal with indie label Stones Throw, Blacc released his solo debut Shine Through in 2006 and sophomore album Good Things in 2010. Boosted by the breakout success of “I Need a Dollar” (which was selected as the theme song to HBO’s How To Make it In America), Good Things reached gold status in countries around the world and paved the way for his signing to XIX Recordings/Interscope Records in 2012. Made in collaboration with groundbreaking producers like Pharrell Williams, Lift Your Spirit dropped on New Year’s Day in 2014, debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Album.

Looking back on his musical path so far, Blacc notes that landing a deal with XIX Recordings/Interscope prompted a major moment of reckoning, and led him to re-examine his artistic intentions. “When I signed a major-label contract, I recognized the power of having a larger audience, and I promised myself that I’d use my voice for social change,” he says. And in creating his upcoming album, Blacc has kept focused on making music meant to inspire a positive shift in mindset. “When things happening in the world seem so terrible and dark, it’s so easy to get stuck in all the negative,” he says. “But I try to do whatever I can to help people out of that. I want my music to be the light.”

“GRIFF”
Comedian, Motivational Speaker, Co-Host of Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell

Comedian, motivational speaker, and veteran on-air personality, “GRIFF” is the co-host of Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell! This author and father of five has forged his career at the intersection of faith, philanthropy and humor. With an infectious energy and unmistakable voice, “GRIFF” contributes laughter, sincerity and real world approach to living inspiration out loud

Nate Burleson
Co-Host, CBS Mornings and The NFL Today

Nate Burleson is an Emmy Award-winning studio analyst and sports personality. He is currently the co-host of CBS Mornings. He is also on CBS’s The NFL Today and NFL Slimetime on Nickelodeon. Burleson won the Emmy Award for outstanding sports personality/studio analyst for his work on The NFL Today back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. Prior to joining CBS’s News Division, Burleson served as a host on NFL Networks’ Emmy Award-winning show Good Morning Football. Burleson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2003 NFL Draft. During his career, he also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

Daymond John
CEO & Founder of FUBU
Star of ABC’s Shark Tank
CEO of The Shark Group

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his operation into the basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand with over $6 billion in product sales and a pioneer in the fashion industry. John is a celebrated entrepreneur having received over 35 awards throughout his career, including the Brandweek Marketer of the Year, Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year, was named #2 on LinkedIn’s 2020 Top Voices list for US Influencers, and has won four Webby Awards for his event, Black Entrepreneur’s Day.

In 2023, John authored one of the “most anticipated children’s book of the year”, Little Daymond Learns to Earn. Instantly becoming a New York Times best-seller and ranking #1 on Amazon’s Top 100 Books, Little Daymond Learns to Earn teaches children the fundamentals of financial literacy and money management with a fun and engaging storyline. John is also the author of five best-selling books including his New York Times best-selling books, The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018).

John’s marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands have made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. His marketing firm The Shark Group offers expertise in marketing strategy and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions.

Finally, he is celebrating 15th season on ABC’s hit business show Shark Tank by acclaimed producer Mark Burnett. The show has gone on to win four Emmy Awards and consistently maintains millions of weekly viewers who tune in to the show every Friday night as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.

Wayne Brady
Emmy Award-winning Actor, Producer, TV Personality
Alumni Big

Multiple Emmy Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated Wayne Brady has made his mark on stage and screen as an actor, producer, singer, dancer, songwriter, and television personality.

A true multi-hyphenate, Brady’s career path and personal life journey have helped him see the world in a unique way. His aspirations have always gone beyond solely starring in various entertainment projects, and under his A Wayne & Mandie Creative banner. He’s set out to create new content across different platforms that showcase innovation and inclusivity in fun and powerful ways.

A five-time Emmy winner (the first to win Daytime and Primetime awards in two consecutive years), Brady has an impressive TV resume including Whose Line Is It Anyway?, The Masked Singer, Dancing With The Stars, Black Lightning, The Good Fight, and Showtime’s American Gigolo– each spotlighting different aspects of his immense talent.

In February 2024, Brady will star in an upcoming Hulu docuseries following his blended family, alongside his ex-wife, best friend and business partner Mandie Taketa, their 20-year-old daughter Maile, and Mandie’s partner Jason. The series is produced by Wayne and Mandie’s joint production company, A Wayne and Mandie Creative, along with Fremantle.

In addition to being a force in front of the camera, Brady is heavily active behind the scenes wearing the hats of host & executive producer for Let’s Make A Deal, Game of Talents, and Comedy IQ, which he also co-created through his production company. All of this follows on the heels of the success of his award-winning daytime talk show The Wayne Brady Show.

Long an accomplished singer and performer, Brady’s musical acumen has always been a personal passion and he used that as fuel to help win the second season of The Masked Singer. Off his victory, Brady dropped a brand-new original single, entitled “Flirtin’ w/ Forever,” which quickly climbed the streaming charts, as well as an accompanying music video.

This follows the success of his debut album which was headlined by a version of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” which earned him a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category.

Spring of 2024 Brady returns to Broadway in the all-new production of The Wiz, leading the cast as the titular character. The highly-anticipated musical features award-winning creatives and producers including Common, MC Lyte, Amber Ruffin, Hannah Beachler, Sharen Davis, among others.

Brady made his Broadway debut starring as legal showman ‘Billy Flynn’ in the long-running hit musical, Chicago. Soon after Brady starred as the ground-breaking character ‘Lola’ in Kinky Boots, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein. Brady would later headline as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the Chicago production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning juggernaut Hamilton.

Brady again joined forces with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the duo along with Thomas Kail and Anthony Veneziale, created Freestyle Love Supreme. The unique show combined the fusion of hip hop, improv, and comedy which won a special Tony Award for its innovation and contributions to the world of theater. The Freestyle Love Supreme team partnered with San Francisco improv company Speechless, Inc to create “freestyle+,” an educational training platform committed to making improv globally accessible.

Advocacy is core to Brady’s life. He champions the need for more resources and better understanding of mental health issues, especially in the Black community. Brady’s public announcement about his pansexuality brings awareness to an underrepresented community and he continues to support and promote LGBTQIA+ causes and organizations such as Broadway Backwards and Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. Brady is a longtime supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and SAY The Stuttering Association for the Young.

Brady currently resides in Los Angeles.

Raachad White
Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Alumni Little

Born in Kansas City, MO as the youngest of four boys, Rachaad has always been active. His mother, Rochelle, always emphasized respect for elders, honoring your word, being true to yourself, and being thankful for what you have. Rochelle enrolled all of her boys in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, seeking additional mentorship and positive male role models for her sons. Naturally, Rachaad couldn’t wait to find his match after seeing the opportunities his older brothers had. Rachaad played multiple sports growing up but excelled most at basketball and football. At Center High School in Kansas City, he went on to become All State in football and All Conference in basketball. Surprisingly, he wasn’t recruited by any D1 schools so he committed to a Division II school, Nebraska Kearney. Once there, his teammates saw what a great player he was and suggested he transfer to a Junior College, which would then lead him towards his goal of playing for a Power 5, Division 1 school. He took their advice and transferred to Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, California. At Mt Sac, he became a top Running Back in the nation before committing to Arizona State. At Arizona State, his ascent continued, leading the team in both rushing and receiving which caught the attention of all 32 NFL teams. In April of 2022, his ultimate dream came true. He was selected as the 91st overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first year in the NFL, he played alongside Tom Brady, took over the starting Running Back role, contributed to the team’s playoff berth, and lead all rookie Running Backs in receiving. Rachaad resides in the Tampa area, is a devoted father to a beautiful daughter named Nevaeh, and loyal friend to many.

Tony Coles
President, Black Information Network, iHeartMedia
BBBSA National Board Member

Tony Coles is regarded as one of the audio industry’s leading authorities. In addition to being known for his experience successfully leading and growing iconic media brands, Coles also founded and currently operates the groundbreaking Black Information Network. Recognized for his innovative approach to content creation, exceptional leadership style, and consistent results, he is one of the most respected executives in audio.

Coles currently holds dual roles at iHeartMedia, the #1 audio company in America. He serves as Division President of Metro Markets, a position that has given him P&L oversight for over 150 radio stations in 21 markets across the United States. Coles is also the Founder and President of the Black Information Network, a 24/7 All News Channel dedicated to serving the Black community. In less than three years BIN has grown to include a national streaming service, operates 34 dedicated broadcast stations, and provides content for more than 140 stations.

With over 35 years of media and marketing experience, Coles has discovered, developed, and managed an array of successful talent and leaders. He has also worked with many of the largest companies in the world to provide media and marketing solutions. His creative spirit and strong business acumen make him uniquely qualified for his current role as well as his growing commitment to board service. His expertise in strategic planning, management, marketing, and content creation, combined with his ability to build strong brand partnerships across the media sector, has delivered powerful results throughout his career.

His philanthropic work focuses on non-profit organizations dedicated to mentorship, youth development, as well as career advancement in media. Coles currently serves as national Board Vice Chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, he is the Multicultural Committee Chair for the RAB, and serves as a board member for the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation.

Coles holds an MBA from Western Governors University. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Marylhurst University. He currently lives outside of Chicago with his wife and two sons.

Terrance Williams
President and CEO, TruStage

Terrance Williams became the ninth president and chief executive officer (CEO) of TruStage on October 1, 2023. TruStage is a leading provider of insurance, investments, and technology solutions to financial institutions, advisors, and companies serving middle-market consumers. With more than 4,200 employees, the company has significant operations across the United States and operates international businesses in Canada and the Caribbean. The company headquarters is in Madison, Wisconsin.

As president and CEO, Williams is continuing to build on the company’s nearly century-long history of being an influential leader in the credit union system and broader financial and insurance industries. With his tenure and broad experience in insurance innovation and digital strategy, he’s moving the company’s vision forward, ensuring brighter financial futures are accessible to everyone.

Prior to joining TruStage, Williams was president, Protection Products and Services for Allstate, responsible for non-property-liability businesses that ranged from start-up ventures to mature businesses. These entities represented approximately $4 billion in revenue. In his previous role as executive vice president and general manager of Allstate Property-Liability Sales and Distribution, Williams was responsible for driving innovation in the company’s distribution channels, including 10,000 domestic agencies and more than 30,000 licensed sales professionals, direct-to-consumer call centers and web sales in the United States and Canada. These channels accounted for over $30 billion of written premium for the enterprise.

Before joining Allstate in 2020, Williams spent more than 20 years at Nationwide, where he most recently served as president of their Emerging Business Group, including a team of 1,300+ employees. There, he led innovation and digital strategy, served as the enterprise’s chief marketing officer, and established the company’s $100M venture capital fund. Williams has been recognized by many, including Forbes as one of “The World’s Most Influential CMOs” in 2017 and 2018 and Savoy Magazine as one of the most influential black corporate directors in 2021.

Beyond the office, Williams is a firm believer in philanthropic efforts toward the betterment of communities. He is an active participant and has served on many non-profit boards in multiple markets including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Urban League, and others. He is also actively involved in numerous mentor programs, including work as a mentor to undergraduates at the University of South Carolina.

Williams earned his bachelor’s in risk management and insurance from the University of South Carolina. He is an advisory board member for the university’s Risk and Uncertainty Management Center at the Darla Moore School of Business, which helps students and organizations improve decision-making. Williams is also on the board of directors for Encompass Health, the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States.

Solomon Thomas
Defensive Lineman, New York Jets

Solomon Thomas is a Defensive Lineman for the New York Jets and their 2022 Walter Payton Man of The Year nominee which is one of the league’s most prestigious honors. Solomon landed in New York after four seasons with the 49ers who drafted him as the #3 overall player in the 2017 NFL draft and spent the ‘21 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

During his second season with the Niners, Solomon and his family experienced an unimaginable and tragic loss. On January 23, 2018, his big sister Ella died by suicide. This traumatic and personal loss impacted his next few years in the NFL. In 2021, Solomon with the help of his parents, Co-Founded The Defensive Line (TDL), a nonprofit organization focused on training, educating, and equipping leaders of young people of color, to be the mental health community that empowers a lifesaving connection. TDL’s vision is “A world where no young person of color dies by suicide.”

Off the field, Solomon has not only committed financially to the causes he believes in, but he also actively contributes his time, energy, and mind to the growth and success of his organization. His public speaking always centers around sharing Ella’s story and his own mental health journey to bring the hopefulness he carries and the belief he has that everyone has extraordinary value and deserves to live healthy lives. His message is positive and uplifting, and he shares it in public as much as he does privately with those around him. He doesn’t push, but he offers insight and experience, sharing a kind of wisdom that people crave and thrive on.

The work with The Defensive Line has included a partnership with The Super Football Conference in New Jersey to speak with high school students about mental health, the 988 campaign with Dak Prescott and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and an educational panel for all Paramount Global in October. Thomas has also worked with a myriad of nonprofit organizations to raise awareness, secure funds for mental health/suicide prevention research, and advocate for local and national politicians to improve mental health/suicide prevention legislation and policies. He has consistently demonstrated a generous and quiet giving mentality, donating to many organizations over the years, including The Golden Heart Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Tracy Kipp Minnesota, Champion Charities Foundation, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hui Aloha Kiholo, Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition, 22 And You Foundation, My Brother’s Keeper, Blue Dragon, and many others. When a member of the 49ers staff lost everything in the Paradise Fires, Solomon supported them financially.

Solomon expects to come into his own with the New York Jets and every game will be played in memory of his sister Ella.

Sway Calloway
Sway in the Morning with Heather B & Tracy G

An icon of hip-hop culture and a pivotal part of MTV, Sway Calloway has been a staple within music news for two decades. Already a vanguard radio personality, record producer and hip-hop artist, Sway joined the MTV News team in 2000 and has been front and center for some of music’s biggest moments.

Sway first caught the public’s eye when he and his partner King Tech (Tech) staged break dancing and rap performances in and around their hometown of Oakland, California. The duo won a local contest with landmark radio station KMEL-FM. The world-famous Wake Up Show is one of the longest hip-hop shows that has been in syndication all over the world. Hip Hop had the opportunity to launch their own mix show recognizing Sway’s instincts for great sound and promising talent. Interscope enlisted him and Tech to produce an album called This or That, featuring artists such as Eminem, KRS-One and RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan.

Sway has been a key correspondent for MTV’s Choose or Lose and Power Of ’12 campaigns for the channel. Since his involvement, he has interviewed various political leaders like Bill Clinton, Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie, Hillary Clinton, Ron Paul, John McCain and Mitt Romney. He’s also sat down with President Barack Obama six times.

Sway’s other MTV News endeavors have included TRL, the All Eyes series which featured top artists like Kanye West and 50 Cent, MTV News Now: Jay-Z vs. Nas: Beats, Battles & Beef, MTV News Presents: After the Storm, RapFix Live, The Hottest MCs list and TRL-AM.

In addition, Sway is an integral part of MTV News’ annual live events that include red carpet coverage of the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV European Awards, and Grammys pre-show. Sway serves as an MTV Executive Producer and brings new programming ideas to the station. He’s also contributing talent to other ViacomCBS channels, MTV2, and VH1 networks.

His work continues throughout the nation and community where he has been a part of various panels and discussions hosting and moderating on important issues like Hate Crimes, Racism and Education.

Sway is the host of SiriusXM’s Shade 45 daily morning show, SWAY IN THE MORNING With HEATHER B and TRACY G from 8am to 12pm EST. He is also the Chief Navigator for his site, SwaysUniverse.com, that features celebrity interviews, music, entertainment and health news. Lastly, he is a recent inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2020. @realsway

Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.
President of Virginia State University,
BBBSA National Board Member

“Serving as President of Virginia State University has been the highlight of my academic career. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education. I work with amazing faculty and staff members who show an unwavering commitment to excellence in education. I extend my gratitude to the VSU Board of Visitors for their vote of confidence and for giving me the opportunity to continue the GREATER work at Virginia State University.”

Dr. Makola M. Abdullah began his VSU career in February 2016 with an unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence. As a new president, he outlined the core beliefs that became the foundation of his work for VSU: beliefs in God, family, the transformative nature of education, and in Virginia State University. With that foundation in mind, President Abdullah and his new administration began planning the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan: Preeminence with Purpose to chart the University’s path to continued growth and excellence. His plan set forth the next chapter for VSU, which focused on six areas: Student Opportunity and Access, Academic Excellence, The Holistic Experience for Students, Enhancing the Land Grant Mission of the University, Advancing the VSU Brand, and Financial/Operational Effectiveness.

Under President Abdullah’s leadership and guidance, VSU experienced the single largest year-to-year enrollment increase in over a decade and the highest retention rate in more than twenty years. The University also increased the 4-year graduation rate to the highest recorded rate in the University’s history. Virginia State University also placed in ESSENCE magazine’s top 20 “Best Colleges for African Americans” and U.S. News and World Report’s “Top 30 in the Best Overall HBCUs for 2022”. The University ranked in the top 30% in the “Performers on Social Mobility” list, the Top 10 in Student Retention Programs at HBCUs, and the top 15% of Bang-for-your-Buck institutions in the Southeast Region of the United States. The University has also extended its academic offerings with newly added undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. In addition, the University offers fully online programs/degrees and a free tuition program for students from area high schools.

Under Dr. Abdullah’s guidance, Virginia State University’s year-end financial reserves have tripled. The University also received a $30 million gift—the largest single donor gift in the University’s history—aiding the university in growing the investments from approximately $40 million to $80 million. In addition, under Dr. Abdullah, VSU has more new infrastructure happening concurrently than at any point in its 140-year history. This includes a new 30,000-square-foot admissions building, a research and cooperative extension facility, improvements to Rogers Stadium, and a new $120 million Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons—the largest building ever constructed on the VSU campus. In 2021, VSU also renamed four buildings to honor Black women who have made significant contributions to the University.

Under the leadership of President Abdullah, in 2018, Virginia State University successfully completed its reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The University was reaffirmed for ten years with no recommendations. The President has led the launch of several significant initiatives since taking office. These include the establishment of the John Mercer Langston Institute for African American Political Leadership to assess, develop and empower African American leaders; the establishment of The Center for Policing Leadership and Social Justice to address the critical divide between law enforcement and communities of color; and the establishment of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging on campus to promote good relations toward and support those who may be subject to discrimination.

Boards and Committees

During his tenure at VSU, President Abdullah has become a national leader—fighting on behalf of the transformative work of Virginia State University and all HBCUs. He has served on a plethora of boards and committees, including the following:

Chair of the Infrastructure Committee for the U.S. President’s Board of Advisors (PBA) on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Chair of the Council of Presidents for the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU)
Chair of the Council of Presidents for Virginia Institutions of Higher Education
Member of the 1890s Presidents for the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) (Former Chair)
Member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Board of Directors (Former Chair)
Member of the Executive Council for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Board
Member of the Central VA Truist Regional Advisory Board
Member Virginia Historical Society Board of Trustees
Member of the A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership (dba GENEDGE) Board of Trustees
Member of the Richmond Forum Board of Directors
Member of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture Board of Trustees
Former member of the Lake Forest Academy Board of Trustees (Former Chair)

Education and Background

Before he was appointed President of Virginia State University, Dr. Abdullah served as Provost and Senior Vice President at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL (2013-2016), Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, FL (2011-2013), and Dean and Director of 1890 Land Grant Programs at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, FL (2008-2011).

Dr. Abdullah is a Chicago native. He earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Howard University and his doctorate and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Northwestern University. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Honors and Awards

President Abdullah was named the HBCU Male President of the Year in 2017 and was selected as the 2021 Recipient of the Howard University Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement. He is also the youngest African American to receive a Ph.D. in engineering.

Family

President Abdullah is married to Ahkinyala Cobb-Abdullah, Ph.D. Dr. Cobb-Abdullah is the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Director of the Center for STEM Diversity at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Cobb-Abdullah earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tuskegee University. She is a two-time alumna of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where she earned a Master of Molecular Biology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Biomolecular Sciences.

Dr. Abdullah and Dr. Cobb-Abdullah are the proud parents of a son, Mikaili, and a daughter, Sefiyetu. Mikaili is a graduate of Morehouse College and a current Ph.D. student at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Sefiyetu is a two-time graduate of Virginia State University with a Master of Science in Computer Science.

Kelvin Beachum
Offensive Tackle, Arizona Cardinals

Kelvin Beachum is a Texas native in his 12th NFL season, currently with the Arizona Cardinals. He is an SMU graduate (’10, ’12) an Executive Board member, and a member of the Players Inc. Advisory Committee, the Players Coalition, and the Donors Choose Advisory Board. He is a professional speaker, advisor, board member, and active technology investor. Along with his NFL and business commitments, Beachum is passionate about ending hunger, providing clean water access, advocating for education equity, and encouraging minority youth to pursue STEAM disciplines while addressing the digital divide. Beachum resides in Arizona with his wife, Jessica, and their three children.

Rachaad White

Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Born in Kansas City, MO as the youngest of four boys, Rachaad has always been active. His mother, Rochelle, always emphasized respect for elders, honoring your word, being true to yourself, and being thankful for what you have. Rochelle enrolled all of her boys in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, seeking additional mentorship and positive male role models for her sons. Naturally, Rachaad couldn’t wait to find his match after seeing the opportunities his older brothers had. Rachaad played multiple sports growing up but excelled most at basketball and football. At Center High School in Kansas City, he went on to become All State in football and All Conference in basketball. Surprisingly, he wasn’t recruited by any D1 schools so he committed to a Division II school, Nebraska Kearney. Once there, his teammates saw what a great player he was and suggested he transfer to a Junior College, which would then lead him towards his goal of playing for a Power 5, Division 1 school. He took their advice and transferred to Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, California. At Mt Sac, he became a top Running Back in the nation before committing to Arizona State. At Arizona State, his ascent continued, leading the team in both rushing and receiving which caught the attention of all 32 NFL teams. In April of 2022, his ultimate dream came true. He was selected as the 91st overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first year in the NFL, he played alongside Tom Brady, took over the starting Running Back role, contributed to the team’s playoff berth, and lead all rookie Running Backs in receiving. Rachaad resides in the Tampa area, is a devoted father to a beautiful daughter named Nevaeh, and loyal friend to many.

Kelvin L. Buncum
Executive Vice President
Neighborhood Markets, Walmart U.S.

Kelvin L. Buncum is executive vice president of Neighborhood Markets for Walmart U.S. His responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of Neighborhood Market operations. Kelvin and his team are focused on creating a great experience that includes increased convenience for busy customers and high-quality fresh items that delight the entire family.

Prior to assuming his current role, Kelvin held several leadership positions at Walmart, including regional vice president of the Atlanta/North Georgia region, regional vice president of the North Central region, vice president of innovations and global business processes, vice president of operations strategy and integration and regional general manager for the Mid- South region.

Before joining Walmart, Kelvin held leadership positions with several companies and across multiple industries. Immediately prior to Walmart, he was President/CEO of International Medical Solutions, a start-up he launched with two partners. Kelvin’s professional experiences also include senior leadership roles at Pepsi Bottling Group, US Radio, and Joyner Communications.
In addition, Kelvin has worked for Digital Equipment Corporation, AT&T Bell Laboratories and Northern Telecom. With these companies, he held leadership roles in the areas of product development, marketing, sales management and applications planning.

Kelvin has been actively involved over the years in trade and community organizations. He has served as chairman of the Georgia Beverage Association and held board positions with the Safe America Foundation, APEX Museum, Georgia Food Industry Association, Warrick Dunn Family Foundation, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Foundation, Hughes-Spalding Children’s Hospital, Feeding America, Criminal Justice SVN and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas.

Kelvin graduated with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and received an Honorary Doctorate from North Carolina A & T State University. He also earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.

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John Waller

EVP, Talent Management & Business Development, IFA

Born in Iowa, John is the youngest of four. His parents joke that he grew up with three moms – his actual mother and his two older sisters. His older brother Dan was less interested when John entered the picture – but he came around eventually. As the youngest, he was frequently around adults and developed an appreciation for community, friendship, and communication. His family has always valued integrity, humility, and loyalty. John spent every day of his childhood playing sports and loved being outside with friends.The family moved to Washington State during John’s fifth grade year where they stayed until John graduated high school. He followed in his older siblings footsteps and attended the University of Kansas for College. After initially considering Social Work, he earned his degree in Communication Studies and Leadership. After graduating, he moved to Kansas City and started his career in sales. While his sales career started to take off, he still had this burning desire to do more – to tap into his inner social worker and make a positive impact on a young person’s life. He enrolled to become a Big with BBBS Kansas City. It’s one of the best decisions he’ll ever make in his life. He and Rachaad became fast friends, spending valuable time together every week. They’d play all the sports, go to the pool, play at the park, eat stomach-stuffing meals, visit with his sister and her kids, and engage in meaningful conversations about this complicated, beautiful thing we call life. John continues to make his living in sales, now with a professional sports agency called IFA, and also started a plant-based food business with his wife Jessica. He resides in Minneapolis with Jessica, their daughter Maeve, son Eli, and rescue pup Javier. He and Rachaad remain as close as ever with John acting more formally as his Business Manager.

Reette Thorns

Singer-Songwriter, 2023 American Idol Contestant

Reette Thorns grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was a foster kid for most of her early adolescence. She graduated from what is now, ‘Vel Phillips Memorial’ where she was a star Track and Field athlete as well as a star basketball player. She remained a top athlete in track and field three out of four years on varsity in Wisconsin High school Athletics. She is a student at Grand Valley State university competing in Track and Field and studies Theatre. At her university, she has been recognized as Student-Athlete of the week for having all A’s by midterms and remaining top 16 in the country for track and field in NCCA D2. Reette recently participated in her first play, ‘Merry Wives of Windsor,’ with the Theatre department at Grand Valley. Most recently, Reette has given focus to acting, singing, and learning the guitar, and is preparing to take on a music minor in the early fall.

Trying to break into the entertainment industry, she recently on the show ‘American Idol’ where she received an in-person audition and the Golden Ticket to Hollywood. Since the show,she has been writing music, taking vocal lessons, and practicing instruments as she begins to find herself as an artist.

Her focus right now is finishing her degree in Theatre and starting her work in the music department. She plans to continue to write and produce music as well. In her free time, she loves to listen to and write music, play the guitar, study monologues for acting auditions and swim, a lot.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been a part of her life for well over a decade and it was the best decision her mother ever made for her. Her Big Sister, Elizabeth, and the organization have changed her life in ways the world could never imagine. The program gave her the opportunity to have opportunities, good life choices attainable, and to find friendships, family, and love. Big Brothers Big Sisters brought her a best friend, sister, mentor, confidant, laughter, and my mom all in one.

Bill Plaschke

Sports Columnist, Los Angeles Times

Bill Plaschke, an L.A. Times sports columnist since 1996, is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame and California Sports Hall of Fame. He has been named national sports columnist of the year nine times by the Associated Press, and twice by the Society of Professional Journalists and National Headliner Awards. He is the author of six books, including a collection of his columns entitled, “Plaschke: Good Sports, Spoil Sports, Foul Ball and Oddballs.” Plaschke is also a panelist on the popular ESPN daily talk show, “Around the Horn.” Plaschke has been named Man of the Year by the Los Angeles Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and has received a Pursuit of Justice Award from the California Women’s Law Center. Plaschke has appeared in a movie (“Ali”), a dramatic HBO series (“Luck”) and, in a crowning cultural moment he still does not quite understand, his name can be found in a rap song “Females Welcome” by Asher Roth. In case you were wondering – and he was – “Plaschke” is rhymed with “Great Gatsby.” Plaschke is from Louisville, Ky., graduated from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and has three children – Tessa, Willie and MC – and a granddaughter Daisy Ann.

Nancy Lieberman

Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer

Nancy is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, BIG3 Head Coach, 2018 Champion and Coach of the year. Two-time Olympian, silver-medalist (1976).

Her coaching career has included the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and the BIG3 and at each step along the way she has broken barriers, elevated the profile of women in the game, and helped develop the current and next generation of basketball players. Under her leadership, the Team Power won the BIG3 championship in 2018, making her the first female coach to win a title in a men’s pro league.

She helped the United States win medals at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal (silver medal), the 1979 World Championships in Seoul (gold medal), 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games in Mexico (gold medal) and Puerto Rico (silver medal), and the gold medal in the 1979 Jones Cup in Taipei.

After winning consecutive AIAW National Championships and one WNIT Championship at Old Dominion University, Nancy was a three-time All American and two-time national player of the year in collegiate basketball for the Monarchs. She was the first pick in first ever women’s pro league, the Women’s Basketball League (WBL), for the Dallas Diamonds in 1980. In 1985, the Diamonds won the championship in the WABA and Nancy was Player of the Year. She played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the Summer Pro League in 1981 for Pat Riley in preparation for her upcoming season with the Diamonds. In 1986 and 1987, Nancy joined the USBL, becoming the first woman to play in a men’s proffessional league, 1986 with the Springfield Fame and 1987 with the Long Island Knights. The Lieberman Award, presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball for their floor leadership, playmaking and winning mentality.

Peggy Lewis

Ph.D

Dr. Peggy Lewis retired from academia as the Executive Dean of the School of Business and Graduate Studies and the School of Professional Studies at Trinity Washington University. Dr. Lewis is now a facilitator of racial reconciliation. She is a native Washingtonian and an alumna of Trinity. She received a Ph.D. with distinction from Howard University. Her dissertation title: “Preaching, Praying and Strategic Media Planning: From Montgomery to Selma, How the Civil Rights Movement Forced Journalists to Do Their Job.” Prior to Trinity, she was an Assistant Professor and Broadcast Sequence Coordinator in the Department of Journalism at Howard University. Before coming to academia, she spent nearly 20 years as an award-winning broadcast journalist in Washington, New York, and Miami before embarking on a career in public service which included working for President William Jefferson Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, and Children’s Defense Fund Founder and President, Marian Wright Edelman. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, The Washington D.C. Chapter of the Links, Inc., and a member of the National Presbyterian Church where she serves as an Elder and Stephen Minister.

Stephen Hill

Content Creator and Television Executive

At the intersection of Music and visual distribution is where you’ll find Stephen Hill leaning on the street sign.

Most recently, Hill served as the EVP, Creative at the legendary Dick Clark Productions. He was responsible for overseeing the creative directions of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, The Golden Globes, The Academy of Country Music Awards, The Billboard Awards, The American Music Awards and The Streamys.

Hill is the former President of Programming for BET Networks, where he spent 18 years
developing and creating programs for the leading provider of entertainment for the AfricanAmerican audience and consumers of Black culture globally.

Hill is best known for heading the team that developed and implemented the Award winning tentpole shows on BET including the BET Hip Hop Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors and the show with the largest African-American viewership every year since its inception, The BET
Awards.

Also, under Hill’s leadership, the BET team built a noteworthy catalog of quality and beloved programming including “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” “The New Edition Story, ”College Hill” , and “Tales.”

During his tenure, he supervised the growth and popularity of the network’s music shows and live events, creating not only unforgettable content and some of the most talked about moments
in television, but iconic franchises including “106 & Park,” and “Rap City: The Bassment.”

In addition to behind the desk duties, Hill occasionally showed up on front of the camera; most notably as the host for the NAACP Image Award Winning “BET News presents: An Aaliyah Reflection”, as the host for the BET Michael Jackson: Bad 25 special, and as the host for “BET’s Remembrance of Prince” in April 2016. In 2004, Prince sat down with Hill for a jovial, wideranging conversation (seen by over 1.5 million people) that has been referred to on YouTube as
“Prince’s Best Interview” (PRINCE BEST INTERVIEW AND PERFORMANCE)

Prior to joining BET Networks in 1999, Stephen worked for four years at MTV in New York City as Director of Music Programming. As Director, Hill was responsible for selecting and programming all genres of videos for airplay, working with talent and supervising the network’s
standards processes.

Hill got his start in music working with industry legend, Elroy Smith, who was programming director at WILD-AM in Boston, MA. In 1993, Hill and his team took WILD-AM to its highest ratings ever, beating six full-time FM stations in the process. Hill has also done extensive work with ABC Radio Network’s Urban Gold Format, launching their 24-hour format. Gaining many
accolades for his work with ABC Radio Networks, he also served as executive producer for the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Hill credits much of his success to his childhood passion of announcing various songs that he kept on a tape player. He began shaping his formal career at Brown’s University’s radio station, WBRU-FM, in Providence, RI.

Ryan Detert

Founder and CEO of Influential

As Founder and CEO of Influential, an AI social data and conversion company, Ryan Detert has brought top influencers, brands, press, and financing to his venture-backed company.

With over a decade of experience in the influencer and social media space, Ryan’s mission to optimize and streamline branded content with a data-first approach has shifted the industry and led to being recognized in AdAge’s annual 40 under 40 awards in 2021.

Through Influential, Ryan has built the largest influencer marketing company in the world, by revenue, and developed invaluable partnerships with prestigious technology and media companies, including Meta, TikTok, IBM Watson, Oracle Data Cloud, IRI, and WME.

Ryan is passionate about doing well for others, and has forged philanthropic efforts with organizations that include The United Nations, WHO, and CDC, as well as U.S.-based non-profits, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Rock The Vote.

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