America's Promise Alliance (PRNewsFoto/America's Promise Alliance)
Earlier today, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in response to recent events regarding violence against Black Americans, has joined America’s Promise Alliance to unite and call out injustices and the impacts systemic racism and trauma have on young people. The statement is available here – https://www.americaspromise.org/press-release/racial-trauma-and-young-people-why-we-cant-stay-silent
Trymaine Lee
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, MSNBC Correspondent, Alumni Big
Trymaine Lee is a Pulitzer Prize and Emmy-award winning journalist and correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. He’s also the host of the “Into America” podcast where he covers the intersection of race, power, and politics.
He’s covered uprisings, the fragility of freedom and democracy, and has been at the center of some of the country’s biggest news stories of the past two decades, including Hurricane Katrina and the Ferguson protests after the killing of Mike Brown. He is widely credited as the first national journalist to write about the shooting of Trayvon Martin, helping to elevate the case into national consciousness as a senior reporter at the Huffington Post. He’s also worked for the Philadelphia Tribune, the New Orleans Times-Picayune, and the New York Times. Since 2012, he’s been a correspondent for MSNBC.
Trymaine is a contributing author to the “1619 Project,” a 2023 Webby Award winner for a podcast series on the Reconstruction era’s unfulfilled promises, a 2021 Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for his documentary on the Tulsa Race Massacre, the winner of multiple NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards, a 3-time NAACP Image Award Nominee, and a past recipient of AdWeek’s Podcast Host of the Year. He is a former New America and Harvard Institute of Politics fellow and has been named to The Root 100 and Ebony Power 100 lists of most influential African Americans.
Trymaine is currently writing a book on Black life, death, and violence in America with St. Martin’s Press.
Ray Davis
Running Back, Buffalo Bills, Alumni Little
Ray Davis, born in San Francisco, California, emerged from the foster care system as one of 15 siblings, learning early the value of resilience and determination. Raised with steadfast support from guardians Lora Banks and Greg Ley, he cultivated a passion for sports and academics.
At Blair Academy in N.J., Ray excelled as a running back and defensive back, amassing 4,815 rushing yards and 59 touchdowns. Despite challenges, his path to collegiate football began at Temple University, where he earned Freshman All-America honors with 936 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Transferring to Vanderbilt University for 2020-2021, Ray rebounded from injury to rush for 1,042 yards, earning All-SEC recognition and becoming a Comeback Player of the Year semifinalist. In 2023, he joined the University of Kentucky, setting a school record with 21 touchdowns—14 rushing, 7 receiving—and totaling 1,129 rushing yards and 323 receiving yards.
Ray garnered Second Team All-America from Sports Illustrated and multiple All-SEC nods, graduating with a communications studies degree from Vanderbilt and a business certificate from Kentucky.
Beyond football, Ray loves poetry and aspires to pursue a career in sports broadcasting or coaching after his playing days are over. His journey from foster care to record-setting running back inspires athletes and children alike.
Selected 128th overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 Draft, Ray advocates for foster care awareness while preparing for a promising professional football career, aiming to leave a positive impact on and off the field.
Osa Odighizuwa
Defensive Tackle, Dallas Cowboys, Alumni Little
Before Osa Odighizuwa was the starting tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, he was the youngest of four boys and was born In Dayton Ohio on a pile of clothes in his mother’s bathroom.
Osa spent most of his childhood in Portland, Oregon and it was during this time that Osa discovered the Big Brother Big Sister program. Osa eventually enrolled at David Douglas High School. Where he was a two-sport athlete in football and wrestling. OSA was a 3x state wrestling champion, and actually didn’t lose a match after his freshman year. That’s right; the youngest Odighizuwa family member was undefeated for three straight years.
After graduating from high school Osa followed in his oldest brother (Owa Odighizuwa) footsteps and took a scholarship to play football at UCLA. Osa would spend the next 5 years at UCLA where he became one of the best Defensive tackles in the pac-12 and finished his college career in the middle of the Covid pandemic.
Osa would follow in Owa’s footsteps again in 2021; when Osa was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round ( going #75 overall). Owa was drafted #74 overall to the NY Giants in the 2016 NFL draft.
OSA was able to make an early impact as he arrived in dallas. OSA was listed as the starting DT during training camp, and he never looked back. As a rookie Osa anchored a very talented Cowboys defense line that helped America’s team win 12 games during Osa rookie season Osa was named to the nfl.com all-rookie team during the 2021-2022 season.
Osa’s impact was not just felt on the football field in Dallas as he quickly got involved with the community of DFW. Osa and his family started the Odighizuwa Foundation in 2022.
Hill Harper
Award-winning actor, New York Times bestselling author, Philanthropist, Alumni Big
Hill Harper is an eight-year Detroit resident and small business owner. He is an activist, humanitarian, cancer survivor, union leader, award-winning actor, best-selling author, entrepreneur, single father and he is currently a candidate to represent Michigan as its next United States Senator.
Harper served on the President’s Cancer Panel, which made cancer policy recommendations to the White House, having been appointed by President Obama in 2011.Additionally, Harper has authored four New York Times bestsellers: including his multiple award-winning book, Letters to a Young Brother: Manifest Your Destiny. Harper has been recognized with seven NAACP Image Awards, four for his writing and three as best lead male in a drama series for his portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on CSI: NY. He is the founder of the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth through mentorship, scholarship and grant programs; and has established The Pierce and Hill Harper Arts Foundation.
Harper graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was named Valedictorian of his department. Harper then graduated with a J.D. (cum laude) from Harvard Law School, as well as with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, with honors, from the Kennedy School of Government. Harper also completed Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in Quantico, VA. He has been awarded 10 honorary doctoral degrees, including degrees from Howard University and Providence College.
As an investor and business owner, Harper owns a successful coffee franchise in downtown Detroit called The Roasting Plant, is co-owner of A-Frame Brands and the award-winning New Orleans hotel, International House. His passion for economic empowerment, financial literacy, job creation, and social justice keeps him as an in-demand thought leading consultant for public and private institutions. He is a proud Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc
Michael McCullough
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer – The Miami HEAT, Current Big
Michael McCullough’s role with the Miami HEAT could best be described as the “brand architect” for the club. Viewed as an extremely versatile and well-respected senior NBA business executive, he sports a 38-year track record of establishing new benchmarks and best practices for sports marketing and fan engagement while producing highly effective marketing, branding and results-oriented corporate partnership programs. McCullough oversees the Marketing, Digital Marketing, Social Media, Creative, Retail Marketing and Operations, Business Communications, Social Responsibility, Game Presentation and Events, Broadcasting, Content and Broadcast Services for the Miami HEAT and Kaseya Center.
As part of the 2022 NBA Sales and Marketing Awards, the Miami HEAT were named the “2022 Team of the Year”. The award recognizes demonstrated excellence in business performance across both key revenue drivers and operational focus areas such as people and culture, and community impact. The Team of the Year Award was determined by a selection committee comprised of team and league executives.
Additionally, McCullough and Steve Stowe, Vice President / Executive Director of the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund were the co-winners of the “Values of the Game” Award, which recognizes an individual or individuals who inspire and connect people everywhere, but specifically in their community, through the power of basketball. McCullough and Stowe won for their combined efforts in launching a first-of-its-kind partnership with the City of Miami Police Department and Dedication to Community (D2C) through a unique community policing program designed to help bridge the gap between Black and Brown city residents and local law enforcement. A pilot program was first announced on September 3, 2020, which consisted of approximately 75 officers participating in the training. The HEAT has since announced the expansion of the program to include training of the entire Miami Police Department, including approximately 900 uniformed officers. The program has since branched out to include a pilot program with the Miami-Dade County Police Department, one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States.
As “chief evangelist,” for the HEAT, McCullough guides and directs both internal and external brand communication and activation strategies, while acting as the “voice” of the franchise to employees and media alike, oftentimes assuming an alter ego personality to foster employee engagement.
McCullough and his team revolutionized NBA Playoff marketing campaigns by being the first team to successfully and consistently implement the fan engagement focused color-themed Playoff promotional programs for the HEAT. “White Hot” remains the most successful and well-known such campaign among NBA franchises.
We dig uniforms and integrated marketing campaigns! Under McCullough’s watch, the HEAT has implemented the NBA’s most aggressive and successful City Edition uniform campaigns, with the “Vice” uniform campaign re-writing the record books in terms of retail sales, media coverage and fan engagement, only to be followed by and topped by the “Miami Mashup Vol. 1 and Vol.2” uniform campaigns.
File under: “Things I Never Thought I Would Get To Do In My Career”: McCullough is the point-person for the HEAT Business Operations division for all Championship-related activities, including the design and distribution of the three HEAT Championship rings for players, staff and families.
“Bigs and Littles” – McCullough has been a “Big” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program since 2008. Since that time, McCullough has been fortunate enough to work with four outstanding young men, helping to shepherd them through their high school years, into college and beyond, maintaining relationships with each Little well beyond the formal end of the mentorship period.
Prior to joining The HEAT Group, McCullough was with the Sacramento Kings (1988-90; 1992-97) and the National Basketball Association (1990-92).
McCullough was a three-year starter for the Utah State Aggies basketball team (during the short-shorts era 1980-84). McCullough and his wife, Valeria, live in the Edgewater area of downtown Miami with their dog, Mateo. A certified “vinyl junkie”, McCullough maintains a large collection of vinyl records and has turntables both at home and in his office, where vinyl can be seen and heard playing loudly.
Scott Uzzell
GM, Nike North America
Scott Uzzell is the Vice President and General Manager of Nike North America where he leads a +$23B business with 25,000 employees across all aspects of Nike and Jordan Brand footwear and apparel including brand marketing, retail, digital engagement and e-commerce, sports marketing, and distribution. Nike North America is the largest reported geographic unit of NIKE, Inc.
Prior to this role Scott was President & CEO of Converse, Inc. for +4 years where he led all aspects of the business globally, and oversaw the brand’s return to basketball after a 10-year hiatus from the sport.
Scott joined Converse, Inc. from The Coca-Cola Company where he served as President and General Manager, Venturing and Emerging Brands Group (VEB) and led the development of a portfolio of high-growth brands, including Honest Tea, ZICO Coconut Water, Health Ade, Fairlife Milk and Body Armor.
Scott began his career within sales and marketing for elite consumer goods companies, such as Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, and Nabisco, before returning to The Coca-Cola Company in 2001 to hold a number of leadership positions across its business including Global Vice President New Business Development, CEO ZICO Beverage Co and Vice President Marketing, VEB.
In addition, Scott serves on the board of SC Johnson Company. Scott is also a member of the Florida A&M University Foundation board as well as a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC). He is also a Trustee at Woodruff Arts Center and University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
Scott received his B.S. in Business from Florida A&M University and his MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. Scott has a personal passion for sports like skiing, golf, basketball and cycling, as well as spending time with his family. Scott and wife Sunda have two children – a son, Tanner and daughter, Sawyer.
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:
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.
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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