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HOST
Takarra "KariJay" Johnson is a nationally recognized spoken word & Hip Hop artist from Sacramento, CA. Her art is infused with messages of truth, liberation, and healing. Kari has shared stages with Sista Souljah, Nikki Giovanni, Fiveology, and most recently: Common. She is currently attending the University of California, Davis as a 3rd year undergraduate student and aspires to use music and poetry to educate
the youth of these time.
speakers
Lyricist, speaker, dj, pioneer, icon, veteran and entrepreneur describe one of the most prolific and well-respected female Hip Hop artists of all time: MC Lyte. She has consistently found ways to reinvent herself musically, while expanding her resume and gaining new fans. Many are familiar with her music skills, but over the course of her extensive career, she has ventured out to other avenues that have allowed her to show the world just how talented she truly is.
Alicia Garza is an Oakland-based organizer, writer, public speaker and freedom dreamer who is currently the Special Projects Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the nation’s leading voice for dignity and fairness for the millions of domestic workers in the United States. Garza, along with Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors, also co-founded the Black Lives Matter network, a globally recognized organizing project that focuses on combatting anti-Black state-sanctioned violence and the oppression of all Black people.
A renowned cultural critic and writer with a focus on issues of race, gender and sexuality, Jamilah Lemieux is a leading millennial feminist thinker and new media maven. She is also the Vice President of News and Men’s Programming for iOne Digital, where she helped spearhead the creation of CASSIUS, a progressive digital lifestyle platform powered by
young, Black content creators.
Artist, organizer, scholar, and public speaker, Patrisse Cullors, is a Los Angeles native and Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter, an online forum that builds connections between Black people and allies to fight anti-Black racism, to spark dialogue, and create connections that encourage social action. In 2013, Patrisse co-founded the global movement of #BlackLivesMatter which has since grown to an international organization with dozens of chapters and world-wide activists fighting anti-Black racism. She produced and directed a series of theatrical pieces titled POWER: From the Mouths of the Occupied.
Blair Imani is an author and activist based in Brooklyn, NY. Living at the intersection of Black, Queer, and Muslim identity, Imani is the author of Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History. She is the founder and Executive Director of Equality for HER, a nonprofit educational platform for women and nonbinary people.
Valerie Spencer has worked in the arena of Social Services, focusing on health disparities as it relates to Transgender persons and others within LGBT communities for over
two decades. Over time she has worked with the federal government, health departments, universities, conferences and community based organizations around the country ranging from capacity building training, national advocacy consultation, and of
course those key note addresses she is famous for.
Lyvonne “Proverbs” Picou, a New York City native, is a preacher, poet, educator, and creative social entrepreneur. Lyvonne is the Founder of beautiful scars, an online platform for Black women survivors of male sexual violence. By harnessing the power of narrative, she is aiding survivors (and communities, at large) to shift from silence to storytelling to put an end to gender-based violence. She currently resides in Oakland, CA .
Cat Brooks is an artivist and mother who has spent her life working on many social
justice issues. Cat is also the Executive Director of The Justice Teams Network. The JTN is a project in partnership with Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors that supports organizations and individuals across the state who are working to rapidly respond to state violence in their communities. She is currently running for Mayor of Oakland.
Lyric Watts is a 10 year-old, self-proclaimed "cool kid" and is an avid reader. Lyric loves pizza, Disney movies and especially going on adventures! Lyric has been writing stories since the age of 5 and loves to inspire kids with her stories and her faith. She authored her very first book at age 8 called "Say It" which is a book of daily positive affirmations and inspiration for children.
Pleshette Robertson is the CEO & Founder of Sacculturalhub.com and Chief Editor of THE HUB Magazine. The website and magazine are leading sources of Black urban media that celebrate the lifestyle of African-Americans in the capital region & throughout California serving as the information hub for black-oriented movies, concerts, theatrical performances, art, exhibitions, sporting events, festivals and black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.
Patrice Hill is a poet and community-based educator who has over a decade of experience teaching in urban classrooms and writing and performing spoken word poetry. Born and raised in Fresno, CA, Patrice uses her background as an urban, inner-city, public school educated student to develop curriculum that is culturally relevant and meaningful to the lives of young people. She specializes in providing direct service to students, facilitating teacher professional development training, developing culturally relevant curriculum and facilitating writing workshops with youth, teachers and youth practitioners.
Rev. Tammie is Co-founder and President of Carrie's TOUCH, a nonprofit breast cancer organization established to enrich the lives of African American women diagnosed with the disease. She uses intersections of faith, education and her life experiences to create a heart-centered approach to healing and wellness. She hold degrees in Human and Community Services, Divinity and Community Leadership. She is also a master group facilitator for those facing tragedy, grief and loss.
As a leader in the the Black Lives Matter - Sacramento chapter, you can find Sonia Lewis on the front lines, speaking truth and power into what Black Liberation looks like. Sonia is a History and Psychology graduate of Spelman College. She has also earned a Master in Education and Teaching Credential from SF State University. After teaching for nearly 20 years, she became a lady boss launching ASCRIBE Educational Consultanting and EDIFY the Soul Speaking. She develops curriculum and programs for students in the most need, as well speak to the masses on topics related but not limited to youth development, education and life matriculation.
Flojaune Griffin Cofer is an epidemiologist who serves as the Director of State Policy and Research for Public Health Advocates. Her professional interest is address emerging and persistent public health challenges through research and policy. She is deeply committed to civic engagement and currently serves on the Board of Directors for two non-profits and is a member of a City Commission and a County Advisory Board.
performers
Porsche Kelly, aka The Poetic Activist, is a spoken word artist from Oakland, CA who is especially passionate about fighting racism, sexism and human trafficking. She has performed in a variety of spaces, including Adobe Software, the 1st Annual Black Women's March, Ted Talk, and the 2018 Jasmine Mans poetry tour. Porsche aims to speak truth with raw and unapologetic words, inspiring others to rise up and fight for justice.
Hundreds Unit are changing the lives of women, by providing them with extraordinary experiences and opportunities that they would only dream of having. They are a diverse network of hundreds of women who work out collectively for 8 weeks, to perform at MAJOR events. What makes their over 400 base of women unique is that they consist of ALL shapes, sizes, ages, and levels of ability, dancing as one UNIT in their own unique way!
The BlyueRose Dance Project is a community based project that is on a mission to change the world one dancer at a time. We are so much more than a dance program. We are a confident and
creative movement full of personality, strength, expression and ability. We dance for a purpose and with a purpose.
The foundation of this group comes from the name “Mino Yanci” which figuratively and literally means “musical freedom.” The four-piece band makes music that represents who they are and what they stand for, and take listeners on an incredible musical journey. Innovative but authentic, Mino Yanci reminds us what truly makes jazz an artform. The color and complexity of sound on their latest release tells a story that everyone should hear. The band proclaims: “You are welcome to define what our music is to you. But as for us, we just want to be free.” They’ve toured to SXSW with Sofar Sounds, played the San Jose Jazz Summer Festival, and performed a show at the SF Jazz Center that received a standing ovation for their tribute to Muscle Shoal Studio.
Vadia Rhodes was born in Oakland, CA. She was raised by a Playwright and a Preacher. Vadia has always had a unique and artistic approach to her Gospel, Jazz and Inspirational music. Vadia has shared the stage with the likes of Tonex, Doobie Powell, Erica Campbell, Mali Music, Walter Hawkins, and many more. She is soon to release a collaborative EP with Mino Yanci.
Samiyah Lowe is an 8-year old singer and aspiring gymnast who is taking the world by storm! She is a dedicated Girl Scout and also sings soprano in the St. John’s Baptist Church Youth Choir. Samiyah loves spending time with her family, reading, and drawing her favorite YouTube characters. Aside from singing and performing poetry, Samiyah loves to write and dance.
BIO COMING SOON
Tantalizing accurate percussion are the words that are often used to describe the Grant Union High School Drum Line. It was started in 2009, to complement the powerhouse football team that was number one in the nation. Today, the Grant Drum Line has taken over the limelight and is now the diamond of the school. The Drum Line is made up of 15 to 22 students, and it is led by James M. Van Buren! They have performed on: Jimmy Kimmel Show, Yolanda Adams, Johnny Gill, Matsuyama and Go Go Shima Japan, 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s Rally, and more.