The Black Landscape

Jameelah Lane was born and raised in Oakland, CA. She is an educator, entrepreneur, professional artist, and community leader.  She is the CEO/Founder of MELANAID and co- founder/worker owner of the DEEP Grocery Co-op. As a visual artist, professional dancer and poet/storyteller Jameelah is always learning new ways to uplift and transform the community. Jameelah’s current interests are astrology, numerology, food sovereignty, gardening and nutrition education. Her long term vision is to Co-own land that will help sustain individuals and families in an ancestral and restorative healing living commune that supports an all-natural lifestyle.    To keep in touch follow her on Instagram & Facebook @karbonkween, @melan_aid, @thedeepgrocerycoop

Nakia Dillard is the founder of Magnetic Woman Coach and Goddess Crowns By Nakia. She helps Black women put themselves first, be more bold and courageous, and leap into their next chapter. Through her services at Magnetic Woman Coach, she provides private coaching, workshops, and facilitating an annual group coaching program. Whether rocking their crowns or experiencing Nakia‘s coaching, women feel like the goddesses that they are. They know that they are cared for and more importantly, that they have the power within themselves to honor themselves their beauty, self love and purpose.  Nakia Dillard has over 15 years of experience impacting the lives of others through her service in public health, youth development, as well as social and food justice work. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Community-Based Health Education. She is a Black woman walking in and committed to her calling. Magnetic Woman Coaching Goddess Crowns

Sarah Crowell is a retired professional dancer who has taught dance, theater and violence prevention for over 30 years. She is the Artistic Director Emeritus at Destiny Arts Center in Oakland, where she served in different capacities from 1990-2020, including Executive Director. She founded and co-directed the award-winning Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company, which was the subject of two documentary films. Sarah facilitates arts integration, anti-racism and team building professional development sessions with artists and educators, both locally and nationally. She has received many awards, including the Bay Area Dance Week award, the Alameda County Arts Leadership award, and the National Guild for Community Arts Education Milestone award. She is a four-time finalist for a Tony Award for Excellence in Theater Education.     Sarah performed and toured with Impulse Jazz Dance Company in Boston and the Dance Brigade in San Francisco. She also co-directed the dance/theater company i am Productions! Instagram Destiny Arts Center

Poet, actor, creative and Classic Man, Michael Wayne Turner III has been described in “The Examiner” as “remarkable, dynamic and real....Turner is maximally obsessed with character...his impact resonates and questions churn long after patrons leave the theater.” The SF Chronicle describes Michael as one “with a magnetic deep-dyed earnestness and almost otherworldly innocence". Instagram Honor Road Dandy Lion EP

Rev. Vickia Brinkley is a Community Organizer and Clergy person, with a demonstrated history of providing service and problem-solving talents in the Higher Education, private sector and retail industries. Singer-songwriter and Social Justice ministry public speaker, she leads as the Pastor of True Faith Community Baptist Church in Antioch, CA. Walk with Me album True Faith Community Baptist Church True Faith Facebook True Faith Youtube Channel

Derick Morgan is the Policy Associate for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He provides leadership on campaigns to expand principles of truth and reinvestment at the state level. Before joining EBC's staff, Derick contributed to campaigns to end mass incarceration volunteering with the Ella Baker Center. He also helped create a sober social space for adults in Berkeley.   Derick came to the US with his family and grew up in South Florida. His studies included economics and visual arts. Ella Baker Center Website Ella Baker Center Twitter

Tayleur is a poet, New Yorker and Howard University alumna.  Curating beautiful moments and threads throughout segments of her life, Tayleur began her career on the corporate marketing and merchandising teams at AARP, Gap and Banana Republic. Tayleur dedicated herself to becoming better at curating art-filled experiences for Black people through her organization, Gold Beams. Gold Beams curates events, experiences, programming and productions for Black creatives and her Black community at large. Her work with Oakland School for the Arts, events at the Oakland Museum of California and within Black Women-owned galleries are examples of this. Her goal is to be in inspiring spaces with inspiring people and to support Black creatives making careers from their art. Gold Beams Website Gold Beams Instagram

Jasmine Malone was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically the unceded land of the Me-Wuk (Bay Miwok) peoples. She attended Delta Academy for the Performing Arts and worked front of house at local theatres in the bay. She misses dance/acting class!!! Jasmine has been writing short stories and poetry for as long as she can remember. In 2020, she performed her poetry on IG live with da poetry lounge. As a co-founder of Black Vent Space, she plans her "scribble time" around writing social media posts and planning the next event! Black Vent Space Instagram Personal Instagram (@jasminexshantel)

An Oakland native, Adesha made her solo debut singing for hundreds of people at The War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco at the tender age of six. By age ten she had starred and co-starred in musicals, she sang a jingle for a commercial, and had performed solo at a few of San Francisco’s live music venues. Years of training from singing in church; vocal coaching from her mother Deltrina Johnson, a trained gospel singer; and numerous live performances would follow the training she received in her primary years.  To date Adesha has performed at a long list of venues from San Francisco to LA. She has been the opening act for Ledisi, Goapele, Gospel diva Kim Burrell, Kase, Anthony David, Carl Thomas, Jazmine Sullivan and more. Adesha has released a full length album entitled Giving Love a Try, a re-mix E.P. of the Giving Love A Try album, 2 additional E.P.s entitled Feeling You and Things 2 Consider, and a single entitled Just Groove, all of which are available on ITunes, Amazon Music, and Spotify. www.adeshamusic.com www.instagram.com/adeshamusic www.youtube.com/adeshamusic www.facebook.com/adeshamusic AlexisRose is an American inspirational pop singer-songwriter, born and raised in beautiful Oakland, CA. Beginning at the age of seven, AlexisRose began singing and performing for friends and family. This led her to begin performing in church and then going on to win many vocal competitions in her community and schools. She was honored to star in leading roles for plays and musicals, open up for headliners such as Tony! Toni! Toné!, Goapele and other big names such as John Madden, Steve Mariucci, Tom Hanks, as well as audiences of thousands. In 2017, AlexisRose released her first EP entitled Shades Of Love, an incredible project inspired by different angles of the heart. Her recently released single Radiant, is a beautiful expression about radiance for every woman under the sun. Check it out now on Spotify and most major sites. https://www.alexisrosemusic.com https://www.instagram.com/alexisrosemusic https://www.facebook.com/alexisrosemusic

Kevin Jenkins has served on the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees since December of 2020. Kevin is a proud alumni of the Peralta Community College District. He earned his Master’s of Public Administration from CSU East Bay and a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies and Planning from SF State University. Kevin has worked in local government for many years, working to influence systems to improve the lives of people from disenfranchised communities. Kevin currently works with local community based organizations to address societal inequities. His community involvement includes serving in leadership on the Alameda County Public Health Commission and Peralta Citizens Bond Oversight Committee. Learn more about the Peralta Community College District Board here. Learn more about the film, Last Chance U.

D’Shaun Campbell founded Succeed Consultant Firm to cultivate strong relationships with entrepreneurs and business owners. Campbell assists in vision execution from goal formulation to insuring process completion to success. Passion and undeniable skill presented D’Shaun with complimentary positions at multiple faith-based organizations including Dream Team Affairs, 1C13 Productions, Faith in the Bay, and currently Chief Operations Officer at Vision Center Church in Oakland, CA.  Join us as we talk about faith, entrepreneurship, and doing the work! Succeed Firm Website Succeed Firm Facebook Succeed Firm Instagram

Professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, and small business owner (Raycreations Greeting Cards), Erik Lee's artistic work aligns with but is not limited to the culture of the Bay Area: socio-political activism, spirituality, and artistic explorations of the African diaspora.  Join us as we talk about humble beginnings, the weight and joy of being a role model for children, and the undemanding ease of how he started his greeting card business. Website Ray Creations Instagram Vimeo

Tajianna Okechukwu (she/her) is an emerging actress and filmmaker. Join us as we talk about the duality of being behind and in front of the camera, bringing a Nigerian-American perspective to Hollywood, and that recent Jordan commercial! Website Instagram Music Video: Janel Chanté - "Queen" Jordan Commercial Shea Butter & Popcorn Podcast

Ave-Ameenah Long is a travel photographer and nonprofit administrator.  Listen in as we talk about global Blackness, travel photography, youth empowerment, and the movement for Black Trans Lives. Avé-Ameenah Long Instagram: @Keep_it_diasporac Oakland SOL Revival: Instagram @Oakland_SOL_Revival Music Video: Qing Qi - IDWIW (I Do What I Want)

Andre Spearman is a community organizer, Social Justice Warrior, nonprofit leader, and amazing father! Follow him and his nonprofit, A Journey to Success, on Facebook To learn more about labor unions, visit the SEIU Local 1021 website. To learn more about the Faith in Action Network, click here.

Noah D. James III (he/him) is deaf/ hard of hearing. He is a Sickle Cell Warrior whose artistic voice has grown and flourished into curating performance art, poetry, and a thriving podcast. His mission is to encourage and uplift sickle cell, chronic, and mental health warriors to continue to to pursue life.  He is the Co-Artistic Director of Visceral Roots Dance Company and has toured, taught, and thrived as a professional dancer for over a decade. His book, The Gift of Pain: Bookmarks of a Sickle Cell Warrior Vol.1 is available now on Amazon. Inspired by his own journey, Noah serves as a life coach and chronic pain advocate within various communities. Book: The Gifts of Pain: Bookmarks of A #SickleCellWarrior Vol. 1 Website: VisceralRoots.org Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter: @VisceralRoots @iNoahplace

Regina Evans is a native of Oakland, is a Poet, Playwright, Actor, Entrepreneur, Modern Day Abolitionist and a Survivor Leader in the fight against sex trafficking. She is the Founder of Regina's Door, a vintage boutique located in downtown Oakland. Regina's Door is an artistic safe haven and healing sanctuary for at-risk youth, homeless youth, young Oakland Creatives and survivors of human trafficking. Regina Evans: Facebook.com/reginasdoor Twitter.com/echojustice