Ricki Fairley is standing at the very edge of radical change and she won’t rest until it happens. Until then, she remains relentless in her fight against cancer. Breast Cancer. Specifically and unapologetically… Black Breast Cancer. She is a stage 3A triple-negative breast cancer survivor turned educator/agitator/activist who runs a foundation, co-hosts a web series, sits on multiple boards, and always finds time to receive a call from anyone in her army of “breasties” who are in the heat of the battle against this dreaded disease.

The data points to the disparities black women are up against and to the reasons this fight is so important… According to a 2021 JAMA Oncology Study, Black Women with breast cancer have a 71% higher risk of death than White Women. And, according to the American Cancer Society, Black women under 35 get breast cancer at two times the rate of white women and die at three times the rate.

As CEO of Civic Nation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to ideas, policies and actions that lead to a more inclusive and equitable America, Kyle Lierman IS “the change he wants to see in the world”.

When Mahatma Gandhi delivered that quote in 1989 Kyle was 3 years old, but he grew up to embody all that it represents. Through initiatives like “It’s on Us” which combats sexual assault on college campuses… to “When We All Vote” which is closing the voting race and age gap… to “Made to Save” which ensures vaccine access and accurate information to the communities hit hardest by COVID-19, Civic Nation is literally building movements and causing good trouble. And Kyle Lierman is leading the charge.

But his work as a change agent didn’t start there. Throughout his career, Kyle has been deliberate about choosing roles that disrupt the status quo. He was a field organizer for “Obama for America”. He ran for State Delegate from his hometown of Bethesda, Maryland. And as a Staff Assistant in the White House Office of Public Engagement, he coordinated the Champions of Change Program, uncovering extraordinary stories of people and organizations that positively impact communities across the country.

We may disagree on issues, but it’s great that both of us energize students to get involved in the political process.” This quote, captured in a 2021 Washington Post article, reveals exactly who Adrian Klaits is… a seeker of common ground, a community leader and a good troublemaker. It’s one line from a brief but powerful exchange between Klaits, who was the 15-year-old vice chair of the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus and a representative from the Teenage Republican Federation of Virginia, that launched a collaborative movement, unlike anything the state had ever seen.

The story began in 2019 when Fairfax County Public Schools, among the country’s largest school districts, introduced a controversial policy that allowed students one excused absence each year for “civic activities” including protests. Pushback emerged. The policy became fodder for partisan politics and ultimately faced elimination. But two years later, Klaits’ words helped turn the tide toward taking the policy statewide instead. The movement garnered bipartisan support, with young Republicans and young Democrats testifying passionately before Congress, respectfully aligned in their common purpose to ensure all students, no matter what their political, civic or social affiliations, have the platform to express their beliefs and promote change.

https://thehumanist.com/features/interviews/centering-youth-engagement-a-conversation-with-a-young-teen-changemaker/

The mission of Daily Table is both straightforward and lofty… “to provide fresh, tasty, convenient and nutritious food to communities most in need at prices everyone can afford.” No one is better suited to deliver on that promise than Founder/President Doug Rauch. After a 31-year career with Trader Joe’s during which he developed the company’s private label food program, wrote its buying philosophy, led its nationwide expansion and served as its president when transformational leadership was most critical, Doug is equipped for any “lofty” challenge that comes his way.

He was a co-founding board member, and CEO for 6 years, of Conscious Capitalism Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating humanity through business; he is also a board member of several other nonprofit and for-profit boards. No doubt Doug has long been a champion of the underserved and a catalyst for change. But his innovative approach to bringing affordable nutrition to the food insecure by recovering excess wholesome food and passing along special pricing from grocers, growers, manufacturers and other providers to ensure affordable meal basics for families through Daily Table may be the most prolific example of his commitment to improving the world … one community at a time.

https://dailytable.org

Michelle Coles is a debut novelist, experienced civil rights attorney, social activist and mother of four little good troublemakers in the works. A 9th generation Louisianan, she is highly attuned to the struggles African Americans have faced in overcoming the legacy of slavery and the periods of government-sanctioned discrimination that followed.

She uses her skills as a lawyer to right wrongs. She uses her ability as a writer to empower and inspire young people to read, write and analyze. She uses her gift of storytelling to educate them about history, giving them the tools to shape their own destiny. She says “it is my responsibility to bring to bear all of my talents to encourage, inspire and combat as necessary to ensure that all young people have every opportunity to soar. That’s what I call getting into good trouble.”

Ask Linda Keene Solomon what message is most important to convey to kids from underserved communities and, without hesitation, she will say “STEM is for you, too”. In fact, for Solomon, STEM is more like a mantra than a message, worth repeating until it is an ever-present component of every child’s educational experience. She believes no matter what their career aspirations are, science-technology-engineering-and-math are “table stakes” for success for the next generation. That’s why she has personally mentored dozens of students… and why she founded STEMbiotic Communties, Inc., which is forging business and higher education partnerships to build a sustainable, community-based model for STEM literacy.

Solomon’s philosophy is not to “give back”, but to “take forward”. She has 25+ years of leadership, managerial, and board director experience serving the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors. As a black female pioneer and senior executive partner in the “Big Four” professional services industry, Solomon and her colleagues built a multi-billion dollar business and created jobs for thousands in the Washington, DC area. Consulting Magazine recognized her as one of the USA’s “Top 25 Consultants”. But, the opportunity to pour all that experience into her lifelong passion for empowering underserved youth is her greatest reward.

https://signitt.com/linda-keene-solomon/

When Alfred “Shivy” Brooks, II sees injustice, something stirs inside him that he can’t ignore. It could be because his father took him along to protests when he was barely old enough to understand the concept. Or it could be that he was simply born to be an activist. However he arrived, he is in a place today that personifies change leadership. And he is making moves that combat inequities and that promote criminal justice and education reform.

Because he saw injustice, Brooks couldn’t ignore the calling to found “Teachers for Good Trouble” which is focused on reforming schools and building justice-driven school communities. He couldn’t ignore the opportunity to join the Georgia-based task force “The People’s Uprising” to help end oppression. And, because he saw injustice, his membership in “NAACP Atlanta” was totally expected.

It was 1994. Amy Zeide heard a news story about a shelter that had been robbed the day before their holiday party. All of the gifts for their residents were stolen.

She asked her mother, “How can you steal from children living in a homeless shelter?” Instead of her mother saying “Oh, isn’t that sad?” she said, “Well, what do you want to do about it?”

Amy responded by using her allowance to buy gifts for the shelter to replace what had been stolen. The next year, she decided to throw her own holiday party; and with the help of Jewish Family & Career Services, she planned a party for 25 children with gifts, crafts and food. That was the first Amy’s Holiday Party.

Valencia Yearwood recently made her Broadway debut as a co-producer with the new, critically acclaimed play “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” and is dedicated to using her platform to help diversify the ranks of Broadway producers and investors. Valencia started her career as a dancer, joining the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she performed various soloist roles. Her television appearances include FBI, Lincoln Rhyme: Bone Collector, FBI:Most Wanted, Law and Order SVU, The Guiding Light, The Cosby Mysteries, and various independent films. She has appeared in numerous national and regional commercials, including US Census, Verzenio, Liberty Mutual, Capital One, Colonial Penn, Footlocker, Santander Bank, Advair, Hotels.com, Verizon, FedEx, BJ’s Warehouse, Publix, New York Lotto, and Partnership for a Drug Free America. Her voice-over work includes Nickelodeon, McDonald’s, Goodwrench, Soft Sheen Carson, Grand Theft Auto, and BellSouth. Valencia’s Broadway credits include The Lion King and Once Upon a Mattress. She is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, and New York Women in Film & Television. Valencia Yearwood is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

Her work closely mirrors her service as Valencia currently serves on the Dance Advisory Committee for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ. She has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of 651 Arts in Brooklyn, New York, and on the Programming and Educational Advisory Committees of the South Orange Performing Arts Center located in South Orange, New Jersey. Creating the space for new voices, narratives and images, Valencia charges forward with her expertise to give others a platform.

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valencia-yearwood-b679031a/

Through the Black Economic Alliance, BEA, America’s most successful Black CEOs and business leaders are on a mission to create a new economic infrastructure that will facilitate sustainable wealth building for Black Americans—and all Americans—focusing on improving work, wages, and wealth. “We must continue to march on every platform we have—in the streets, in the halls of Congress, in corporate boardrooms, and with our votes—so we can finally achieve social and economic justice.” These were Clunie’s closing remark on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the 57th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, just weeks after George Floyd’s murder last year.

Clunie brings to bear his experiences as a corporate and civil rights lawyer, campaign and political strategist, Barack Obama appointee at the White House and the U.S. Treasury Department, and a managing director at America’s largest bank to lead BEA’s efforts to harness public, private, and nonprofit resources to create systems change in Black wealth building across sectors. Since its founding in 2018, BEA has made the business case for closing the Black-White wealth gap—illustrating that fixing this problem is not only a moral imperative, but also a necessary component of any sustainable growth strategy for the U.S. economy. Clunie has played an integral role advising public policy, philanthropic commitments, as well as research and programs aimed at advancing Black economic mobility; and importantly, he continues to use his platform to hold institutions accountable to follow-through on their commitments to dismantle systemic racism.

Instagram: @d_clunie, Twitter: @davidgclunie, Facebook: @blackeconomicalliance

Linked In: BEA LinkedIn, David’s LinkedIn

A social entrepreneur and former White House official with roots in rural Georgia, Michelle is often described as a “relentless agent for change,” she’s building an equitable clean energy future as CEO of Groundswell by connecting clean energy and resilience with affordability and quality of life. Her vision for Groundswell was inspired by observing the contrast between the sun’s abundance compared to the exclusivity of solar power, and asking how can we do better by “loving our neighbors as ourselves” using solar energy. As a result, since joining Groundswell in 2015, Michelle has created new, equitable solar models that share power, savings, and opportunity – putting clean energy to work restoring communities and putting families with low and moderate incomes first. Her team currently serves more than 5,000 households in five states with clean energy savings exceeding $2 million per year.

Michelle grew up in LaGrange GA, a small town in West Georgia that was hollowed out in the 1980s when the cotton mills – where her grandparents worked their whole lives – left town. After completing her Masters at Georgetown, she lived out her worst nightmare by moving back home to LaGrange to work for a textile company. It was, however, Interface Inc. working for Founder Ray C. Anderson, which enabled her to see up close and in person how one man’s commitment to making his company the first sustainable enterprise in the world could transform an industry. When Michelle left the White House team, she shifted gears and joined Groundswell to build community power.

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmichellemoore

Matiangai Sirleaf is the Nathan Patz Professor of Law at the University of Maryland School of Law. Professor Sirleaf writes and teaches in the areas of global public health law, public international law, international human rights law, international criminal law, post-conflict and transitional justice and criminal law. Professor Sirleaf previously served as an associate professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, as an assistant professor of law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and as a Sharswood Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Through her work she seeks to make visible the hierarchies and inequities embedded in law and policy and remedy them, domestically and abroad.

One of Professor Sirleaf’s current lines of research is the disproportionate distribution of highly-infectious diseases and the role of law in facilitating this result. She has several forthcoming and recent law review articles, book chapters, and online publications in this area. Professor Sirleaf also serves as an editor at Just Security. Professor Sirleaf is editing the first thematic print volume in a new partnership with Just Security and OUP Academic, which builds off her Racing National Security symposium. Race & National Security will be forthcoming with Oxford University Press in 2022/2023.

A graduate of Yale Law School, the University of Ghana Legon Center for International Affairs, and New York University College of Arts and Sciences, Professor Sirleaf has served in a number of attorney and fellow roles prior to entering academia. These roles include: Human Rights Fellow at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll (2010-2012); Law Clerk, Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, Constitutional Court of South Africa (2009-2010); and Bernstein Fellow at the International Center for Transitional Justice (2008-2009).

Social media/articles: http://ssrn.com/author=1380778

Born in Mexico City, this affordable housing advocate started The Resurrection Project, in 1990 with seed capital from area parishes totaling $30,000. Today the organization leverages hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in communities by making affordable housing a reality in Chicago. Raymundo has seen Pilsen transform dramatically in the 45 years he has lived there, from a neighborhood with high rates of gang violence, poverty, and disinvestment to a neighborhood with new restaurants and art galleries lining the streets.

As the CEO of The Resurrection Project, a non-profit organization that aims to build wealth in the neighborhood through connecting residents with low-interest loans and building affordable housing units, Raymundo has played a significant role in Pilsen’s transformation. His willingness to use his platform to speak out against the “offensive and threatening rhetoric against the migrant community” sets him apart in a time where immigration remains an area of tense focus in our nation. The Resurrection Project actively works to oppose immigration decisions that will have dire consequences on immigrant families and offer vital services to the many in need of immigration services. While Raul did not have a clear idea of what he wanted to do when he “grew up” he knew he wanted to help people, and indeed his mission and work are building stronger communities day by day.

An activist, graduate student and community organizer in Nashville, TN. Justin Jones came to Fisk University in 2013, where he received the John R. Lewis Scholarship for Social Activism. Inspired by his legacy of the student-led movement for civil rights, Justin became involved in campus and community groups spending his four years organizing student campaigns for the expansion of healthcare in Tennessee, the repeal of restrictive state voter ID laws, and community accountability in cases of police brutality against unarmed Black victims.

Justin served on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign and has led actions at the Legislature, and across the South, for the expansion of Medicaid. In 2015, Justin helped file a federal lawsuit against the State of Tennessee for its restrictive voter ID laws that targeted students. He is past chair of the Nashville Student Organizing Committee and received awards from the TN Human Rights Commission, ACLU-Tennessee, TN Alliance for Progress, Fisk University Alumni Association, the Vanderbilt Organization of Black Graduate Students, and the Nashville NAACP. You can often find Justin Jones using the hashtag #goodtrouble as he spreads the word around his activism and efforts to address inequities. His work centers on service and leadership, pushing back on false narratives to paint a picture that he is a “danger to public safety” because of his tireless appeal to exercise his rights.