The inaugural guest is Cherrelle e'Lan, actor, director and activist. She is a real friend of the show and is collaborating on several topics to tell authentic stories from the Black arts community. Cherrelle current resides in Los Angeles. Cherrelle's discussion centers around Black's in the entertainment industry and the economics of setting yourself up for success.

Bio

Cherrelle éLan is the voice of a new generation. 

Get to know Cherrelle:



• Cherrelle started her career behind the camera, in production at 20/20 and PrimeTime, as well as cutting-edge investigative journalism.
• Cherrelle received a Peabody Award while working with ABC's news team during the 9/11 Tragedy for her work in interviewing victims and heroes.
• Empowering a new generation, Cherrelle initiated the first High School Media Day, Hosted by The National Association of Multi-Ethnicity In Communications (NAMIC), and her Alma Mater The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, connecting students with broadcast professionals and media programs at top universities.
• Cherrelle is a Magna Cum Laude Graduate of Howard Unversity, B.A. Radio/TV/Film and earned her Masters Degree from Syracuse University, Newhouse School of Communications.
• Fun fact: Cherrelle is a member of the first African American Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, and assisted fellow sorority sister, and now Vice President, Kamala Harris during her participation at the 7th Annual Asomugha Foundation Gala.
• A Washington DC native, Cherrelle made her first national TV appearance on the Miss Teen USA Pageant on CBS, after winning the Miss Teen DC title.
• The first time performing Shakespeare, Cherrelle presented Hamlet’s final soliloquy with the British American Drama Academy, Midsummer in Oxford at Oxford University ‘23
• Cherrelle has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and she’s not afraid to use it.

In The Spirit of Woodson, Pierce, and Dubois: The Education & Economics of the Negro  PT 2 S1E6

Nydia Simone, Storyteller & Advocate

Nydia Simone is a storyteller. She studied theatre at the City College of New York where she was taught among a diverse talented class. After college she headed straight for LA where she hit a few road bumps that led her to writing and producing alongside acting. She worked for Byron Allen company Entertainment Studios where she gained the confidence to write, direct and produce her webseries "In This Life" which is now licensed by the Black And Sexy TV network online. And she starred and produced a short film "The Lost Book of Rap" which was accepted into the short film corner at the Cannes Film Festival. Last fall she directed and produced "La Bodega" a film that is currently in post production. Currently Nydia is also the Founder of the "@blactina" Instagram community which elevates and amplifies the voices of Afrolatinx and Caribbean people. Nydia is also an OG Charmed stan and still cries when Prue dies at the end of season 3.

Before founding GEMTrainers, LLC, a nonprofit executive coaching agency, Glenn Martin founded and served as president of JustLeadershipUSA, an organization dedicated to cutting the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030. For over two decades, he has been part of the vanguard of successful social justice advocates in America. His inspirational leadership has been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2016 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, the 2017 Brooke Russell Astor Award, and a 2014 Echoing Green Fellowship. Prior to founding JustLeadershipUSA, he was vice president of The Fortune Society, where he founded and led the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy. He also served as co-director of the National HIRE Network at the Legal Action Center. In addition to being a co-founder of the Education from the Inside Out Coalition, Glenn is also the founder of the #CLOSErikers campaign in New York City. Glenn’s bold, unflinching leadership is recognized by leaders from across the political spectrum. He is a sought-after public speaker and a frequent media guest appearing on national news outlets such as NPR, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, Al Jazeera, and C-SPAN.