Guggenheim Fellow Tommie-Waheed Evans' work explores blackness, spirituality, queerness & liberation. His training began with Karen McDonald, later receiving an Ailey School fellowship, and an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University. A former company member of Lula Washington Dance Theater, Complexions, and PHILADANCO, he's created works for BalletX, Dallas Black, DCDC, and Ballet Memphis, among others. His awards include Resident Fellow at the Center for Ballet and the Arts, the Princess Grace Award in Choreography, and Joffrey Ballet Winning Works. He is an Assistant Professor at UArts and an Artist in Residence at PhiladDANCO.

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André Robert Lee is a Film Maker, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Writer, Educator, and executive producer of the NPR radio broadcast, "Notes from America". He has committed his entire career to building an army of change agents. His process includes Many Things; New York City Public Schools, The Ford Foundation, Miramax Films, Urbanworld, Film Movement, Diana Ross, BET, Universal, PBS, HBO, Sundance, Picturehouse, and Dreamworks. André directed and produced The Prep School Negro and served as producer on the documentary I’m Not Racist…Am I? André created The Election Effects Project for Paramount TV. André’s film award winning film Virtually Free is the story of incarcerated youth in Richmond, Virginia is still on the festival route. The Road to Justice is a film that documents the Civil Rights Tours André has led throughout the American South. He is the Executive Producer on this film. In the Spring of 2021, André Directed Firsthand: Realizing Your Full Potential Through Stem, a short documentary for Strayer Studies in partnership with Blackhouse (Sundance). André directed and produced This is Life with Lisa Ling for CNN. André is currently in development for a documentary project with artists Steven and William Ladd, a TV show about the influence of Drag on the fashion industry and a series on mental health in the California Department of Education. André also teaches Filmmaking at the Germantown Friends School. He has worked with the school to develop a film program for Middle and Upper School. André has also served as a Professor of writing at The Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.

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Dr Gilbert Coleman @drgilbertc walks in the office of apostle while serving as the Overseer of the Freedom Christian Bible Fellowship in Philadelphia, Pa and the presiding Bishop of the Freedom WorldWide Covenant Ministries. After pastoring Freedom for thirty years, the Lord expanded Dr Coleman's assignment to be a leader to leaders. Dr Coleman has always desired to see men fulfill their God-given role as spiritual leaders and still maintains that conviction. Transforming The Minds Of Men will always be a large part of this servants responsibilities; however, there comes a time when we all must answer the call to new seasons of ministry. The Lord's assignment for Dr Coleman, in this season, is to empower leaders and strengthen churches to engage the culture and manifest the Kingdom of God in all the earth.

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James Earl Davis is the Bernard C. Watson Chair in Urban Education at Temple University and Professor of Higher Education in the College of Education and Human Development. He also holds affiliate faculty appointments in the Department of Africology and African American Studies and the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Program. With an explicit concern for gender equity in education, his research has provided new insights into how social contexts of education inform racial and gender experiences and expressions, especially for Black boys and emerging adult men. More specifically, his work has investigated the construction of gender identity and its ties to engagement and performance at different education levels, from early learning to higher education. Davis’s current research focuses on gender-based education policy and reform; social stratification and urban neighborhood-university relations; and the intersection of schooling options and housing inequality. His work has been funded by varies agencies including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Education, Spencer Foundation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the William Penn Foundation. With research publications in numerous academic journals, books, and edited volumes, Professor Davis has sought to generate, leverage and trouble the field’s understanding of education pathways, the confluence of gender and race, and how broader contexts inform postsecondary possibilities. A former National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow and a Fulbright-Hays Scholar Davis’s scholarly work and professional contributions have been honored with the Warrior Award-International Colloquium on Black Males in Education, Distinguished Research Career Award-Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers, Association for the Study of Higher Education Distinguished Mentor Award, American Education Research Association’s Distinguished Contributions to Gender Equity in Education Research Award and AERA Fellow status. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in advancing collaborative university relationships with schools, districts and community-based organizations, increasing external grant-funded for research and service initiatives; mentoring and supporting early career faculty and graduate students, and developing university place-based strategies and partnerships. Professor Davis holds a BA in Sociology from Morehouse College, a Ph.D. from Cornell University, and completed post-doctoral study in the Division of Education Policy at the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ.

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Tony Moore hails from the city of brotherly love Philadelphia Pennsylvania and has dedicated his life to music from a young age. Tony’s dedication to his craft has a forwarded him the opportunities to be a songwriter, gospel artist music producer in both TV and film and so much more Tony’s goals in life is to gift back to his community, the culture and the world through the magic of music.

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EPISODE 161 Quran Dean - A passionate and driven 23-year-old born and raised in West Philadelphia, he earned an Associate's degree in Business Administration and Management from the Community College of Philadelphia in 2023. Currently, he works in the real estate industry as a tenant service coordinator for a global commercial real estate company, a role he began in December 2023. Prior to this, he spent nearly three years working at a 12-story complex, where he gained valuable experience and knowledge that helped him qualify for his current position and embark on his career journey.

Outside of his 9-to-5 role, he is actively working toward building a lifestyle brand with his two partners, Chad Feggins and Naiser Dean. The brand focuses on the personal growth and empowerment of inner-city youth, with the goal of uplifting and inspiring individuals to discover their true selves through music, content creation, and activities centered on health and wellness.

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EPISODE 83 Nashid Furaha Ali, native Philadelphian, Gratz High School graduate, attended Northwestern University, graduated from Wilberforce University. Nashid has had multiple career experiences: Social Worker, Community Worker, Merchant, Storyteller, Jewelry Artist, Teaching Artist. Nashid is married and he and his wife enjoy 7 children and several grandchildren. Nashid enjoys meditation, Vegan healthy living, music listening and playing, learning and acquiring knowledge, people, family, culture, Life and Living!

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Raheem L. Manning is a dynamic leader in business development, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, with a deep passion for enhancing Philadelphia’s cultural and economic landscape. As the City’s first Nighttime Economy Director (Night Mayor), Raheem plays a pivotal role in shaping Philadelphia into a thriving, diverse, and globally competitive hub for arts, culture, and nightlife. Since his appointment on July 11, 2022, Raheem has led public engagement efforts, developed strategic governance plans, and advocated for policies that attract and retain companies within the city’s nighttime economy. His work focuses on making Philadelphia a more welcoming and vibrant destination for all.

Raheem’s journey in public service began with his role as Co-Chair of the City’s Arts and Culture Task Force, where he served for two fiscal years. In this capacity, he coordinated with City leadership and legislators to drive initiatives that strengthened Philadelphia’s arts, culture, and nightlife sectors. His collaborative efforts resulted in nearly $3 million in direct grant funding to over 1,500 individual artists and 60 small and medium-sized arts and culture organizations. The creation of the Nighttime Economy Director role was a direct outcome of his visionary leadership within the Task Force.

In addition to his public service, Raheem is the founding CEO of The Weekender Experiences, LLC, a global travel, entertainment, and events management company dedicated to providing innovative leisure travel services and curated events for Black professionals. Since its founding in 2014, The Weekender Experiences has successfully organized dozens of national and international trips, contributing to the $46.4 billion increase in African American leisure travel from 2018 to 2019 and introducing over 3,000 Black Americans to the transformative power of travel. Raheem’s extensive travels have taken him to over 200 cities across six continents, giving him a broad perspective that informs his work in Philadelphia and beyond.

A proud native of West Philadelphia, Raheem holds a Bachelor of Arts from Clark Atlanta University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Thomas Jefferson University, and a certification in International Business from East China Normal University in Shanghai, China. As a first-generation high school and college graduate, Raheem is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He has volunteered thousands of hours supporting youth-based initiatives in Philadelphia and has played a key role in raising over $200,000 in donations to help students at his alma mater, Philadelphia Overbrook High School, attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Raheem’s leadership and impact have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including being named a 2022 Philadelphia Business Journal 40 Under 40 award recipient, a Clark Atlanta University 2022 40 Under 40 alumni award recipient, and a 2022 Philadelphia Tribune Top 10 People Under 40 to Watch awardee. He also serves on numerous executive and non-profit boards, including the Pennsylvania Prison Society, the Elvira B. Pierce Scholarship Fund, the Overbrook Alumni Association, and the Nighttime Culture and Policy (Nitecap) Board.

In addition to his professional and civic commitments, Raheem is an adjunct professor at the Drexel University LeBow School of Business, where he shares his expertise in business strategy and urban development with the next generation of leaders. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Philadelphia, Raheem embodies the values of leadership, service, and community empowerment.

Raheem Manning is dedicated to making Philadelphia a vibrant, inclusive, and globally recognized destination for arts, culture, and nightlife. His work continues to inspire and create lasting change in his hometown and beyond.

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