Annie Agar is forging her own path in sports media. When the world was experiencing a lack of sports during the pandemic, Annie’s sports comedy videos ignited social media. The Grand Rapids native became an internet sensation for her parody sports video sketches. Annie’s rise represents the possibilities for non-traditional content creators. Annie built an identity through her personality and creativity, with the goal of bringing happiness to people through sports and comedy. Social media can provide a platform and be a positive connection for people during difficult times.

Deirdre Roberson is a Chemist and Fashion Designer born and raised in Detroit. Her work is dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown people around the world through science, design and creativity. She is the founder of EUMELANIN, is a fashion brand that infuses science by using the chemical structure of Melanin in its designs, and Co-founder of The Lab Drawer, an Ed-Tech monthly subscription box full of cross-functional learning experiences for children ages 10 – 14.

Darnell is a veteran law enforcement professional serving as a Police Officer and Law Enforcement Specialist. He has helped develop curriculum and led training for departments throughout Michigan. He is an adjunct professor at Macomb Community College, as well as the CEO of PRAT International where he facilitates training on implicit bias, verbal de-escalation, stress management, and more. He earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology from Michigan State University and his MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Julie is a Therapist and Speaker who gets right to the heart of the human struggle. She helps people connect more deeply to themselves so they can live with more health, clarity and peace. Julie has consulted with businesses ranging from global corporations to wellness spas across the region.

Ashwin Asokan has been playing the guitar for 29 years and was the lead guitarist for bands in India and the US. He is also a composer for short films and a music teacher. Dhaya Sridharan has been playing the veena for 18 years and has performed in concerts in Singapore and the US. Dhaya is also a prevention educator for Intimate Partner Violence, blogger, runner, and a happy mom. 3 years ago, Ashwin Asokan and Dhaya Sridharan lived 10,000 miles apart and then the universe conspired to bring them together in love and music – “Strings Attached”

A 10-year-old literacy influencer from Detroit, Karter is the CEO of Popcorn and Books – a subscription box encouraging kids to read more and to enjoy reading one book at a time. Karter made it his business to fight the literacy problem after learning his fellow third-graders were struggling to read. Now a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Karter has launched ‘Build A Kid’s Library’ where he sends high-quality, age-appropriate books to kids in Detroit. and its surrounding areas once a month at no cost to their families.

As a career police officer with experience spanning three decades, Chris has served in a multitude of positions including: corrections, patrol, narcotics, criminal investigation, elder abuse, and command operations. As Sheriff, Chris has made it his mission to bridge divide through unity – by breaking the chains of generational incarceration and promoting social justice & police evolution.

Stephen McGee is a two time emmy award winning documentary photographer and filmmaker who’s films include Anthem of Us and Move Here Move the World. He has traveled to 39 countries for work, 45 states and almost every Detroit neighborhood. His recent project “Resurgo” is an interactive, multi-platform, phased release of curated imagery and audio from the 16 years of Detroit’s journey he has documented. The 1.6 million photographs, personal field notes, hundreds of interviews and thousands of hours of footage document the transformative period of 2005-2021. McGee hopes to create a platform for residents to add their voice and images to to offset the headlines that dominated Detroit’s narrative for decades.

Eric Thompson Jr is a creative born and raised in Detroit. He wears many hats as an Author, Sports Coach, Mentor, Entrepreneur, Journalist, Public Speaker and Spoken Word Poet. Eric has been a writer for Top Flight Magazine, Fashion Music Culture Magazine and Urban Content Studios. Eric has authored and published Blame It On The Music and Emotional Black Guy. His main passion is encouraging and motivating youth using poetry and literature.

Amer Zahr is a Palestinian Arab American comedian, speaker, writer, academic, and adjunct professor at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He draws on his experiences growing up as a child of Palestinian refugees, performing and lecturing on topics like politics, society, culture, identity, Palestine, Islam, and more.