The first thing you see on Kaya Thomas’ website is - Developer, Student, Mentor - however, Kaya is so much more than that, she is an inspiration. While still in her teens, Kaya was honored by First Lady Michelle Obama and others during last year's Black Girls Rock ceremony. The young ios developer and creator of the We Read Too app, highlighting diverse books with minority characters, has contributed to TechCrunch, interned at Intuit, and has

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While watching Melissa Harris-Perry on MSNBC, we were first introduced to Angelica Ross. The CEO and founder of TransTech Social Enterprises, a training academy, and apprenticeship program that aims to educate and employ members of the Trans community in media and tech careers. Trans people face astoundingly high levels of discrimination in all aspects of their lives but especially in employment. In doing this work alone, helping members of this community gain employment opportunities, Miss

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Renaissance man, Michael Wayne Turner III, is an award winning writer, poet, spoken word artist, actor, and educator. Taking on the starring role in Chinaka Hodge's Chasing Mehserle, Turner plays Watts a young man who doesn't feel safe in the world, hasn't gone past his Oakland stoop since the Rodney King beating and is obsessed with the Bart officer who killed Oscar Grant, Johannes Mehserle. The play is reminiscent of many of the anxieties felt

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Brian Gerrard, the CEO of a new tech company, BAE app is curated and targeted for people of color. Bae is a mobile app connected through Facebook, however, it’s goal is to take the quest for meaningful connection to this overlooked and demographic. With his brother, Justin Gerrard and CTO Jordan Kunzika, Brian hopes to change the market for Black men and women who are among the most technologically active but the least desirable group

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This broadway performer is currently appearing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater in the revival of The Color Purple as Nettie. This is not Joaquina Kalukango’s first Broadway show, however, this up and coming actress has had parts in Godspell and the short run of Holler If Ya Hear Me. As well as off-Broadway productions of the popular shows, The Wild Party and Hurt Village. Joaquina was recently featured in the New York Times’ “In

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“Everything in life is a piece of art” - Kashmir Thompson Kashmir Thompson is shaking up the internet with her graphic design. This young artist moved to Atlanta after graduating from the Cleveland school of Arts where she studied visual communications. Now focused on her graphic design Kashmir’s work is influenced heavily by popular and hip hop culture and if you’re a 90s child there is no doubt you’ll feel a nostalgic longing looking at

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The purity of Jennifer Johns’ voice is never lost within her music. This singer and artist is Oakland born and raised and that Bay Area swagger is present as she performs. Her music is influenced by the African diaspora, hip hop and soul. More than just an entertainer her music speaks to social justice causes and she uses her talent to bring awareness to the issues closest to her heart. It is this commitment to

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From the moment we found out about the New Orleans jazz/folk band, Tank and the Bangas, we knew that they needed to be featured as the Next Big Thing. Tank and the Bangas' music is high energy and based off the poetry of lead singer and magnetic on stage personality Tarriona "Tank" Ball. Their music is mesmerizing and the sonic embodiment of the New Orleans music scene. While describing the music, Next Big Thing host,

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Danielle Pinnock's one woman show Body/Courage began as a Master's dissertation - a documentary theater piece. It turned into something much bigger than that. Body/Courage took Danielle from the Birmingham School of Acting in the UK to New York where she won "Best Actress" at the Strawberry Theater Festival and finally to Chicago.Since moving to Chicago Danielle Pinnock has understudied at the Goodman Theatre, acted in shows at Profiles Theatre and have had the amazing

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Tahir Jetter is an exciting up and coming filmmaker. Tahir started getting buzz after his promising short film "Close", he caught the attention of our favorite Awkward Black Girl, Issa Rae. Issa helped push Tahir to the next level by included his web series "Hard Times" in her Color Creative initiative. This young filmmakers newest project is making waves as well, Occasionally Dating Black Women is an adaptation of a popular blog with the blog's creator

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