Next Big Thing with Courtney & Dara

27 Sep 2015

Who’s Up Next? Zahra Noorbakhsh

By robyn

Comedian, writer, and feminist Zahra Noorbakhsh has contributed to the NYTimes, active in the San Francisco Bay Area comedy scene and cohost of new podcast "Good Muslim, Bad Muslim". This comedian and performer first started making headlines when her one women show "All Atheists Are Muslim" was the highlight of the New York Fringe Festival. She currently a member of SF Grotto where she teaches storytelling and comedy. This multifaceted performer is doing many exciting things and we

Who’s Up Next? Kenneth Wiggins

By robyn

Kenneth Wiggins is the Founder of Black Stock images a company with a mission to provide diverse stock photos featuring Black people. Based in D.C., Wiggins is a creative entrepreneur with expertise in interactive design, front-end engineering, brand strategy, and product development. Like most great business ideas, Black Stock Images grew from Wiggins quickly growing tired of searching for quality images that also felt authentic. Wiggins noticed that the lack of representation was widespread and

Who’s Up Next? Lisa Mae Brunson

By robyn

Last week San Francisco hosted the Tech Inclusion conference highlighting diversity in tech. One person who definitely should be held up as a model for tech inclusivity and diversity is Lisa Mae Brunson. Founder of Wonder Women Tech, EqualityTV, Hacks 4 Humanity, and Wonder Women Hacks. She has contributed to the Huffington Post, had her conference featured locally on CBS and NBC Los Angeles, and advocates for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, ARTS, and math) education. Lisa

Who’s Up Next? Kaya Thomas

By robyn

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

Who’s Up Next? Terence Nance

By robyn

Independent filmmaker and music video director Terence Nance from a family of artists in Dallas, TX who is now based in Brooklyn. Terence’s first feature-length film, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, premiered at Sundance and won the 2012 Gotham Award for “Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You.” In addition to this work as an independent filmmaker, Terence also directs music videos, creates art installations, and performs music under the name Terence Etc.

Who’s Up Next? Angelica Ross

By robyn

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

Who’s Up Next? Michael Wayne Turner III

By robyn

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

Who’s Up Next? Brian Gerrard

By robyn

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

Who’s Up Next? Joaquina Kalukango

By robyn

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

Who’s Up Next? Kashmir Thompson

By robyn

“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