Diversity

When she became Louisville Metro Police Dept. chief, she became the 1st PERMANENT female African-American police chief in KY. history!

Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel

Police Chief of Louisville Metro Police Deptartment

Interviewed: 02-23-2024

He has been at the helm of Leading for Diageo Investments within the Black community to achieve the goal of generating $2.4 billion in economic value!

Malcolm Ellis

Head of Diverse Investments-DIAGEO

Interviewed: 05-06-2023

Smokey is an iconic figure in the music industry, renowned as a legendary Motown singer, songwriter, & record producer. Born in Detroit, Michigan, where he later found fame & contributed significantly to the Motown sound.

Smokey Robinson

Legendary Motown Singer and Artist

Interviewed: 05-06-2023

Mrs. Eden Bridgeman Sklenar is owner, Chairwoman, & CEO of EBONY & JET & Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Manna Inc

Eden Bridgeman

Owner/CEO-Ebony Media

Interviewed: 05-06-2023

Star is an American lawyer, journalist, TV personality, fashion designer, author, & women's & diversity advocate.

Star Jones

American lawyer, journalist, celebrity TV personality, fashion designer, author, & women’s & diversity advocate

Interviewed: 05-06-2023

A nonprofit fundraising executive with proven results. She currently serves as Hosparus Health's (Louisville, KY.'s largest nonprofit) as SR. VP/Chief Dev & Mrktg Officer. Under her leadership, the Hosparus completed a $29 million campaign & over her career, Tawanda has raised over $200 million!

Tawanda Owsley

Senior VP/Chief Development & Marketing Officer for Hosparus Health

Interviewed: 01-20-2023

Born in Pakistan & raised in Southern California, & after only 9 months as Metro United Way's Dir. of Major & Legacy Gifts, she rose to this position!

A math tutor & frmr. GED Math Instructor with a Bachelor's in Mathematics from Spelman College & an MBA in Mrktg, Communication & Organizational Behavior at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon Univ. Brittany is a proud native of Detroit.

Brittany Rhodes

Founder & General MATHager of Black Girl MATHgic (BGM)

Interviewed: 09-01-2022

A 1st-generation Sri Lankan-American & Owner at Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites™ with Sam's spin on Southern classics & riffs on her mother's time-tested recipes. Tuk Tuk is 1 of the few Sri Lankan cuisine options in the U.S. & reflects Sam’s Sri Lankan upbringing in the American South.

Sam Fore

1st-Generation Sri Lankan-American-Restauranteur

Interviewed: 08-28-2021

Tawanda is a native of Zimbabwe, but has become an American immigrant success story! His favorite saying is that he enjoys mentoring young professionals to grow their wings “so they too can fly.”

Tawanda Chitapa

Zimbabwean Immigrant & American Healthcare I.T. Expert, Mentor, and Soccer Fanatic

Interviewed: 05-21-2021

Adria embodies hope, integrity, humanity & has focused her career on lifting some of society’s most vulnerable populations & being of service to others.

Di's personal goals have been to champion small business ownership & success by working to remove the obstacles that keep people from achieving the "American Dream."

Di Tran

Serial Entrepreneur, Computer Engineer, Mentor and Vietnamese Immigrant

Interviewed: 01-24-2020

Bin Furuya is best known as the original actor behind ULTRAMAN which was first broadcast in 1966.

Bin Furuya

Japanese Suit Actor-best known as “Ultraman”-Galaxycon

Interviewed: 11-24-2019

Speaking from a platform cast in heavy metal power, hip-hop consciousness, & even a little reggae spirit, this Austin, TX. quintet urge for change through conveying a story that’s both personal & universal.

A.J. Channer

Lead Singer-Fire From the Gods-Heavy Metal Band-Louder Than Life

Interviewed: 09-29-2019

Braylyn Stewart, who creates under the artist name Resko, is a mural artist, tattoo artist & conceptual artist living & working in Louisville.

Braylyn Resko Stewart

Tattoo and Mural Artist- Louder Than Life

Interviewed: 09-27-2019

Amythyst’s commanding stage presence is matched by her raw & powerful vocals—a deeply moving, hypnotic sound that stirs echoes of a distant & restless past.

Amythyst Kiah

Eclectic Musical Artist-Bourbon & Beyond

Interviewed: 09-20-2019

Chef Jose Salazar was born in Colombia South America & was raised in Queens NY. Chef Salazar got his start in restaurants as a bartender & waiter at some of New York’s hottest establishments.

Jose Salazar

Chef & Restauranteur-Bourbon & Beyond

Interviewed: 09-20-2019

IMAJ, is a multi-talented Country singer-songwriter, visual artist, novelist, actress & humanitarian. Born in Miami Beach, FL to a model mother & actor father, 80’s TV icon Philip Michael Thomas (Tubbs of Miami Vice).

IMAJ

Country Music Artist-Hometown Rising

Interviewed: 09-14-2019

Josh celebrates the brilliance & strength of marginalized people including LGBTQ+ & Black communities through photography & collaborative storytelling.

Namm has been written about in The New York Times, The Economist, Slate, Business Week, Scientific American, The Atlantic & more. Naam is also the multi-award-winning author of five books, including "The Nexus Trilogy" science fiction novels.

Ramez Naam

Futurist & Computer Scientist

Interviewed: 05-21-2019

Linkin' Bridge is a musical group consisting of Louisville, Kentucky natives Big Rome, Montre Davis, Shon China Lacy, and Elliot Nicholas

Linkin' Bridge

A Capella Quartet Singing Group

Interviewed: 05-04-2019

Best known for role of Fez in sitcom That '70s Show (1998–2006) & as Carlos Madrigal in From Dusk till Dawn: The Series (2014–16). He was also host of MTV series Yo Momma (2006–07), He also has a role on NCIS as Nick Torres.

Wilmer Valderrama

Venezuelan American Actor, Producer, Singer & TV Personality

Interviewed: 05-04-2019

American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.

David Alan Grier

American Actor & Comedian

Interviewed: 05-04-2019

Ferdinand serves as the Executive Director for (TARC), the largest public transit agency in the Commonwealth of KY. Carrying 15 million annual passengers & is responsible for the ldrshp. & direction for all operations in the system.

Dr. Tuckson in 1995 organized The African-American Health Initiative, Inc, (TAAHI). The goal of TAAHI was to improve the "health IQ" or "health literacy” & encourage & foster more responsible participation, by patients, in their own healthcare.

Dr. Wayne B. Tuckson, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Former President- Greater Louisville Medical Society

Interviewed: 03-08-2019

William Kellibrew IV is an international advocate for civil, human, women, children, and victims’ rights.

William Kellibrew IV

International Advocate for Civil, Human, Women, Children, and Victims’ Rights

Interviewed: 09-28-2017

Anshu Gupta, popularly known as the Clothing Man, is the Founder of an India-based nonprofit Goonj and one of India’s leading social entrepreneurs.

Anshu Gupta

Founder, India-based Nonprofit Goonj & One of India’s Leading Social Entrepreneurs

Interviewed: 09-26-2017

Deep Cotton is an American funk duo based in Atlanta, whose members are Chuck Lightning and Nate “Rocket” Wonder. Part of the Wondaland Arts Society, they are also sometimes called the “Punk Prophets”.

Nate Wonder

Member, American Funk Duo, Deep Cotton

Interviewed: 09-26-2017

Nat Irvin, II has taught change management, leadership, future studies, and team dynamics since 2007.

Nat Irvin II

Author, Innovator, Futurist, Teacher, Commentator & Founder of Thrivals at IdeaFestival

Interviewed: 09-26-2017

A passion for wellness fuels Carlos Rivas.

Carlos Rivas

Owner & Chief Encouragement Officer of MyHeadCoach

Interviewed: 04-23-2017

Robbie Bartlett’s signature voice spans R&B, soul and jazz.

Robbie Bartlett

Band Leader, The Robbie Bartlett Band

Interviewed: 03-26-2017

Creativity, curiosity and discipline define Delanor Manson’s accomplishments across many fields.

Delanor Manson

CEO-Kentucky Nurses Assoc., Retired U.S. Navy Captain & Owner, Koi Gallery

Interviewed: 03-24-2017

Peng Looi followed his heart and became a world-class chef.

Chef Peng S. Looi

Frmr. Exec. Chef of Asiatique Rest. (1994-2018) & Ptnr. August Moon Chinese Bistro

Interviewed: 03-24-2017

Donald E. Lassere leads the Muhammad Ali Center and fosters its mission of building and expanding on the Center’s educational programs, partnerships, and other outreach initiatives.

Ingrid Hernandez delivers high quality design while building personalized client relationships.

Tyrone Cotton’s love of music and desire to create fuels his music and the songs he writes.

Tyrone Cotton

Singer, Songwriter and Musician, Tyrone Cotton Band

Interviewed: 04-17-2015

Judge Erica Lee Williams sees discipline and community service as core values grounding her career.

Judge Erica Lee Williams

District Court Judge, 30th Judicial District in Division 17

Interviewed: 12-12-2014

Elizabeth Kitzito sees her cookie business as a way to provide for her family here and in Uganda.

Elizabeth Kizito

Owner and Founder, Kizito’s Cookies

Interviewed: 12-12-2014

Dawne Gee grew up dreaming of working in communications.

Dr. James Calleroz White wakes up every morning excited about how education constantly changes to stay relevant to a student’s future.

Dr. James Calleroz White

Former, Head of School, Louisville Collegiate School (2013-2018)

Interviewed: 04-11-2014

Saul Garcia followed his dream of seeing people enjoying themselves while sharing a meal at his own restaurant.

Saul Garcia (1963-2021)

Co-Founder & Owner of the Los Aztecas & Sol Azteca Mexican Restaurants

Interviewed: 10-11-2013

Chef Edward Lee wakes every morning with a passion for his work, and for learning and discovering new things.

Chef Edward Lee

Internationally Renowned Chef & Founder of 610 Magnolia & Milkwood Restaurants

Interviewed: 10-11-2013

Vincenzo Gabriele and his brothers grew up with a love for fine dining, inspired by their father, a captain in the Merchant Marine.

Vincenzo Gabriele

Founder, Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant

Interviewed: 10-11-2013

Gerald Neal credits his parents’ commitment to the community as laying the foundation for his career in politics.

KY. State Senator Gerald Neal

Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate District 33 (1989-present)

Interviewed: 10-28-2011

As in-house counsel and corporate attorney for GE Consumer and Industrial, India Jewell serves on the employee community fund board at GE, supplying grants to non-profit service organizations.

India Jewell

Past GE Consumer & Industrial’s Counsel for Commercial Law (2006-2010)

Interviewed: 08-14-2009

Louisville Metro Council president David Tandy is fueled by the desire to serve his community and to leave it a better place for his children.

David Tandy

Past Louisville Metro Councilman (2005-2017) & 2009 Louisville Metro Council President

Interviewed: 07-24-2009

Angie Fenton is an award-winning and esteemed writer driven by a passion to serve her community.

Angie Fenton

President & CEO Extol Media

Interviewed: 12-05-2008

Georgia Davis Powers learned early life that to make changes you must be empowered.

Ed Hamilton has always been driven by a need to create and discover something new.

Ed Hamilton

Internationally Renowned American Monument Sculptor

Interviewed: 05-30-2008

Dr. Kevin Cosby is driven to see people grow and see their mind, life, and relationships transformed.

Ben Richmond fills a responsibility to steward his parent’s work in the civil rights movement and to further the principles and values taught by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Deepak Tiwari lives by the motto: wish, will, and determination is the law of success.

Deepak “D.T.” Tiwari

Indian-Born American Entrepreneur

Interviewed: 03-07-2007

Omar Ayyash sees himself as an ambassador and is passionate about helping people understand that the world is a global village.

Ed Manassah is motivated to succeed when he encounters a challenging issue.

Kimberly Bunton is a strategic thinker and planner driven by the pursuit of excellence and personal best.

Kimberly Bunton

Past Director, Louisville Metro Government’s Policy and Strategic Planning Department (2004-2009)

Interviewed: 05-24-2006

Raoul Cunningham has always been passionate about equality and making our system work.

Christopher 2X is driven by the plight of the poor and wants to help them transform their mindset.

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