John is a two-time Emmy nominated filmmaker with an eye for documenting under-recognized creative communities. His biographical portraits have aired globally. Battle Sounds, his film about DJ culture, premiered at the coveted 1997 Whitney Museum Biennial.

Tracy is an accomplished entertainment journalist. With over 25 years of experience, she has written for numerous media outlets including the Associated Press, Essence, Rolling Stone, AARP, Broadway World Dance and Dance Retailer News.

Debbie is an actress, dancer, choreographer, director and producer, and currently an EP on Grey’s Anatomy. She has been awarded The 2021 Governors Award from the TV Academy, a 2020 Kennedy Center Honor, three Emmys, a Golden Globe Award, five NAACP Image Awards, a Drama Desk Award, an Astaire Award, and the Olivier Award! The Debbie Allen Dance Academy, is a non-profit committed to expanding the reach of dance to enrich, inspire and transform the lives of thousands of young people.

Charles is a TV and Broadaway Writer and Director. He directed Motown The Musical on Broadway, and was EP on the OWN series, Delilah. His writing credits include Blue, starring Phylicia Rashad and Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story. Charles is currently directing Trouble in Mind on Broadway, and in 2022 at Arena Stage he will direct American Prophet, a musical that chronicles abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Original Score, Composed & Produced by Allison Loggins-Hull. --- Allison is a versatile flutist, composer, and producer who has worked with artists including Lizzo and Hans Zimmer. She is a co-founding member of the GRAMMY-nominated duo, Flutronix. This season her work will be performed by the LA Phil, and the San Francisco and New Jersey Symphonies.

Reuben is a filmmaker and former entertainment lawyer. His documentary directing credits include ACORN AND THE FIRESTORM (PBS, ITVS ), SOUR GRAPES (Netflix), and BROTHERS HYPNOTIC, (PBS Independent Lens). He was selected for DOCNYC’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list and is a 2020 Impact Partners Producers Fellow.

Ron Gillyard is a marketing and media executive who has served as president of Urban Music at Interscope Records, head of Urban Music at J Records, and general manager at Bad Boy Entertainment. He produced the BeBe & CeCe Winans musical, Born for This.

Prue Arndt has uncovered footage and photos for numerous award-winning documentaries including, I Am Not Your Negro (2016 Oscar Winner), The Opera House, Project Nim, African-American Lives w. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley, and Free to Run.

Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso drummer whose artistry spans the realms of jazz and rock. She has recorded several jazz albums as a bandleader and has performed with Lenny Kravitz, Pharoah Sanders and Cassandra Wilson, and she currently can be seen on-tour alongside her husband and guitar legend, Carlos Santana.