Our Speakers and Performers

Rooted in the practical and the possible, Melissa Ferrer (&)’s spoken word poems and songs are mostly meditations and responses to the world around her and her own internal journey. She has performed on stages internationally, competitive and non-competitive. Recently, she’s been yearning to set down her ego and replace it with a jubilation of the spirit. You can celebrate with her on instagram @mamma_orso7.

Crystal Rozelle – Bennett, LMSW is the founder and CEO of
THRYVE, LLC, bringing over 20 years of experience
with youth and families to the role. She is committed to advocating for and empowering individuals and communities.  Through coaching, consultation, presentations and workshop facilitation, Ms. Bennett has worked with thousands of professionals, across the nation, to promote the delivery of trauma informed, culturally inclusive and person-centered strategies and services.  Her areas of expertise include Human Trafficking, Suicide Prevention, Child Trauma/Maltreatment, Motivational Interviewing, Racial Trauma, Cultural Humility and working to dismantle systems of white supremacy to promote equity and justice.

Dr. Wilcox is the Founder/ Chief Executive Officer of Confluency Consultants and Associates, a consultancy enterprise that provides comprehensive Multicultural Organizational Development and Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching services. The primary mission of her consultancy is to integrate multicultural competency into organizational life by bringing people together across cultural differences in the workplace and within communities, and to enhance decision-making through the sustained deliberative dialogue.

Dr. Wilcox has conducted numerous professional development workshops and applied research projects. Dr. Wilcox was recently awarded the 2020 The New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) Board of Directors Quincy Boykin Memorial Award for her contributions to mental health recovery, empowerment, and integration of the full diversity of all people with mental health and trauma-related challenges. She was also awarded the 2014 Multicultural Award of Distinction from the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA), which recognizes her outstanding contribution to the field of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Her research areas include Mental Health Wellness and Recovery, African-Centered Rites of Passage a Therapeutic Approach for Youth and Families, Group Process; and Wellness and Resilience Story Circles

Dr. Wilcox serves on a wide variety of professional councils and boards. She holds a Doctorate Degree in Education (PhD); Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) in Community Clinical Counseling from Kent State University Graduate College of Education, Department of Counseling and Human Development. She also has a Masters Degree in Public Administration (M.P.A) from the School of Business and Management at Kent State University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) in Sociology and Political Science from Fisk University, Nashville, TN.

Erica Baker is an entertainment lawyer that has an interest and passion for all things creative. As a singer, songwriter, and musician, Erica is invested in the arts community, which affords her a unique perspective and approach to the practice of law. Erica earned a Bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in business from Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University School of Law. 

Attorney Erica Baker is passionate about educating and representing the arts community at large. She understands the perspectives and needs of creatives, and she uses her legal knowledge to help protect and advocate for them. Her commitment is to fight for clients just as hard as she would fight for herself. She believes that law doesn’t have to be complicated, and she wants clients to gain understanding and be empowered. In her opinion, no business is too small and all creativity deserves protection. 

Cecilia-Ananya Belser-Patton is the Principle and Culture Curator of JUST Systems, a systems change management, capacity building and sustainability consulting firm who specializes in Restorative Practices, specifically REDI+A: Race, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion + Accessibility Development; Restorative and Social Justice framework and implementation; leadership development and strategic systems change.

JUST Systems provides lectures, workshops, organizational development, transformative leadership coaching, and grassroots strategy development and coalition formation designed to build equity and create systems change.

As the Director of Leadership Development for Alive & Well Communities, Cecilia is committed to the Social Emotional Wellness of all stakeholders, and applies these practices through a Trauma Informed and Restorative lens. She advocates strongly for everyone’s ability to empower and advance themselves through awareness, organization, mobilization and action.

Ed Mabrey is an actor, author, speaker and modern-day renaissance artist. He is accepted as the greatest poet in the history of poetry slam with over 500 wins in his career, including 4 individual world titles and 6 consecutive individual regional titles.

Ed has performed and spoken for Fortune 500 companies, universities and colleges, national ceremonies, and open mics while being featured in various television broadcasts and comedy showcases. He is an NAACP Image award nominee and Emmy nominee, two-time TEDx speaker, contributing author to a New Your Times bestselling anthology, two-time finalist in The World Series Of Comedy held in Las Vegas and 2019 APCA Spoken Word Artist of the Year. Ed has worked with over 200 colleges and five K-12 school districts to develop poetry curricula.

Ed is also the host of our JoyUs Gala.

Dianna Tyler, also known as Goddess Warrior The Poet, developed the courage to openly speak about the pain she endured as a domestic violence survivor as it spilled through her pen in 2012.  As a performing artist speaking out against violence of all kinds, she has captivated audiences for almost 10 years with her themes of faith, strength, determination and the sheer will to never give up. 

She is the 2021 Chicago Music Awards “Best Spoken Word Artist” and writer and co-producer of her own poetic short film, “The Toughest Job In The World.”  She is a published author, open mic host, director of a spoken word stage play, blog contributor, recording artist and mom to twin boys.