Jhoana Geronimo is an untethered creative force developing her ability from a cultural conduit and Stylist, to Photographer, Videographer and Editor. Recently, Joey has cut her teeth as the Lead Art Director at Artsy Hoodrat a Digital Media company that encourages creativity in urban youth. Creating opportunities for women of color to advocate for their creative voice. Artistically, Joey has an unique approach pulling inspiration from underground nostalgia, diasporic exchange and her own Afro-Latina roots. Utilizing these interest to anchor her aesthetic, portraying women of color within their everyday existence as beautiful majestic and charismatic. Joey aims to present timeless art that connects a grounded reality to an imaginative future.

Efeosa Mitchell Iyalehkue is a creative from New Jersey specializing in experiential marketing, event curation, and creative support. With over a decade in experience, he creates and facilitates experiences that build community amongst Black and Brown creatives and entrepreneurs. Operating from the ethos of Ubuntu, he leverages his homegrown knowledge and commitment to innovation to create connection. His goal is to build a legacy based on deep and sustainable impact in local communities. As the Head of Events and Programming for Akin, he facilitates events that break the mold and reflect our revolutionary goals.

Jessica (Yesí) Argueta Florez is a multidimensional expressionist, born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. An ode to her lifestyle entity, Thee Idiomatic Blueprint, started off as a passion for fashion brand (Idiomatic Designs). However, as Yesi and fellow co-founder, Briana Velasquez, evolved, so did the direction of their brand endeavors. Yesi is specifically gifted in graphic design, excelling in Photoshop and video editing. She anticipates that her creative contributions will evoke positive ripples to the community and culture. Through collaborative efforts, she has learned that building community is the key to success. Yesí believes being a visionary means seeing what could be, what should be and what will be, despite what is.

A true magician with words, for Nicole Barnes, creating stories is comparable to breathing. The freedom to author her life has been her salvation. Beginning with short tales and poems paralleling childhood stories, grew with experience into poetry, pose, and various other forms of writing and creative expression. She was raised on fundamentals that emphasize the importance of community and culture which inevitably fueled her desire to captivate relevant stories from her community and beyond. Her experience at Howard University only affirmed what she innately knew growing up in Newark, NJ; that there is a largely unrealized power in community and ownership amongst black people specifically. As a result, Nicole co-founded a community organization, Brilliance in Black inc. , dedicated to highlighting the positive actions and gifts of those in the Black community. By means of collaboration and event production, Nicole’s work with Brilliance in Black inc. gift’s black entrepreneurs/creators the opportunity to create a progressive future on their own terms. Through her work with Brilliance in Black inc. and other collaborative projects, Nicole plans to expand creatively. It is her goal for young creatives to understand what has been a savior for her since she was young ; everyone deserves the opportunity to author their own life.

Malcolm A. Rolling is a multi-faceted American Artist best known for Urban Contemporary Afro Impressionism. Rolling’s creative lens relies heavily on the use of industrial tools and mediums frequently used on inner city streets. Rolling’s artistry is dedicated to minimizing the bridge between street art techniques and studio art practices by merging aerosol, ink, acrylic, airless sprayers, and repurposed materials. The artist depicts triumphantly vibrant narratives centered around underserved and under-resourced communities through condensed symbolism, iconography, expressionism and textures. Rolling is also an active Arts Administrator sitting as the Chief Operating Officer of YENDOR, an artist owned and operated production cohort, founded by the late Rodney Gilbert. Along with his supporting partners, Kareem Willis, Andrew Binger and Nicolette Lynch, Rolling has successfully transitioned the mission and vision of YENDOR, ushering in the next generation of visual and performing artists within the city of Newark, New Jersey.

Amanda’s vast creative background started from very early on in her life. Admiring fashion and film from a young age, Amanda began exploring talents such as photography and sewing. During her college career, she majored in Animation and pursued her own concepts within film and photography. In her photography work, she creates concepts she can visually see as frames from a film. Leaving the viewer with an iridescent view that goes against the norm. Working on projects ranging from set design, styling, and creative direction, Amanda makes sure her intention behind her work is clear. Combining these skills into her animations, Amanda crafts 3-dimensional concepts in both the digital and narrative world. Amanda’s unique approach to her work allows her to express her mind in various ways. As she continues to work and collaborate with other creatives, Amanda’s creative world is bound to expand.

Always equipped with high energy, warm charisma, and endless versatility, L.A. Rawls is a force to be reckoned with in any field. Between her natural beauty, extensive creative range, and adventurous nature, Miss Rawls is a vibrant vessel for whatever role she embodies. A renaissance woman, whose work is just as impactful on or off screen, LA is a muse in every sense. When she isn’t woo-ing the camera via acting or modeling, she assumes her other roles as a philanthropist with her nonprofit (Home of the Living) and an entrepreneur as co-owner and studio manager for an independent multimedia network, Darkside Industries. Her free spirit and passion bring out the best in those who work with her; allowing a vulnerable collaborative space making her an undeniable asset to any team. Considering all of the titles that are within LA’s skill set including singing and dancing, what remains constant is her devotion to art whether the project is personal or involving a team. L.A. Rawls is what being a mogul looks like.

Glenny P Cuello, Dominican born but New York raised, is the highly-skilled makeup artist for Artsy Hoodrat. Heavily influenced from her upbringing, Glenny cites her environment for her trademark ferocity, energy, work ethic, and style. Versatility is her brand. Going to high school around so many different culturally - expressive creatives is where she discovered how to translate that confidence through her style.

Her fearless expression caught the attention of several people early on, subsequently making Glenny a ‘go-to person’ for make-up tips and styling. Eventually, she began teaching make-up classes and styling for photo shoots, music videos, and various other creative productions. Glenny plans to expand her brand to include fashion/ styling, modeling and her other many talents. Through community, collaborations, and hustle it is Glenny’s aspiration to become a household name, whose brand represents the values that matter to her most ; being self-made, working hard and looking good while doing it.

Bernard Osei aka Bern Hardy is a visionary. His love for creating coupled with big dreams and determination led him to be the well-known and respected man behind the camera that he is today. Today, his reputation precedes him having worked on several notable projects, a host of music videos, and other media content for the company as well as other artists. Bern has had the opportunity to film several celebrity interviews such as Meg Thee Stallion, Birdman, Priyanka Corpra and Miley Cyrus to name a few. You can see his work on music videos such as "The Kill” by Ganero Ortiz, “ The Lottery’ by Nahscha and many more.

While photography is his first love, Bern cannot contain his passion for media and entertainment into one form. Subsequently, he has co-founded, WRLD WLKRS Studios and WRLD WLKRS Music, a brand and production company meant to be a ‘one-stop shop for all media content.

Ian Crawford, more affectionately known as Nomad to friends and collaborators, was born and raised in Plainfield, NJ. He is a versatile creative, specializing in graphic design, branding, art direction, and creative direction. With over a decade of experience, he tells stories using various mediums but his main methods of execution are design, illustration, and apparel.

When not in front of his computer, you can find him on the basketball court, seeking inspiration in thrift shops, or unleashing his creativity via music production as Brwnsagemusic.

Marion Smith, creatively known as Marion the Barbarian is an adventurous thrill seeker with an unwavering passion for art & design and the trained eye to create it. Having worked in art and design for 5 years, he is highly skilled at strategizing and designing experiences for digital and performance marketing for several companies such as Spitball Advertising, Brooklyn Nets, and MMI Agency, to name a few. Marion uses his aesthetic expertise to develop brand identities by establishing visual cohesiveness throughout advertising efforts. He works directly with clients to manage project objectives, strategy development, and implementation across the universe. Additionally, he has experience coordinating the development of design assets on social media , as well as spearheaded the collaborative process of in-house creative teams and solo freelance projects.

The router of people and things, this is Vie. After a decade of independent musicianship the rapper and producer set his sights on new goals entering the 2020's. Turning his family home in Elizabeth, NJ into the ground zero for local creatives, Vie along with his childhood friend, Markel created Darkside Industries LLC during the early stages of the pandemic. The now multimedia network waves its flag in Rahway, NJ at their headquarters office, being a vessel for creative expression and business opportunities the same.

Brian Debrah-Afful was born and raised in the Garden State, as first generation African- American to Ghanian parents. As the child of immigrants, there was always an emphasis on hard work and high expectations to be successful in a traditional sense. However, his devotion to create stories never wavered and while in school to pursue a career in medicine, Brian purchased his first camera and the rest was history.

He used those same fundamentals of hard work to pursue his passions creatively and began doing shoots for friends and local events. His diligence eventually led to a buzzing notoriety as an up and coming photographer in his community. Brian has since become well known for his work behind the camera and is currently the creative director at WRLD WLKRS Studios, a space that allows creatives of all walks to come together and make the best art possible. Over the last year the company has expanded their footprint and look to continue to make strides to grow as a production company.

Kashad Harris lovingly known as Rocky and artistically known as Hometown was born and raised in Essex county, NJ. Rocky has been cultivating his skills in editing and cinematography for most of his life. Rocky has worked on and collaborated with several notable artists. Within the last ten years he has filmed and/or edited music videos for artists such as Bizzy Banks, GHerbo, Jadakiss, Styles P, Fetty Wap, GMGB Daidough, DJ Smallz 732 Fatboy SSE and a host of other artists. He is also well known for his Youtube channel, Hometown Hero Films known mainly for music videos . In 2015 the youtube channel premiered No Letting Up part 2 by GMGB that went viral reaching 9 million views. This video opened the door to a lot of visibility and a main component in the channel’s growing fanbase of 30k subscribers. Rocky has several upcoming projects such as his first documentary “Well Documented” following the lives of artists, and Drama series “Aperture”

Donnarri, better known as DonThaProducer is a multi-talented music maker and recording artist from Newark, NJ. His love affair with music began at the tender age of 3 when his mother purchased him a drum set and he fell in love with drumming. By the time he reached his late teens, he was making Jersey Club beats and never looked back. He plans to make music forever in all facets various ways from producing to audio engineering, writing melodies, and helping other artists find their unique sound as he provides them with exclusive instrumentals.

Growing up in the church influenced his musical style heavily. With a quiet demeanor and mysterious aura, DonThaProducer lets his music paint the picture. As well as producing, he is a bonafide artist himself. Dabbling in hip-hop and RnB, he makes melodic music where he touches on aspects of his real life. Despite working in music for most of his life, Don feels that he’s just gettin started and the best is yet to come.