President & CEO, Black PR Wire; President & CEO, Sonshine Communications
Bernadette Morris is a dedicated community leader and successful business owner/executive. Bernadette owns three companies: Sonshine Communications, founded in 1993; Black PR Wire, Inc., founded in 2000; and Women Grow Strong, founded in 2007. Black PR Wire is an online newswire distribution company providing key news and information to Black media in the U.S. and the Caribbean 24/7.
Black Media Initiative Director, Center for Community Media, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
In her role as Black Media Initiative Director for the Center for Community Media at the Newmark J-School, Cheryl Thompson-Morton works to support Black media outlets through training, research, convenings, and connecting them to financial resources.
South Florida PBS
Traci is both a ‘personality’ and a journalist. She is known for: her approach to news, unique “voice”, attention to accuracy, grammar and her and ability to tell a good story.
She’s described by the Miami Herald as a ‘smart pretty, high energy news writer and anchor. The Miami New Times says she’s a very stunning and totally hilarious radio personality’.
CEO, Afro-American Newspapers
Dr. Frances "Toni" Draper is the CEO of the AFRO American Newspapers, founded by her great-grandfather in 1892. Draper earned a B.A. in Spanish education from Morgan State University, holds master’s degrees in education, business administration and pastoral counseling, and a doctorate degree in ministry. A community leader, she is focused on giving back and continuously learning.
Professor of Journalism and Communications, Edward Waters University; National Anchor, iHeartMedia
Rahman Johnson serves as Professor of Journalism and Communications at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was named Professor of the Year. Most recently, Rahman published the poetry collection Living, Loving, Letting Go, which was honored as Book of the Year by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
