Disruption Now

In 2020, over 2 million people were employed by the justice system, with an annual expenditure of a staggering 300 billion dollars in the United States alone. But what has all this investment achieved for victims of crimes? Our guest, Lenore Anderson, is co-founder of the Alliance For Safety and Justice and author of the eye-opening book, "In Their Names: The Untold Story of Mass Incarceration and Victims' Rights."What You will learnHow the militarization of local policing destroys trust and safety How media narratives shape public perception and policyHow victim protection is not a priority.How you can create change.Learn from real victims and survivors of the system. Learn More about In Their Names by Lenore AndersonLearn about Alliance For Safety and Justice

Cessiah Lopez is an Affiliate of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy.She is a serial entrepreneur & web3 degen with proven experiences in growing small businesses & creating digital products that elevate self-improvement.Holding an LLM from the University of East Anglia, her thesis focused on the applicability of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) to modern e-commerce. She has since worked as an Operations and Strategist for crypto and web3-based projects and is a recent ex-Founder at Entrepreneur First.She has a broad range of experiences spanning multiple industries, such as construction, recruitment, law, diplomacy, blockchain, and real estate. Her work lies at the intersection of law, web3, and startups, where she emphasizes the importance of social impact and mobility. Now, she is a Crypto Research Fellow for VentureESG, working to make ESG a standard part of due diligence for VCs in the web3 space.As a polymath, her creative pursuit

Diamond Doll is a highly skilled leader who excels at problem-solving and generating effective solutions. Her experience at Microsoft and Juul Labs demonstrates her commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and social responsibility in the workplace. As the founder of NFT CLT, she has taken her expertise and passion for Web3 education and onboarding to the next level, advising organizations on their transition to this exciting new field. She is a trusted community builder who plans educational events and conferences, hosts Twitter spaces, and moderates panels across the country. Her impressive educational background includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California, where she received numerous awards and accolades for her leadership and achievements.

Larry Brinker Jr. is an award-winning entrepreneur, impact investor, and mentor. He serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Brinker, a group of family-owned and operated commercial construction service companies responsible for over $4 billion in construction projects, which plays a critical role in the transformation and revitalization of Detroit. He also serves as the CEO of the Brinker Family Asset Management Company. Before being named Chief Executive Officer and tasked with leading the executive team and driving the future progress of the Brinker portfolio of construction services companies, Larry Brinker Jr. served as President of Brinker and played a crucial role in the company’s development. On the philanthropic side, Brinker Jr. has established multiple scholarships, including a COVID-19 Legacy Survivor Scholarship fund. A proud alumnus of the University of Michigan, Brinker Jr. received the African American Alumni Council’s “Five Under Ten” award, which recognizes graduates for their prof

Mark is the CEO, co-founder, and chairman of Direct Digital Holdings, a Houston-based and founded adtech company that brings state-of-the-art buy-side and sell-side advertising platforms for clients (specializing in middle-sized markets) under one umbrella. Mark can speak to Direct Digital Holdings’ (DDH) success story and how he and the company are disrupting the adtech industry for companies in these markets, and how DDH is pioneering the space as a smaller but fast-growing player that also focuses on serving under-represented constituencies (gender, race, sexual orientation) and those often overlooked or marginalized in the ad space. Additionally, DDH is seeing record growth despite the market’s downward trends, which Mark can discuss alongside upcoming trends/shifts he expects for 2023 in the context of the national and local economy.

Tyra joined the Ohio Justice & Policy Center team as a paralegal in Jan. 2018. After several months of successful outreach on OJPC’s behalf, Tyra’s role adapted to better describe her gifts and passion: She became OJPC’s first Community Outreach Strategy Specialist.Before joining OJPC, Tyra spent 23 years incarcerated for murder and robbery, crimes she did not commit.Tyra used her time in prison constructively to educate herself.  A sixth grade dropout, Tyra eventually earn her GED, obtained a steam engineer’s license, became a certified tutor and completed a paralegal training program.On Christmas Day, 2017, Tyra was released from prison. She joined the OJPC staff full-time only weeks later.In her role, Tyra advocates on behalf of OJPC and does outreach work to educate children about the importance of staying in school and avoiding drug use. Tyra also hopes to create a program to provide support to people returning to the community after incarceration.

Dr. Topeka K. Sam spent time in federal prison and, upon her release, vowed to fight on behalf of the women she left behind. Topeka founded The Ladies of Hope Ministries, whose EPIC Vision is to End Poverty and Incarceration of women and girls globally. She was among the first to publicly highlight Ms. Alice Marie Johnson’s story and fight for her freedom, first during the Obama Administration’s historic clemency effort and then again during the Trump Administration’s tenure. President Trump commuted Ms. Alice’s sentence in 2018. Erin Haney, Policy Director at REFORM Alliance and Senior Counsel at #cut50 

MNTN (pronounced Mountain) built the first-of-its-kind, self-serve software for buying connected TV that puts performance first. The MNTN platform makes it easy for brands to buy connected TV ads across the top 150 streaming networks like Discovery+, ESPN, CNN, Hulu, PlutoTV and more. Intuitive Self-Service Platform: MNTN’s platform makes it easy to buy, manage, optimize and measure your CTV campaigns. Simply select your target, input your KPI goals, upload your creative and watch our AI-driven automated technology deliver unprecedented results in real time. Premium Inventory: MNTN gives brands access to premium inventory across the top 150 streaming networks like Discovery+, CNN, ESPN, Hulu, PlutoTV and more. Every ad is non-skippable and delivered exclusively on the TV. MNTN acquired Maximum Effort Marketing (Ryan Reynold’s creative marketing agency) in June 2021. MNTN is ad tech’s fastest-growing performance TV platform, and Maximum Effort, is one of the rising stars of the creative world. MNTN believes th

Darnell Smith is a CPG and alcohol industry veteran and cannabis entrepreneur, innovator and advocate. Smith is the founder and CEO of MXXN, a non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused spirits brand that is evolving today’s cocktail culture and disrupting the alcohol and cannabis industry. MXXN is the first product launch of MOJO Ventures, which is part of the digital + creative consultancy MOJO he founded that has done extensive work for Procter & Gamble Ventures, Barcardi’s Incubation group, Pepsico and more.  Prior to founding MXXN and MOJO, Smith was a senior digital transformation lead at Infosys Consulting working with the likes of Adidas, Ralph Lauren, AB InBev, Novartis, GSK, Pfizer, AMEX and more. Prior to that, Smith worked for over a decade in various agency and client side roles focused on innovation and commercialization for the likes of Diageo and Pernod Ricard.     As a Black entrepreneur working in the cannabis industry, Smith is extremely passionate about being on the frontlines of creating a more

Mirthell, is the Founder and CEO of the Onyx brand. For years, he worked as a pastor and marriage & family therapist, but it was his dream to one day work with his family. One day in 2015, he took the giant leap and quit his job; he never looked back since. Now, the family has a multi-million dollar enterprise, which includes a YouTube Original talk show, Onyx Family Dinner (featuring guests such as Jemele Hill and Emmanuel Acho), an animates series, Onyx Monster Mysteries (which has been distributed to platforms such as Peacock and Apple TV), books, a health & fitness app. and more. He tries to inspire and motivate other black men to take the leap too and start their own business too.

Also, the host of the hit podcast, Wrongful Conviction features interviews with men and women who have spent decades in prison for crimes they did not commit, some even sentenced to death. He started his journey to fight the system's injustice last 1993 when he helped a young kid win his case for a non-violence first offense cocaine possession charge for which he served 15 years to life. He also shared statistics that listeners will be shocked that the United States incarcerates black people at six times South African rate per capita during a partile. Jason Flom believes that we should use the resources to uplift people, police are not the answer, and imprisonment is not the answer. He lives by the saying, "If you can help, help, and you can always help!" He always reminds people that Today is a good day to do something good for someone while expecting nothing in return.

Steve is president, special counsel to the CEO of Comcast Cable. He works with executives on a number of important initiatives, including leadership development, strategic planning, diversity, equality, and inclusion, and digital equality. He has enjoyed many affiliations, including his recent board service with Hormel Foods, Shaw Communications, and W.W. Grainger. Steve is active in the academic arena at the University of Denver and serves on the board of New Leaders, which focuses on the leadership development of public school principals. He’s a member of Delta Boule’ and the Executive Leadership Council. Before Comcast, he worked in some leading companies and was promoted several times. He started working as a young boy with his mom and brothers. Because he started working at an early age he realized that an unwavering work ethic and commitment attracts opportunities that lead to an impactful life. Until now, Steve applies the same uncompromising will to keep his purpose front and center. His purpose is to

Laws criminalizing HIV must be changed to Cathcart up to facts and science.What you will learn:How Fear Drive modern HIV Laws in OhioWhy Current HIV Laws are against public health InterestHow marginalized communities are hurt by HIV criminalizationWhy current HIV Laws in Ohio aren’t aligned with Science 

 Isoul Harris is the Editor and Chief of EDTION. Edition’s mission to uplift and amplify Black creatives across industries. Isoul brings a vast array of expertise in the space – from serving as a multimedia content producer, to fulfilling award-winning journalist roles in which he was able to tell powerful stories disrupting cultural narrative. Prior to joining EDITION, Isoul served as the editor-in-chief at UPTOWN, where furthered the national magazine’s mission profiling affluent African American life in partnership with the world’s leading celebrities, philanthropists, creatives, futurists across industries throughout the diaspora. Isoul also served as Deputy Editor of exclusive luxury lifestyle magazine, Mosaic where he worked to bring the profiles of LGBTQIA+ people of color front-and-center within the magazine.What you will learn:Why we need to embrace our beaty not just our struggle. The importance of owning your truth The power of being uncomfortable

Kern Alexander is a veteran turned business mogul. Learn about his  unexpected Cannabis journey and how his passion for helping veterans lead to a multi million dollar business. US Military Veteran Kern Alexander discusses how he founded and scaled The Higher Collection, an Oakland-based cannabis distribution and delivery company.  

As Founder and Managing Member of Genesis Companies, Karim oversees the firm and it’s strategic direction. Karim enjoys focusing on forging new partnerships and pushing innovation in our operations and investment approach. Karim’s experience as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs and a private equity investor at General Atlantic Partners, allowed Karim to develop the investment acumen he now devotes to Genesis’ financial strategies.Karim holds several advisory seats in local organizations, including his roles as Trustee of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance and a Member of the Reform Leadership Council for Vera Institute of Justice. Karim earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy from Amherst College, an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. Karim is an active member of the Harlem community where he lives with his wife and two daughters. 

Alexys Feaster is the Founder and CEO of The Kinship Advisors, a strategicadvisory company launched in January 2021, focused on creating alliances withinthe sports, entertainment, and other industries, who are committed to personaldevelopment, social justice, strategic business expansion and sustaining impact inunderserved communities.The Kinship Advisors provides intentional collaboration to close the gaps withculturally connected business and brand strategy, innovative programdevelopment and philanthropic support, creating lasting social and personalimpact. In addition to managing the $5.3M Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social ImpactFund, Alexys leads the advisory work for various NBA Players and clients such asMetro Esports and Bleeker, a company focused on helping people of color createmeaningful careers. She is also the Executive Producer at Just Women’s Sports, thepremiere media company focused on shining a light on the stories, athletes and moments that define women’s sports.

Phaedra Ellis Lamkins is the CEO of Promise, a payment technology platform that simplifies how people manage government payments like utilities, child support, parking tickets and more by offering customizable plans and providing digital payment options. The organization has secured funding from a wide array of investors including Roc Nation, Starbucks, Bumble, Kapor Capital, XYZ, First Round, and many more. Promise secured 20 million dollars in its Series A collectively raising  50 million dollars overall which is one of the largest funding rounds for a Black, women-led startup with investors like Kapor Capital, Bronze, First Round, and Y Combinator.Phaedra herself is a rockstar in the world of social justice and music: prior to starting Promise, she served as the Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL–CIO Labor Council, she served as the personal manager for legendary musician Prince, and helped procure Prince’s ownership of his catalog, negotiating his deal with Warner Bros and co-founding NPG Music Publis

Nick Hamilton, founder of Nitecast Media, as a guest speaker for your podcast Disruption Now! Nick Hamilton is the founder of Nitecast Media and a single father raising a young autistic son. He is an expert in balancing work and parenting, especially in maintaining a strong bond with your child. Nick founded Nitecast Media during the pandemic and has been in the journalism industry for over 10 years.  He has all the tips on how to build your business during the pandemic and staying in touch with current Entertainment demands. Nick's dedication in empowering BIPOC journalists into action gives him the motivation and tools to handle the blockage of being a black entrepreneur in the media industry. Nick Hamilton is a dynamic media personality best known for his work on SIRIUS XM, SB Nation, NBC, AXS.com, Associated Press, and iHeartMedia. With an AA in Journalism and Communications from El Camino College, Nick quickly made a name for himself as a reporter and content creator.Along with being in the field conduct

Changing the narratives of what our kids learn is not only disruptive, but it's a long overdue change.   On top of that, changing the system to adapt to the individual needs of kids is the way to guarantee that future generations can move forward.   Ryan MacDonald and Rebecca Wolfe are working hard to change how things are being done for the better.