Our Board & Advisors

Board of Directors

  • He / Him / His

    Julius Toledo works in Partner Management, Global Platforms for Warner Bros. Discovery. In his 12 years in the digital media and entertainment world, he has worked on content distribution, business strategy, and international expansion with Hollywood studios, OTT platforms, and SVOD services. He has managed large scale clients including Amazon Prime Video and has led international go-to-market strategies for HBO Max. He serves on the executive committee of YR Media's Board of Directors, where he also started his career in the 2000's. He is a graduate of UCLA where he continues to be an active alum and mentor and continues his involvement with community organizing efforts in the LA area.

  • She / Her / Hers

    Neha Tiwari is the Founder + Principal Consultant at Version Consulting, where she loves to support non-profits of all sizes, BIPOC and/or women-owned businesses and startups achieve their strategy, partnership and marketing goals. With more than 15 years in new media, the East Bay Area native has worked for some of the largest brands in the gaming and technology verticals as a creative executive. Neha has led the global content divisions at renowned media companies including IGN Entertainment, CBS Interactive, and Fandom as well as managed many of the top creators at YouTube Gaming. She has won several Telly Awards for creating engaging programming and has worked on many acquisitions in the new media space. Neha graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Mass Communications and was one of the founding members of their online news outlet, CalTV. She continues to enjoy living & breathing the East Bay lifestyle alongside her husband and two toddlers.

  • She / Her / Hers

    Kat Malinowska is Director, Social Media Marketing, Audiences at the Walt Disney Company, where she builds engaged online communities for Disney Branded Television and National Geographic Television & Film social brands. Previously, Kat served as POPSUGAR's VP of Audience, driving video and social audience development, revenue growth, and creator insights. She got her start in marketing and public relations at companies including Google, blinkx, and The OutCast Agency and holds a BA in Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley, where she wrote an honors thesis on class and identity in teen film.

  • He / Him / His

    Paul Smith is the COO and co-founder of Digisure, Inc., and is an entrepreneur in the insurtech space, aiming to build a new company to provide digital insurance solutions for the sharing economy. Previously, Paul spent ten years in the insurance industry, most recently with Liberty Mutual. Prior to that, Paul was an operating executive with TPG Capital in San Francisco, and also held a number of analytical and financial roles with Expedia, Hotwire and Evite.com. Paul holds a B.S. from Georgetown University and a M.B.A. from UC Berkeley/Haas.

  • He / Him / His

    Luc Bellet is a Vice President at The Clorox Company, where he is responsible for Global Finance. Prior to this, he held several finance and operational leadership positions in both Fortune 500 and start-up companies. A French native, Bellet lived and worked in many different places across the globe, including Africa and the Middle-East. Bellet holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Middlesex in England, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of California Berkeley. He lives in San Francisco, with his wife and two kids, Maile and Hideo.

  • She / Her / Hers

    Heather Beverly is an entertainment attorney, speaker, consultant and author. As founder and CEO of the Law Office of Heather Beverly, P.C. she is recognized for being a veteran powerbroker and with an expansive and impressive roster of clients. Her firm represents film and tv producers, writers and production companies; radio personalities; executives, entrepreneurs, influencers; and some of the music industry’s legends as well as top pop, hip-hop, R&B and gospel artists, producers and entertainers.

    In her words, Entertainment clientele come with a myriad of unprecedented and challenging issues which require individualized creative solutions. My commitment to excellence ensures that my firm makes each client a priority and that we utilize our collective experience to serve effectively and creatively while staying true to their brands and goals. The ultimate objective…to support the creation and monetization of art and the preservation of LEGACY”

    Ms. Beverly is also the founder and CEO of the Soul Reciprocity Network, LLC (consulting company), Soul Reciprocity, LLC (lifestyle brand releasing Ms. Beverly’s first book and other tools for one’s quest for SOUL-FULL relationships of all kinds), and Brantera Music Group, Inc. (“Silky Soul Music: An All Star Tribute to Maze ft. Frankie Beverly”).

  • She / Her / Hers

    Alyssa Lein Bryant (Smith) is a writer and the CEO of Alein Creative. Before starting her own company in 2022, she held various roles at the legendary Quincy Jones Productions, Inc. (QJP), which culminated in her final position as Vice President of Business, after 8.5 years with the organization. Through her role at Alein Creative, she remains in close connection with QJP, as the Senior Advisor, as well as an advisor and manager for various entertainment entities. She has production credits on "Taking the Stage: Changing America," the dedication concert for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, is the official co-author of Quincy Jones’ book, 12 Notes: On Life & Creativity (2022), and more.

  • He / Him / His

    Chris Clermont (he/him) is the Head of DEI+ at Vox Media, the leader in modern media, where he is pioneering efforts focused on building empathy, leading with authenticity, and enhancing inclusivity throughout the company and media industry. Clermont partners closely with executives and senior leaders across all departments at Vox Media to develop and execute a strategy that breaks barriers, combats inequity and injustice, and sustains proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

    For over 15 years, Clermont has been a leader in conflict-resolution and preparation and has pioneered diversity initiatives at several companies. He has a strong history of supporting and advising private and public sector organizations in diversity, equity, inclusion, human capital disciplines, inclusion, talent acquisition, organizational design, leadership development, culture, and change management. Having served on multiple panels and conferences, Clermont works to create spaces where empathy and authenticity can be expressed and appreciated within and outside of Vox Media, while fostering an open culture for all employees to thrive.

  • He / Him / His

    Lathan Hodge started his television career at CBS and worked as an Executive Producer for the Children’s and Entertainment Division at Black Entertainment Television. During his tenure at BET, he developed and produced long-form content for Paramount, Disney, and Warner Bros. His independent productions have aired on the Sundance Channel, Discovery, BET, HBCU Go, PBS, Peacock, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.

  • He / Him / His

    Darrell Jackson is President of The Efficace Group Inc. an executive coaching firm in the Bay area. He brings an extensive background driving growth and operational initiatives for financial services providers throughout the US. In his 37+ years in the financial sector, he has held leadership positions such as President, CEO and Board Director with consistent success in creating innovative business strategies. Jackson held the position of President, CEO and inside director for Seaway Bank and Trust in Chicago. Previously he held several management positions at The Northern Trust Corporation, concluding his tenure with the position of Executive Vice President and Co- President of Wealth Management – Illinois. Mr. Jackson has also served as Chairman of the Board, Chairman of Audit, Finance, Governance and Management Development & Compensation committees for several high-profile non-profit organizations.

  • She / Her / Hers

    Sherri Madison has over 25 years of experience in the high-tech industry spanning positions in technology development, IT, and sales. She is currently the General Manager of Partner Data and Operations within Intel’s Sales & Marketing organization. As a proven professional with a reputation as a stabilizing leader, change enabler, and process champion, Madison is committed to delivering transformational results and achieving drastic improvements in experiences of employees and customers.

    She also lives and breathes diversity and inclusion. Madison chaired the Women at Intel group in Arizona for 5 years and globally for 3 years. In addition, she is the sponsor of the Network of Intel African-Ancestry employee support group in Sales & Marketing and is a key leader on the Intel Black Leadership Council. Madison teaches courses aimed at developing Intel’s managers into excellent leaders and making Intel more inclusive.

    Outside of work, Madison enjoys relaxing and traveling with family and friends, watching sports, and volunteering. She is heavily engaged in advocating for and supporting the economic stability and empowerment of women and young adults in underserved areas of the community.

  • He / Him / His

    Dometi Pongo {pronounced dō-muh-TEE} is the host of the hit MTV series True Life Crime and multiple MTV News video franchises including its flagship digital program, “Need to Know,” which provides award-winning analysis of trending news stories.

    In addition to hosting after shows and red carpet activations for ViacomCBS’s tentpole events like the Video Music Awards, the Grammys, and MTV Movie & TV Awards, Dometi regularly joins senior leadership in moderating internal, company-wide discussions on equity in ViacomCBS’s “Courageous Conversations” series led by MTV Entertainment Group President Chris McCarthy. Dometi’s illuminating commentary on everything from entertainment news to politics and social justice can be heard in his role as contributor to ET Live, the Smithsonian Channel, and Sirius XM’s Karen Hunter Show.

    The award-winning journalist also works as a speaker and multimedia consultant through his firm, Pongo Strategy Group, which helps organizations tell better stories through multimedia. In partnership with Sankofa Ventures, Dometi’s annual group tours of Ghana, West Africa provided more than 70 American travelers from the African diaspora an opportunity to explore their ancestral lineage.

  • He / Him / His

    Gerald “Whiz” Ward II is a Contract Administrator for FX Network’s Business Affairs team where he plays an integral role in coordinating the business needs of the Development, Creative, and Legal departments for FX Productions. With over 20 years of experience working in media, Whiz began in his teens as a student at YR Media (then known as Youth Radio) himself, helping to contribute to our organization winning its first Peabody Award. He has since worked in various formats, including radio, film, and television. Along with other YR Media alumni he is a founding member of the music collective the Honor Roll Crew and has helped to shepherd the release of rap, soul and electronic projects under their independent banner. A proud graduate of YR Media’s Core class of fall 1996, he believes media can be a bridge between hearts and minds and a tool to create positive change for individuals and communities.

Midwest Advisory Council

  • Akilah Halley (she/her), is Executive Director of Marwen, and a proud alum of the organization. Previously, she served as Marwen's Deputy Director, and prior to that a member of the Board of Directors. Akilah's experience focuses on human-centered strategies for social change through youth development and philanthropy with past roles leading communications with Crown Family Philanthropies, marketing with Urban Gateways, and external relations with Chicago Public Schools. She is a member of Chicago's Cultural Advisory Council for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. She served on the Leadership Advisory Committee at the Art Institute of Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot's Arts and Culture Transition Committee Co-Chair, and Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy. She is also an alum of the Sorkin Center Children Leadership Program and National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program. Akilah holds a graduate degree in design planning from the Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology and a BFA in industrial design from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

  • Brandon Pope is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist, host, podcaster, media critic and columnist, with experience covering a range of topics from politics to sports. His work has been featured at CW26 Chicago, WBEZ, Entertainment Tonight, WGN Radio, WVON, Ebony Magazine, Medium, REVOLT and the Chicago Sun-Times. Brandon is currently the host of “On The Block: Powered by Block Club Chicago,” on CW26, and the "MAKING" podcast series from WBEZ and NPR. He is president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, where he focuses on shepherding the next generation of journalists and raising money for scholarships. Pope's mentorship work includes serving on the board for the Obama Foundation's "My Brother's Keeper" program, and Lost Boyz Inc., as a sports journalism instructor. He's also an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago, member of the Ball State Journalism alumni board, and a Ball State University "Hall Of Beneficence" honoree.

  • CHAN C. SMITH (she/her/sis) is a motivated and passionate Director, always looking for new challenges and opportunities. Her passion for film and the arts started at a young age, and she has grown to become a skilled and recognized Director.

    Chan is a multi-platform, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and creative storyteller. She is a Director, Cinematographer and Photographer and is currently signed to Tessa Films. Chan is also the owner of Kiliad Films, a black woman-owned production company based in Los Angeles and Chicago.

    Her work includes editorial/commercial, narrative, documentary filmmaking, and branded content. With over 13 years of experience, Chan has captured and produced countless projects for brands such as FX Networks, Amazon Studios, Nike Chicago, Parents Magazine, the NBA, and the Biden/Harris campaign. She is committed to exploring unique methods of storytelling, from the inception phase to final deliverables.

    Previously, she served as the Multimedia Producer at EBONY and JET Magazines. While there, Chan has directed, captured and produced interviews and cover shoots with high profile celebrities such as Ava DuVernay, Kevin Hart, John Legend, Jurnee Smollett, Chance the Rapper, NBA Stars Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook, and notable public figures including Nikki Giovanni, Van Jones and Sandra Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal.

    Chan C. Smith is passionate about telling stories that are centered around the human experience and the nuances in Black culture in an effort to inspire, inform, and invigorate the masses. Chan can pivot from being a one “Chan” band to directing vast stories with her trusted crew.

  • Daniel is president of the Field Foundation of Illinois, a private and independent foundation that, along with its strategic funding partners, distributes more than $6.5 million annually in grants to organizations working to address systemic issues in Chicago’s divested communities. He is also a member of the Field Foundation Board of Directors.

    Prior to his current role, Daniel was associate vice president of Community Impact for the Chicago Community Trust and previously served as the Trust’s chief marketing officer. Before that, Daniel spent ten years as vice president of Chicago Public Media.

    Daniel earned his M.P.P. from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Economics from Oberlin College. He completed a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship at Princeton University.

    Crain’s Chicago Business has recognized Daniel as a Notable Leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In 2023, he was selected as a Daniel Burnham Fellow.

  • Born and raised on the East Side of Chicago, IL, Teryn Payne has had no shortage of exposure to Black stories. Growing up around so much culture inspired her passion for connecting with and sharing the stories of Black people around the world. Teryn attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where, within five years, she received her Bachelors in News-Editorial Journalism and Masters of Science in Journalism. After moving back home at the age of 22, two weeks after completing grad school, Teryn got her feet wet in the industry by landing her first job at Ebony magazine as an assistant to the Editor-in-Chief. She then moved to New York and joined Teen Vogue as an associate editor on the digital team. Currently, Teryn works on the Senior Management team for Chance the Rapper where no day is the same. During the course of five years with the team, she has spearheaded and managed various projects from inception to execution and traveled the world, making connections all over the globe.

  • Jhmira Alexander, MPA is a resourceful media engagement strategist and social impact leader whose expertise includes change management and nonprofit leadership. Jhmira is a trained journalist who utilizes over 16 years of experience cultivating diverse stakeholder groups to establish and ensure the success of cross functional teams.

    Entrepreneur turned intrapreneur, Jhmira is the president and executive director of Public Narrative – Chicago’s premier cultivator of narrative change and supporter of community oriented journalism for nearly 35 years. She serves on the advisory committee for YR Media – a leading media, technology and music training center and platform for emerging BIPOC content creators who are using their voices to change the world. Jhmira is also a member of the leadership team for the Communications Network’s Chicago Chapter and is on the advisory committee for Forefront’s Mission Sustainability Initiative.

    Jhmira has led projects for the Chicago Police Department, the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (Chicago), Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communications.

    Jhmira is the host of “The Public Narrative: A Word with Jhmira Alexander” on Chicago Access Network aptly known as CAN TV. She has spoken on various topics affecting health, safety and education on platforms held by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Management Information Exchange, Council of the Great City Schools and the Association for Clinical Translational Science. Jhmira holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Communications and Master of Public Administration degree from Strayer University.

  • Kozi Kyles has worked both professionally and personally to advance diversity in advertising and marketing, dating back to her early years as a marketing communications executive working for companies including Redbox and Mattel to, most recently, serving as Director of Global Marketing for legacy inclusive beauty brands, Fashion Fair and BLK/OPL. In this role, she worked firsthand with major retailers, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and Target, on the 15% pledge and increasing opportunity for Black-owned, Black-founded and Black-led brands to excel in the beauty space.

    She has consistently challenged the status quo in the name of inclusivity and making a seat at the table, ideating disruptive marketing approaches that allowed the BLK/OPL brand to prominently feature content creators of color online and partnered with Google and Perfect Corp to ensure diverse beauty brands are fairly represented in beauty tech and advanced AR/AI solutions. In addition to developing voice for brands, Kozi is also an accomplished voiceover artist who has lent her talents to companies including Walgreens, Dropbox, Pacific Foods and Metro by T-Mobile.

    Kozi is involved in a number of volunteer initiatives, including serving as a mentor for Year Up Chicago and co-lead of the ADCOLOR Content Team for the 13th Annual ADCOLOR Awards Conference.

  • He / Him / His

    Lathan Hodge started his television career at CBS and worked as an Executive Producer for the Children’s and Entertainment Division at Black Entertainment Television. During his tenure at BET, he developed and produced long-form content for Paramount, Disney, and Warner Bros. His independent productions have aired on the Sundance Channel, Discovery, BET, HBCU Go, PBS, Peacock, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.

  • Margy is a visual artist, arts educator and the Visual Arts Department Chair at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, a nationally recognized independent high school for the performing and visual arts. She frequently presents The Academy’s Visual Arts’ pedagogical methods and design curriculum at national arts education conferences including the National Arts Education Association and Art Schools Network.

    Margy’s interest in architecture is at the center of her teaching and arts practice; she uses painting, printmaking, three-dimensional and multi-media processes to explore our relationship to and our perception of the built environment. In addition to The Academy, Margy has over twenty five years experience of art and design residencies in Chicago Public Schools through affiliations with organizations such as Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education, the Illinois Arts Council, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, After School Matters, among others. She is the recipient of several Chicago Community Arts Assistance Program Grants, a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program Grant, and a Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad China. Margy has taught and exhibited regionally as well as internationally, including projects in Ireland, Slovenia and Singapore. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and Master of Fine Arts from SUNY Buffalo.

  • Sonari Glinton is an award-winning journalist, podcaster, and producer. He's known for his work at NPR, This American Life, and Planet Money. He is also the host of Shattering The System, the podcast from Macro and iHeartPodcasts that investigates crimes and the systems that enable them.

    Glinton’s passion for storytelling began at an early age, when he read Night by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate who later became his college professor at Boston University. Wiesel inspired Glinton to tell the hardest and most important stories, including the ones people don’t want to hear.

    Throughout his career, Glinton has covered a wide range of topics, from politics and the economy to culture and entertainment. He has reported on the rise of Barack Obama, the Volkswagen diesel scandal, the Flint water crisis, and the #MeToo movement. He has also produced segments on culture phenoms such as, Desi Arnaz, Frank Sinatra, 9 to 5, and Soul Train.

    Glinton is also committed to fostering the next generation of journalists and creating more diverse and inclusive newsrooms. He has collaborated with YR Media and co-created a virtual camp for teens during the pandemic. He also serves on the national board of Mikva Challenge, a nonprofit that supports civic education and participation for teens.

  • He / Him / His

    Dometi Pongo {pronounced dō-muh-TEE} is the host of the hit MTV series True Life Crime and multiple MTV News video franchises including its flagship digital program, “Need to Know,” which provides award-winning analysis of trending news stories.

    In addition to hosting after shows and red carpet activations for ViacomCBS’s tentpole events like the Video Music Awards, the Grammys, and MTV Movie & TV Awards, Dometi regularly joins senior leadership in moderating internal, company-wide discussions on equity in ViacomCBS’s “Courageous Conversations” series led by MTV Entertainment Group President Chris McCarthy. Dometi’s illuminating commentary on everything from entertainment news to politics and social justice can be heard in his role as contributor to ET Live, the Smithsonian Channel, and Sirius XM’s Karen Hunter Show.

    The award-winning journalist also works as a speaker and multimedia consultant through his firm, Pongo Strategy Group, which helps organizations tell better stories through multimedia. In partnership with Sankofa Ventures, Dometi’s annual group tours of Ghana, West Africa provided more than 70 American travelers from the African diaspora an opportunity to explore their ancestral lineage.

Board of Directors Advisory Council

  • Past council member
    Jan 2021 - Dec 2022

    Alison is the Chief Strategy Officer at Narrativ and at Chalkbeat. Previously, she worked for nearly a decade in product management at Amazon, Facebook, and Rent the Runway, with expertise in e-commerce, logistics, subscriptions, media/publishing, and search. Alison received her MBA from the Wharton School, with a focus on entrepreneurship, operations, and information management. Alison has journalism experience covering higher education and personal finance.

  • Frank Martin is Executive Director of the Compassion Institute, which he recently joined after three years as Deputy Director of the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC). Prior to joining EBCLC in 2016, Martin was President of Standard Pacific Capital, a global investment management firm, and an adjunct faculty member at UC Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law). Martin has served in numerous capacities on several non-profit boards in the Bay Area including Treasurer of Centro Legal de la Raza, and a member of the finance committee for St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation. Martin received his J.D. from Berkeley Law and his B.B.A. in finance from the University of Georgia where he was a Foundation Fellow.