The Leaders Bringing Black History Stories to Kids

With a career spanning 40 years, NY born Tatyana Ali is a Broadway-trained actress, singer, writer, entrepreneur, activist and Harvard University graduate.  

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Ali has appeared in television, film and theatrical projects throughout her life, including Sesame Street, the Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway production of “Fences,” the iconic comedy series "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “The Young and the Restless,” Disney’s “Glory Road” and a growing collection of holiday and dramatic films for Lifetime TV.  She can currently be seen recurring on ABC’s award-winning hit comedy series, “Abbott Elementary.” 

The 5-time NAACP Image Award winner, is the founder and CEO of Baby Yams™, a baby quilt company that donates 10% of its proceeds to grants and scholarships for Black and Indigenous birth workers. After her own traumatic hospital birth experience, Ali became a Black maternal health advocate, writing op-eds, speaking across the country and testifying before the US Congress. Her lovingly designed quilts share the need for change and tells a story of beauty and possibility.

Ali is the author of Aszi and the Octopus, a children’s book about her son’s love of the Ocean and the imaginative power of black boy joy. The book will be published this fall by Scholastic. 

She has produced numerous projects for television and digital networks including "Love That Girl!," the first original scripted program on the TV One Network.

During the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, she served as a surrogate for President Obama, speaking to communities across the country about voting as an imperative and worked to promote the Affordable Care Act. 

She holds a gold record for her 1998 debut album “Kiss the Sky,” which included the platinum selling  single "Daydreamin'" & "Boy You Knock Me Out” and joined both the *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys world tours. In 1999, her recording of "Precious Wings" for “The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland” soundtrack won a Grammy Award for "Best Musical Album for Children." In 2013 Ali released the independent EP “Hello.” “All I Have,” her live music Christmas EP, produced by Conductor Damien Sneed is available to stream on Spotify.

Tatyana resides in California with her husband and two sons.

Sabrina L. Williams is the Executive Director of home&community, inc., an organization that helps low-income residents organize to change housing policy and minimize the effect of food deserts in their neighborhoods.

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She has worked in over 40 states as a community organizer and organizational development specialist, and is currently expanding residents’ access to fresh food through institution of community food systems. With a background and education in architecture, law and urban planning, her work has focused on issues of justice and equity in urban communities.

Stephanie Tavares-Rance is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Run&Shoot Filmworks and the driving force behind the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), a premier cultural destination celebrating Black excellence in film, television, and media.

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For over two decades, she has been instrumental in transforming MVAAFF into an internationally recognized platform that champions diverse voices, fosters industry connections, and amplifies stories that shape culture.

With a career spanning marketing, brand partnerships, and event production, Tavares-Rance has built deep relationships with major studios, networks, and global brands including Disney, ESPN, Amazon, Google, and L’Oréal. Her ability to craft strategic alliances has not only elevated the festival’s profile but also expanded opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers and storytellers.

Beyond the festival, she is the visionary behind the C-Suite Luncheon Series, an exclusive national convening of senior women executives dedicated to leadership, innovation, and community impact. She also serves as a guiding force for the Rance Family Foundation, advancing initiatives that empower young people of color pursuing careers in entertainment and media.

Respected as a cultural strategist, business leader, and advocate for equity in storytelling, Stephanie Tavares-Rance continues to redefine what it means to create spaces where artistry, commerce, and social impact meet — inspiring the next generation to lead with purpose and power.

Nicholas Ferroni is a nationally recognized high school teacher and social activist who educates, mentors and inspires students to reach their goals while driving a national dialogue about education.

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Nick was named "Upstander of the Year" by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) for his outspoken advocacy and support for LGBTQ youth, Nick was also noted as one of the "100 Making a Difference,” one of the "Most Influential Educators In America," and honored by The Foundation on Gender Equality, the American Conference on Diversity and the United Nations Women’s Division. He is a featured guest on various media platforms including ABC's 'The View,' MSNBC, The TODAY Show, and more. Nick has also been featured in USA Today for his advocacy and work for teachers, focusing on his “No Summers Off” campaign, where he featured teachers in every state and shared what they do over the summer and to expose the myth that teachers have summers off. 

Ferroni has become renowned for employing innovative and unique approaches to teaching his students. His social experiment on the importance of gender equality in politics went viral, garnering the attention of news outlets and television programs nationwide. The View's Whoopi Goldberg called it “The best social experiment ever."

Nick has dedicated his time and his platform to not only celebrate educators, but fight to increase the pay, support and resources that teachers receive. He is a part of the Teacher Salary Project team that introduced the “American Teacher Act” in Congress

James Reynolds, Jr. is founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loop Capital Markets.He has worked in the financial services industry for more than 27 years and strongly believes that successful executives have a responsibility to give back to the community. 

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Mr. Reynolds participates as a board member of the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, Chicago United, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, The University of Chicago Hospitals and The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Additionally, Mr. Reynolds is Chairman of the board for the Chicago Urban League, a member of the Advisory Board of the Levy Institute/Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and he is a member of the CFA Institute.

Karen Gruenberg is long time board member of Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit media company dedicated to sharing little-known stories of remarkable African Americans.

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She also serves on the board of the Morristown Festival of Books, New Jersey’s premier literary event, and is a founding board member and chair of Greater Newark Tennis and Education, an organization committed to empowering young people through the power of sports and education.

Throughout her career, Karen has been a leader in children’s media, holding senior roles including Executive Vice President at Sesame Workshop and Chief Content Officer at GoNoodle and Hellosaurus. She played a pivotal role in the creation and launch of two groundbreaking digital networks, Noggin and Sprout, and oversaw beloved series such as Sesame Street and Dragon Tales. Her work also includes collaborations with UNICEF, National Geographic, and Epic Records, reflecting her passion for creating meaningful, educational content for children and families.