The multi-talented actress, Zuri Adele, continues to inspire the next generation on and off screen. She has had eye-opening opportunities teaching at UCLA and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa which allowed her to acknowledge the importance of art as a form of communication. Zuri has also pioneered the Be Accessible Scholarship which provides African-American students with wellness opportunities and the Zuri Adele Fellowship which provides Historically Black University Alumni with access to prestigious Masters Programs. Keep reading to learn more about her foundations, passion for health and wellness, and how Zuri stays grounded.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 51Elizabeth ShepherdSeptember 27, 2023yoga, health, wellness, opportunity, Black Artists, Black students, actress, meditation, spiritual healing, actingComment

Cover - Hot Happy Zuri Hall

Let Zuri Hall take you on a ride as she spins you all over the Hollywood scene across the red carpet through Access Hollywood to keynote speeches as if she is one of the athletes in the show American Ninja Warrior she co-hosts. In all reality Zuri is a truly inspiring women who is just bubbling over with charm and beautiful energy. As one of the first Black women in local news she has more than made a name for herself interviewing all the celebrities, but so much more. Zuri is far from a fluffy Hollywood socialite, in fact she is very proud of her midwest up bringing. She likes to use her platforms to talk about the hard issues including cases of missing people of color, mental health, and voting rights, to just name a few. She recently started a new podcast, Hot Happy Mess, that helps make her topics even more limitless. Please read on to learn more about this incredible out spoken women, her work in Hollywood, and her many ways of giving back, including a new partnership with Global Fund for Children as a Global Ambassador.

Crys Matthews Is The Fire

I have had the pleasure to see a few artists a Joe’s Pub now, but none were so intimate as coming to see Crys Matthews sit down and sing with her audience. The way she spoke and sang to her crowd you felt like you were sitting in a living room with her taking a break from drawing up the latest set of signs for your next protest together.

Being A Hero Over The Generations

In celebration of Women’s History Month Joe’s Pub has an amazing cast of women coming to their stage! I had the pleasure to watch one of their monthly shows, Generation Women. This heartwarming show of female empowerment will have the audience laughing and crying in their seats in no time!

Tony Ofori - Doing What He Loves

Born and brought up in Canada, Tony Ofori started his acting journey as a theater actor. Tony has been on a journey of telling stories while doing the things he loves to do. He recently starred in the Emmy-winning series Ghostwriter that released its third installment on Apple TV+ this fall. Much like his character, Malcolm, Tony is very active in raising a voice for the black community. Please read on to learn more in our exclusive interview below!

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 46Disha GuptaDecember 14, 2022actor, canadian, black community, theatre, TV Series, diversity, Black Artists, black rightsComment

Akilah Newton Is A Big Dreamer

Akilah Newton has a dream to have all kids have access to the arts, at least in Montreal, and she is making it happen through her organization Overture with the Arts (OWTA). OWTA offers inexpensive or free education in music, dance, drama and vocal training to children. In addition to this, Akilah has released an inspiring book series “Big Dreamers”, which helps to educate Canadians about their own Black history. With most education systems in Canada focusing a heavy emphasis on American Black History rather than Canadian, Akilah has been inspired to help highlight notable Black Canadians to help educate the youth about their own history. Again, Akilah is stepping up to the plate to help! To learn more about this incredible woman and her many endeavors, please read our exclusive interview below.

Take A Step Forward With Mike Gauyo

Los Angeles-based Haitian writer Mike Gauyo is making it his mission to build creative opportunities for POC youth. You can thank Mike for hit series like "Insecure" and "Ginny & Georgia. Mike not only sees the importance of sharing his perspective as a Black gay Haitian immigrant, but also explores outside of his comfort zone to bring new narratives to life. To align with his values of making the writing industry more accessible to people of color, Mike founded Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes to connect young Black writers with industry professionals. Through Mike’s amazing program, students can receive mentorship from established writers like Amy Aniobi, Morgan Cooper, and Kemp Powers. If you are interested in Mike Gauyo’s efforts to create a more inclusive Hollywood, his newest show “Send Help”, or his experience with writing some of America’s favorite series please continue reading the interview below!

Kayla Thompson Is Singing Her Way Into Our Hearts

You better watch out! Kayla Thompson is a one-of-a kind musician that is singing her way into our hearts. Singer/songwriter best known for hits such as "Younger," which gained major recognition through Spotify's Fresh Finds Pop Playlist. Along with Honest, Pray you Away, and most recently, The Remains (Stripped), which was recently released and is the original version of her previous single, "The Remains." When she’s not singing, she is advocating for other black artists, appearing in American Eagle's Black History campaign, and serving as a board member for Projects of Hope. Her dreamy sound and genuine lyrics are not something to miss and we can't wait to see what she does next! Please continue reading to learn more about her singles, advocacy for black artists, and position as a board member for Projects of Hope.

Kelsey Caesar Will Run Into Your Heart

Kelsey Caesar goes from running as an Olympic hopeful to running for his life in horror films! You can see him in the new all black horror film “Bitch Ass”, where he tells us the kill scenes are the best. But Kelsey doesn’t stop there. He is a very passionate about the environment and loves fostering dogs. To learn more about this star athlete, fun actor, and activist, please read our exclusive interview below.

Mastering Your Mindset with Charyn Harris

Charyn Harris is a woman who does it all! This Los Angeles-based author, educator, motivational speaker, musician, and music business professional began her career touring as a keyboardist for R&B legend Barry White. She graduated from Berklee College of Music and earned an MBA from The University of Phoenix. In 2004, Charyn founded Project MuszEd, a nonprofit agency providing arts education, performance, and programming. She is also, the host of her own podcast called Musicians Guide to Grit, empowering musicians and females worldwide through her knowledge and expertise as a woman and leader in the music business. She newly released her debut book The Art of War for Creatives, which addresses mastering your mindset and learning to create a foundation for yourself to have the life and career that you deserve. In 2020, Charyn co-founded My Good with Macy Gray, to support families who lost a loved one to police brutality. To learn more about Charyn Harris and the incredible initiatives she has created, continue reading below.

Swagg R'Celious Has Us on Cloud 19

Swagg R’Celious is a Grammy Award winning music producer, having earned that honor for his work on the album H.E.R. by H.E.R., but his influence doesn’t stop there. Swagg also helped produce Kehlani’s debut mixtape Cloud 19, which had a huge impact on R&B today. He ultimately works as a visionary, helping artists define their sound and songwriting. In his conversation with Jejune, we learn that Swagg R’Celious is also a mentor and advocate for Black Youth in the music industry. He is a a professor at both Berklee College of Music and NYU, where he has set out to become the professor that he has always wanted growing up, a conduct between real life experience and the classroom. Swagg R’Celious recently became an ambassador for the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective, which aims to build trust and empower Black artists, creatives and music executives. Through his work as an ambassador, he is able to provide insight and input on how Black artists are represented at the Recording Academy. Continue reading our interview with Swagg R’Celious to learn more about his background, his work on H.E.R. and Cloud 19, and some upcoming projects that he has coming up!