Speakers, & Presenters

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Vanya's work exists at the intersections of art, design, culture,  and production. From commanding the stage as a Performer to crafting immersive worlds behind the scenes as a Creative Director or Scenographer, this South Florida-born artist is known for bringing a wealth of creativity and dedication to her work. 

Vanya earned an associate’s degree in architecture from Miami Dade College and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in art from Florida International University. She is pursuing a master’s in public policy and development at FIU. 

Meet Ashley D. Milton, a trailblazing executive shaping change within the business consulting space in African diaspora markets. Driven by unwavering commitment to evolutionary economics and environmental preservation, Ashley's journey is a testament to purpose-oriented leadership. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Policy, Ashley addresses intricate environmental challenges facing business in the tourism sector, crafting solutions that drive corporate growth while promoting greening businesses and the subsequent workforce. As visionary Founder of She Grows It, she adeptly navigates organizations toward harnessing green capital and cultivating regenerative financial growth through her strategic insights.

Ashley Carter, MS, RD, LDN, is a registered dietitian, educator, and co-founder of EatWell Exchange, a nonprofit that brings culturally centered nutrition education, gardening programs, and free culinary classes to underserved communities in South Florida and North Carolina. A Liberty City native and adjunct professor at Florida A&M University, Ashley teaches families to embrace their cultural foods while building lifelong healthy habits. Her work has been featured by NBC 6, Essence, and the Miami Herald. 

Angelica Newton of Bes Moves entered the holistic industry after discovering her passion for empowering others to take control of their health. Between 2021 and 2023, she became certified in Vinyasa, Trauma-Informed and Kemetic (Ancient Egyptian) Yoga. Her mission is to bring more African people into healing spaces and cultivate an environment of love and acceptance. She teaches her specialty –Kemetic Yoga primarily in the Palm Beach County area. 

Keachia is the Founder of Movements for Change, LLC where she transforms lives one soul at a time.  In 2014 Keachia had a vision of bringing emotional wellness to the world.  This vision transformed into serving thousands from Ghana, West Africa to Jamaica and within the United States.  Keachia operates an online healing sanctuary where souls from all over the globe come to her for emotional healing.  Many recovering from childhood trauma, inner child pain, self-identity struggles and much more.      

Nadine Smith is an educator, futurist, and the founder and executive director of The Gathering Place, a growing, girl-centered microschool network based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With over 20 years in education, her work is grounded in Black feminist thought, Afro futurism, and a belief that learning should be liberatory, joyful, and human centered.  From 2018 to 2024, Nadine served as principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Washington, DC, one of the nation’s most historic Black high schools once led by Anna Julia Cooper. There, she founded the Carter G. Woodson Black Studies Academy and led school transformation rooted in culture, community, and purpose.  Today, Nadine leads The Gathering Place, where she rejects compliance driven, deficit based schooling in favor of care, agency, and possibility. She believes joy is a serious educational practice and freedom should be felt daily in learning spaces, not postponed for later.