GLAAWC 2025 Speakers & Presenters
Langston Hughes Literary Keynote
Sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Public Library
Diane McKinney Whetstone
Diane McKinney-Whetstone is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Our Gen, Tumbling, Lazaretto, Tempest Rising, Blues Dancing, Leaving Cecil Street, Trading Dreams at Midnight, and Family Spirit. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s Literary Award for Fiction, which she won twice. A past lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, her work has appeared in The Atlantic, Essence, Philadelphia magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Greg.
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes (1901–1967) was a poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, columnist, and a significant figure of the Harlem Renaissance.
Born in Joplin, Missouri, Hughes was the descendant of enslaved African American women and white slave owners in Kentucky. He attended high school in Cleveland, Ohio, where he wrote his first poetry, short stories, and dramatic plays. After a short time in New York, he spent the early 1920s traveling through West Africa and Europe, living in Paris and England.
Hughes returned to the United States in 1924 and to Harlem after graduating from Lincoln University in 1929. His first poem was published in 1921 in The Crisis and he published his first book of poetry, The Weary Blues in 1926. Hughes’s influential work focused on a racial consciousness devoid of hate. In 1926, he published what would be considered a manifesto of the Harlem Renaissance in The Nation: “The younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn’t matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly, too. The tom-tom cries, and the tom-tom laughs. If colored people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, their displeasure doesn’t matter either. We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain free within ourselves.”
Alice Dunbar Nelson Professional Keynote Speaker
Kim Martin-Sadler
Kim Martin Sadler has devoted her career to amplifying voices and shaping books that matter. As the founder and CEO of Sadler Communications & Consulting Group, LLC (SCCG), she leads a boutique firm that provides customized publishing guidance to both first-time and established writers. With SCCG, Kim offers more than services—she offers partnership, vision, and a deep understanding of the publishing landscape.
Her path to entrepreneurship began after a distinguished tenure as Editorial Director of The Pilgrim Press, the historic publishing imprint of the United Church of Christ and the nation’s oldest religious publishing house. There, she helped launch the careers of prominent religious leaders such as Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, while also editing the works of Cleveland’s own Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle.
An author and playwright herself, Kim brings more than 25 years of publishing experience to her work. She blends editorial excellence with creative empathy, guiding writers through the complex, exhilarating process of transforming ideas into books that inspire, inform, and endure.
Kim earned her BA in Print Journalism from Howard University’s School of Communications and her Master of Arts in Psychology with a specialization in Diversity Management from Cleveland State University. This rare combination of disciplines grounds her publishing expertise in both clear communication and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion.
At her core, Kim believes in the power of books that can change lives—and through SCCG, she has made it her mission to help writers everywhere share their voices to diverse audiences.
Alice Dunbar Nelson
Poet, essayist, diarist, and activist Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to mixed-race parents. Her African American, Anglo, Native American, and Creole heritage contributed to her complex understandings of gender, race, and ethnicity, subjects she often addressed in her work. She graduated from Straight University (now Dillard University) and taught in the New Orleans public schools. Her first book, Violets and Other Tales (1895), was published when she was just 20. Her second collection, The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories (1899) explored the lives of creole and anglicized characters. Works exploring racism and racial oppression were largely rejected by publishers during her lifetime, a situation which, according to Sheila Smith McKoy, “made it difficult for both readers and critics to access Dunbar-Nelson’s work.”
A writer of short stories, essays, and poems, Dunbar-Nelson was comfortable in many genres but was best known for her prose. One of the few female African American diarists of the early 20th century, she portrays the complicated reality of African American women and intellectuals, addressing topics such as racism, oppression, family, work, and sexuality. According to Gloria T. Hull, “Dunbar-Nelson perforce wrote in the interstices of a busy existence unsupported (except for one brief period) by any of the money or leisure traditionally associated with people of letters. Doggedly determined to be an author, she plied her trade… carried forward on the flow of words that came quite easily for her. Interestingly enough, she called all of her writing ‘producing literature,’ in a humorously ironic leveling of forms and types. But just as ironically, her status is lowered since the more belletristic genres of poetry and fiction are more valued than the noncanonical forms—notably the diary and journalistic essay—that claimed so much of her attention.” Hull edited the volume Give Us Each Day: The Diary of Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1984).
In 1898 she married the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar; they separated in 1902, and Dunbar-Nelson moved to Wilmington, Delaware. She taught at Howard High School, the State College for Colored Students (now Delaware State College), and Howard University, and she continued to publish essays, poetry, and newspaper articles. She married Arthur Callis in 1910, though the couple also divorced. Coeditor of A.M.E Reivew in these years, Dunbar-Nelson also published Masterpieces of Negro Eloquence (1914).
Dunbar-Nelson was politically active, organizing for the women’s suffrage movement in the mid-Atlantic states and acting as field representative for the Woman’s Committee of the Council of Defense in 1918; she also campaigned for the passage of the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill of 1924. In 1916 she married Robert J. Nelson. In her later years she published poetry in Black newspapers such as the Crisis, Ebony and Topaz, and Opportunity. She also edited The Dunbar Speaker and Entertainer (1920) and, with Nelson, coedited the Wilmington Advocate. She died in Philadelphia.
Opening Speakers
Dr. Leah Lewis, Founder & Executive Producer
Dr. Leah C. Lewis, J.D., is a serial entrepreneur and nonprofit executive. Leah is the Founder and Executive Director of Little Lumpy’s Center for Educational Initiatives, whose signature event is the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC pronounced “glossy”) of which Leah is the Executive Producer. In 2020, GLAAWC’s virtual conference reached over 5600 people in twenty states and four international countries. Her articles and commentary have appeared in The Christian Century, Cleveland Scene, Blavity.com, ForHarriet.com, and a host of other outlets.
She is the Founder of Three Butterflies Entertainment & Press LLC. Leah is a writer, documentary filmmaker, social entrepreneur, and event producer. She is the author of Little Lumpy’s Book of Blessings, which serves as the subject of a proposed animated children’s TV show, Little Lumpy’s Travelogue. In cooperation with DEMASKUS Theater Collective, the August Wilson Center, and Alumni Theater Company, and a host of actors and crew, A Dramatic Reading of the pilot script, “Penguin Problems in the Galapagos Islands,” for Little Lumpy’s Travelogue took place during The Well Reading Series.
Currently, Leah aims to complete, Black Buckeyes: A Tale of Two Cities, a documentary and an independent production examining the lived and historical realities of African Americans in Cleveland and Cincinnati. She has completed Leo’s Legacy for MidTown Cleveland Inc., which highlights Cleveland’s famed Leo’s Casino nightclub of the late 1960s and early 1970s. She also serves as co-producer of “Black Mary” a co-production of POST Theatrical and DEMASKUS Theater Collective highlighting the life of Mary Fields, the first African American Star Route Mail Carrier in the United States, which will be streamed during Juneteenth 2021. Rev. Dr. Lewis serves as the spiritual consultant on the project and the forthcoming project tentatively titled “Chains to Gains.”
Nicole D. Miller, Assistant Producer
Nicole D. Miller is a 5x self-published author, tenured blogger, and urban Christian fiction novelist who takes immense pleasure in crafting stories that intertwine Black culture and faith.
As a serial entrepreneur, she’s used her degrees in business to launch her bookkeeping business, ABN Bookkeeping LLC, and hybrid publishing company, ND Miller Publishing LLC. The latter specializes in assisting debut authors with manifesting their book publishing dreams. Via the vehicle of ND Miller Publishing, Nicole personally provides beta reading, ghostwriting, and one-on-one coaching services.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Cleveland since she was five years old, she enjoys covering stories of hope through freelance journalism to positively influence Cleveland’s narrative.
A Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists member, her articles have been featured in local news periodicals such as The Land and Destination Cleveland. She guest blogs for several organizations, including Mas Larae, a multimedia production platform. In addition to her writing endeavors, she is the founder and host of the female-led, panel discussion/podcast, Girl Talk, featuring high-achieving women leaders in the community and beyond. Besides hosting the 2025 CLE Indie Author Expo, she became the new Producer for the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference, fondly known as GLAAWC (pronounced “glossy”).
Nicole’s accolades include the 2024 Career Mastered Magazine “Emerging Leader” Award, a nomination for the 2024 Stiletto Boss Foundation “Author of the Year” award, and induction into the 2024 Who’s Who in Black Cleveland.
Nicole’s goals to uplift her spheres of influence by utilizing a plethora of creative talents have enabled her to flourish in all that she does. To learn more, visit nicoledmiller.com.
Assane Mbaye, Drummer
Esther Fitz, Vocalist
Esther Fitz is an eclectic entertainer, songwriter, and award-winning vocalist, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She has performed on many amazing stages across the world, from House of Blues to the infamous Bourbon Street in Amsterdam, covering a wide genre of music from Jazz to Pop to Rock. Whether close to home or elsewhere, she is guaranteed to bring energy and passion to music wherever she graces the stage. Fitz has written and distributed several projects, with her most recent being ‘Sweet Things’, a five-track EP released in the fall of 2022.
When she is not gracing the stage, she is teaching students how to write songs or capturing the world with her portraiture and photography. With new music in the works, she is sure to grace your ears with something soulful and unique very soon.
Erica Marks, Senior Director of Outreach and Programming Services, Cleveland Public Library
Erica Marks has dedicated herself to uplifting communities through her various endeavors. As a public librarian at the Cleveland Public Library for twenty-two years, she pioneered unique and unconventional programming for youth, including Books-n-Beats, Girl Power!, Man Up, CLE (Cleveland), and the #CLEReads Young Adult Book Festival. Inspired by her childhood dance group, Erica founded G.W.A. Global Girls with Attitude, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. G.W.A. empowers girls worldwide through literacy, the arts, and movement. Erica’s leadership extends to professional associations like the American Library Association. She has served on prestigious committees, including the 2020 Randolph Caldecott Committee, the 2017-2018 Coretta Scott King Book Awards, and the 2023 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards.
Nikki B, MC
Nicole, meaning victory of the people, gave Nikki B a profound sense of purpose the moment she learned its meaning. It inspired her to see herself not just as an individual, but as someone destined to uplift others. “Nikki B” is a loving nickname given by her father, and together with her birth name, it sparked the creation of VIP w/ Nikki B, where she celebrates the victories within people and helps them see the victory in themselves.
Nikki B is known for her engaging personality, heartfelt communication, and dynamic style that resonates across audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Whether she’s hosting her radio show VIP w/ Nikki B on Cleveland Smooth Jazz (WJZZ), Metro Urban News 1 Radio, co-hosting the FutureLAND 365 Radio & Podcast Show, or captivating crowds on red carpets and at conferences—big or small—Nikki B brings an energy that connects and inspires.
Beyond the mic, Nikki B is deeply invested in her community, often lending her time and talents to charity events and fundraisers that champion meaningful causes. Today, she continues to make her mark through compelling storytelling, impactful conversations, and her unwavering commitment to helping people live fully and love deeply. A positive force and leader, Nikki B remains dedicated to using her gifts to make a lasting difference in every life she touches.
Demetrius Harvey, MC
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Demetrius Harvey is a dynamic event host and master of ceremonies known for his magnetic presence and ability to bring people together. By day, he serves as a dedicated bank manager, where his leadership and commitment to excellence shine. But beyond the office, Demetrius is a passionate community advocate with a deep belief in the power of mentorship and collaboration.
Harnessing his natural gift for communication, Demetrius created the Sunday Dinner Podcast—a unique platform where his love for cooking meets his passion for meaningful dialogue. Each episode is a soulful experience, blending delicious dishes with transformative conversations that nourish both body and spirit.
With every event he leads and every story he shares, Demetrius continues to uplift, inspire, and connect communities.
Miesha Headen, Managing Editor of the GLAAWC Anthology
Miesha W. Headen has a decade of experience in the book industry as a writer, editor, and book seller. She was awarded the Best Minority Issues Reporting from the Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists for a series of articles exploring Black women’s maternal health in Cuyahoga County. Building upon that research, she was Literary Cleveland’s 2023 Amplify Fellow wherein she authored Issues of Blood, a play in the genre of documentary theater using the actual words of Black women who suffered obstetric trauma.
She supported other writers through teaching writing classes at Cuyahoga Community College and Cuyahoga County Public Library. She was the co-editor of Cleveland Noir, an anthology of noir short stories published as a series by Akashic Books in New York City.
For nearly five years, she was the Event Manager at Loganberry Books in Shaker Heights. She was responsible for booking local authors for events and leading Author Alley, the bookstore’s annual bookfair which is the largest in Northeast Ohio. For her work finding and promoting minority writers, she won the Carla Gray Memorial Prize for Book Seller Activists by the BINC Foundation. She recently acquired the assets of a closing bookstore and hopes to open her own in 2026.
Ms. Headen is the widow of Raymond Headen and the mother of Carl and Thomas Headen. She lives in Richmond Heights, Ohio where she was a former Mayor. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Columbia University in NYC and a Master of Management from Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, OH.
Presentations of The Alice Dunbar Nelson Lifetime Achivement Award
Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University's English Dept & the Baker-Nord Center
Julie Ezelle Patton
julie ezelle-patton is an accomplished poet and educator, archivist and curator, celebrated for inventive works and performances. Ezelle-Patton is the author of The Flower Poem (Tender Buttons Press, 2024), and J Walking thru the Alphabet, forthcoming from Nightboat Books, Winter 2026. Ezelle-Patton’s writings have been published in numerous journals and anthologies, including Other Influences: An Untold History of Feminist Avant-Garde Poetry, ((eco (lang(uage(reader)); What I Say: Innovative Poetry by Black Writers in America. ARKiTEXT, a special edition of the Chicago Review: Vol. 67, 2024, focuses on a “Cleveland, Ohio” readymade which advocates for art and community, and ecological protection. Ezelle-Patton has received a variety of awards and has collaborated with notable artists in the music, literary, and visual arts scene. Among her accolades are a Foundation for Contemporary Arts (Poetry) Award, Cleveland Arts Prize, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Core Resident Fellowship, plus Acker and Watershed Hero awards. Ezelle-Patton’s ongoing Womb Room Tomb installation organized around the art and household artifacts of Virgie Ezelle Patton (1928-2015) in a 1913 “readymade,” was featured in the 2018 Front International Triennial to much acclaim. Julie’s visual work, is currently on view in As Land Remembers: Denniston Hill at Marian Goodman Gallery, NYC, curated by Ariana Faye Allensworth. Ezelle-Patton, a self-proclaimed Curator of Rubbish, also showcases her performances through unique techniques, incorporating typewriter compositions and unconventional instruments at significant venues.
Dr. Adam Banks
A committed teacher, midnight believer, and a slow jam in a Hip Hop world, Dr. Adam Banks is a Professor of Education and African and African American Studies (by courtesy) and Bass Fellow in Undergraduate Education at Stanford University. He serves as the Faculty Director of the Program in Writing and Rhetoric and the Institute for Diversity in the Arts and as an affiliate faculty member of the program in Science, Technology, and Society. Before arriving at Stanford, he served on the faculty of the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies at the University of Kentucky and the Syracuse University Writing Program. In addition to these academic appointments, he served as the Langston Hughes Visiting Professor of English at the University of Kansas, and jointly with Andrea Lunsford as the Inaugural Rocky Gooch Visiting Professors for the Bread Loaf School of English.
He is a former national chair of the Conference on College Composition and Communication and the founder of the Smitherman/Villanueva Scholarly Writing Retreat, designed for emerging scholars of color working on their first book in areas related to rhetoric, composition, language, and literacy. He is the author of Digital Griots: African American Rhetoric in a Multimedia Age and Race, Rhetoric and Technology: Searching for Higher Ground, which was awarded the Computers and Composition 2007 Best Book Award. His most recent book is a collaborative effort with Keith Gilyard, On African American Rhetoric, and he is currently working on his fourth book, under advance contract with Routledge, titled Black Intranets: Dimensions of African American Digital Rhetoric.
Presentations of The Inaugural GLAAWC Founder's Award
Named in Honor of Dr. Leah Lewis, J.D. Founder and Executive Producer of GLAAWC
Dr. Yvonne Pointer
From humble beginnings, motivated by the brutal death of her daughter Gloria in 1984, a humanitarian, philanthropist, author, evangelist and speaker, Dr. Yvonne Pointer has spent her lifetime faithfully serving and helping to improve the lives of others locally, nationally and internationally
A tireless activist, she touches every segment of the community especially the least among us. She’s a frequent visitor to Ohio prisons. She founded the Midnight Basketball program in Cleveland; served as facility and mentor in CMSD’s Girl Power program; is the founder of the longstanding women’s support group Positive Plus, established the Gloria Pointer Scholarship Fund through College Now and awards an annual $2,000 scholarship to students in John Hay High School; supports financially The Gloria Pointer Teen Movement in Ghana West Africa and is currently in the process of building the 4th school in Africa in memory of her daughter, Gloria Pointer
Dr. Pointer believes steadfastly that one person can make a difference and is often found in the belly of the beast as she refers to her work with young people. She is the founder of an all-girls program, Permission to Speak. The program focus is to teach participants the power of their voices through journaling. In 2013, participants self-published a book filled with their words and a book signing was launched as a result in the Fairfax Recreation Center.
As the founder of the Midnight Basketball Program, her primary goal was to schedule life skills workshops for the participants. In doing so, those involved in this crime prevention program were able to experience life beyond their immediate environment, through the lives of the presenters.
She is a frequent facilitator in prisons across the country delivering a message of hope and redemption to those tossed away by society. Her message to them is, as long as there is life there is hope.
In 1985, Dr. Pointer realized that she alone could not improve the lives of youth within the community and she began Positive Plus, a self-help support group for women. The goal and objective of the program was to support and to assist the women in the program to improve upon their lives and in return to reach back and to mentor a young person.
She works tirelessly with families victimized by violence and as a result has help many to see that there is life after death. As a direct result of her involvement many families have become stronger in their case to take back the streets.
. She also developed the annual Celebration of Hope program, a platform that recognizes the work and impact of other community leaders. Past honorees include Susan L. Taylor, Dr. Gwendolyn Golsby Grant and Dr. Farrah, Terrie M. Williams and Elvin Ross.
Sparked through her support of The Gloria Pointer Teen Movement, inspired and founded by Ghanaian Anthony Tay, she raised the funds necessary to open schools in memory of daughter, Gloria, in Ghana, West Africa. Her efforts led to her being crowned Queen Mother of the village Atonkwa.
A faithful member of New Direction Church, under the leadership of Pastors Rufus and Lady Freda Webb, and leading voice on redemption, faith and spiritual guidance, Pointer has ministered to others for years. She earned her Certificate of Ordination from Beracah Faith Ministries International and her degree in Theology, with a focus in Black churches, from Ashland Theological Seminary College. She received an honorary doctorate of Divinatory upon from the Canadian International Chaplaincy Association (CICA) International University & Seminary.
Pointer has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She’s been honored by Queen Latifah, Essence Awards, former Ohio Governor George Voinovich, former U.S. President George W. Bush, The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the National Council of Negro Women. She is the only person in history to receive the FBI Director’s Leadership Award twice.
Pointer has authored books, writes for magazines, and contributed to “Chicken Soup for the African American Soul.” Her own personal story has been highlighted in the media for decades and even featured in a German documentary, “The Second Execution Romell Broom.” Her story is also at the center of a book, “God Whispered in My Ear,” written by renowned journalist Margaret Bernstein.
Steadfast on her mission to inspire others, she broadcasts live from her infamous Hope Haven via Facebook Monday through Friday at 8 p.m. while her segment “Live from the Hope Haven” airs every other Friday at noon on Cleveland’s WKYC.
Her ability to continuously keep her story in the press led to the discovery of her daughter’s killer, through DNA evidence, after of a 29 year search. And with a forgiving heart, she visited him in prison. Nationally and internationally, Dr. Yvonne Pointer is a modern day symbol of hope.
The Founder's Award
The Founder’s Award recognizes exceptional individuals who have demonstrated a profound commitment to improving their community. Recipients of this award are inspiring civic leaders, mentors, and innovators whose tireless dedication leaves a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others.
Description of an ideal recipient
An ideal recipient of the Founder’s Award embodies the spirit of community engagement through outstanding leadership and service. Key qualities include:
- Visionary leadership: The recipient has the foresight to recognize unmet needs and overlooked opportunities within the community. They inspire others by creating a compelling vision of what could be, motivating collective action to achieve it.
- Collaborative spirit: They excel at bringing diverse groups of people together to work toward a common purpose, bridging generational or cultural gaps to build a stronger sense of community.
- Demonstrated impact: The award winner has a track record of creating measurable and meaningful change. This can include leading successful initiatives, advocating for a common cause, or driving positive social change.
- Role model for philanthropy: They serve as an exemplary role model for charitable activities, encouraging others to contribute their time, talent, and resources to the greater good.
- Commitment to progress: Much like a founder, they show perseverance and a forward-thinking approach, ensuring their efforts result in enduring improvements for the community they serve.
Aims of the award
The Founder’s Award aims to recognize and celebrate community champions while encouraging others to follow their lead. The award achieves this by:
- Elevating community leaders: It provides public recognition for individuals who often work behind the scenes to create meaningful change.
- Inspiring future generations: It shines a spotlight on the powerful impact that dedicated, community-minded individuals can have, inspiring others to get involved and serve.
- Promoting core values: It reinforces the importance of civic engagement, service, and collaboration within the organization or community presenting the award.
Honoring our Legacy: Regina Jones; Historical Magazine Publisher
Regina Jones
In August 1965, Regina Jones was just 21 years old. She and her husband Ken, an aspiring news reporter, had five small children and they were broke.
Ken worked a series of odd jobs. “He was a dreamer,” Regina says. And he aspired to be the first Black news anchor in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Regina worked as an LAPD dispatcher on the second shift. On August 11th, 1965, she took a call she’d never forget. “I can still feel it in my chest.” It was the first distress call in what would become the Watts Rebellion – six days of violent turmoil, an uprising by a long disenfranchised and brutalized community that became a defining moment of urban unrest in the 20th century. Neither Regina nor her family’s lives would ever be the same again.
On that night, recognizing an opportunity, she told Ken to go out in the streets and be the reporter he so badly wanted to be. Throughout the six days of rioting, Ken’s reporting would appear on the radio. As he veered out among the flames that were devouring his neighborhood, Regina recalls, “he wondered what he could do for his people in his neighborhood that would bring them some hope.”
Less than a year later, SOUL newspaper was born. In 1966, Ken and Regina started SOUL newspaper in the dining room of their home to showcase the musical achievement of the Black community with Black leadership running the show. SOUL, of course, predated the creation of Rolling Stone and Creem. By the 1970s, SOUL newspaper was a nationwide publication, scoring scoop after scoop with some of the era’s biggest artists, like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. SOUL was where Black artists could get coverage. But by the early 1980’s, SOUL would be shuttered and her relationship with Ken, over.
Regina, resilient as ever, was left to pick up the pieces, to pick herself back up, a process she was no stranger to. She’d been knocked down before and she was going to get back up again.
Billy Miossi
Billy Miossi is an Emmy-award winning documentary filmmaker based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
His film It’s Quieter in the Twilight – about the small, dedicated team piloting the Voyager mission through interstellar space – premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival, where it was nominated for a Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary. It went on to screen at film festivals around the world, including DocEdge in New Zealand, The InScience International Film Festival in the Netherlands and the Newport Beach Film Festival. The film was acquired by Gravitas Ventures and released theatrically in May of 2023.
Billy’s short film Goldie, a documentary about a nursing home entertainer, premiered at the 2023 Cleveland International Film Festival and was published by The New Yorker in October 2023. Past projects include Operation Greylord, a short documentary about one of the largest corruption cases in FBI history.
In 2017, Billy directed Eye on the World: The Rise of Walter Cronkite and The Evening News, an examination of the arc of trustworthiness in television news.
Billy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and four kids.
Felicia Haney, Moderator
Felicia C. Haney has rubbed elbows and walked red carpets with Hollywood’s elite. The award-winning journalist by day and superhero by night has taken flight, covering a multitude of events on local, national and global levels.
While working as a reporter for the historic Call & Post newspaper, Felicia used her opportunity as a member of the Black press to hone in on her passion for telling stories that express the African-American experience. Felicia is an avid Clevelander who is intrigued with the city’s history and loves to chronicle the history in the making. She was responsible for renaming Cleveland’s most well-known intersection of E. 99th St. and St. Clair Ave. after Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony. The effort grew national attention.
Recently she co-curated the exhibit, “With a Dash of Flair…” currently on display at CPL’s main branch. This is first time an exhibit has been co-curated by African-American women in CPL’s Special Collections Department.
She is a member of the Press Club of Cleveland, National Association of Black Journalists, Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists and African American Archives Auxiliary of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Felicia serves as Creative Director for the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and Communications Director for The Presidents’ Council.
She does all of this under Beech Street Publicity, a communications firm she founded a decade ago that brings the beat of the world to the ear of the local listener.
"Street Lit" Workshop
Silk Allen
Silk Allen is a Cleveland-based storyteller, journalist, and personal stylist whose creative vision is shaped by a chaotic mess of influences— fashion, pop culture, and nostalgia— while echoing the poetic prose of Iceberg Slim and the unapologetic lyricism of Lil’ Kim.
Her writing has appeared in local publications BFly Magazine, The Plain Dealer, The Plain Press, Destination Cleveland, and The Land, often writing about the local fashion, shopping, and entertainment.
She was awarded the Twelve Literary Arts Baldwin House Urban Writing Residency in 2021 and participated in Literary Cleveland’s inaugural Breakthrough Writing Residency cohort for 2022-2023.
She holds an AAB in Fashion Merchandising from Virginia Marti College of Art & Design and a BS in Journalism from Central State University.
Silk is currently working on completing two books- a memoir titled ‘I Write How I Talk’ and a hybrid collection of essays called ‘Spit’.
Panel Discussion: "Black Resilience: Overcomers, Thrivers & Survivors"
Luciana Adams
Luciana Adams is a passionate Behavioral Health Coordinator at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where she specializes in facilitating new patient care. Raised in a large, loving family, Luciana is the second oldest of four siblings and a devoted mother to her two children, Elijah and Faith, who are the joys of her life. Her strong family values are rooted in the enduring marriage of her parents, who have been together for over 52 years.
Luciana holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Social Work from Cleveland State University. Her personal mission is to establish multiple mentoring and self-care facilities that foster hope, promote a healthy self-image, and equip individuals with essential life skills. Driven by her own experiences, she is dedicated to bridging mental health gaps for young girls and women.
A passionate advocate for self-care, Luciana turned her love for journaling into a business by creating a self-care journal designed to help others navigate challenges, just as it helped her. This endeavor has opened doors for speaking engagements, as well as the formation of a Sister to Sister Chat group for women and the Treasures of Faith Empowerment and Journaling workshop for young ladies aged 12-18.
In addition to her professional and advocacy work, Luciana is a mom-preneur, managing her daughter’s upcoming lip gloss line and self-care kit, as well as her son’s refreshing lemonade venture. Recently, she authored a children’s book titled *Faith and Elijah’s Affirmations from A to Z*, inspired by her children.
During her self-care time, Luciana enjoys shopping, traveling, and spending quality moments with her family, along with attending church services where she has been an active member for over 20 years. A resilient and joyful individual, she loves to encourage others and believes in the power of love, laughter, and community.
Staci Kirk
Inspirational Leader • Business Strategist • 6X Cancer Warrior • Founder, Stiletto Boss Foundation & HERSociety
Staci Kirk is an award-winning powerhouse who has turned life’s greatest trials into a mission to empower others. A 6X Cancer Warrior currently living courageously with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer, Staci is a beacon of resilience, purpose, and transformation. Her work touches women around the world through her personal testimony, coaching platforms, and community advocacy—helping others thrive in the face of adversity.
With more than two decades of experience as a Business Operations Strategist, Motivational Speaker, and Leadership Coach, Staci has built a legacy rooted in turning pain into purpose. Her unique ability to inspire action while offering strategic, results-driven tools has made her a sought-after voice in both corporate America and the entrepreneurial world.
She is the visionary behind The Warrior Coach, where she delivers personal, group, and self-paced coaching, business consulting, dynamic speaking, and curated content including books, eBooks, and podcasts. Her mission: to equip women with the tools they need to conquer life and business—fueled by purpose, faith, and fearless strategy.
Staci is also the proud founder of the Stiletto Boss Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women and girls through cancer advocacy, trauma recovery, and community impact. Her signature program, the Monthly Sister Circle, provides a safe and empowering space for women from all walks of life to gather, share, and heal together. Each month, the Foundation hosts heartfelt conversations on real-life issues, nurturing connection and collective growth.
In addition, Staci leads HERSociety and HerSociety Elite, a transformative sisterhood space where high-achieving women come together for inner healing, elevation, and holistic success. HERSociety provides empowerment experiences, resources, and authentic community designed for the woman who is ready to embrace her full power—mind, body, and soul.
Her impact has been recognized through numerous honors, including:
- Beachwood, Ohio Woman of the Year (2022)
- Spirit of Success Award
- Women of Inspiration Award (2023)
- WEA Inspirational Leader Recognition
Whether addressing boardrooms, business summits, or community gatherings, Staci speaks with a rare combination of depth and relatability that ignites hearts and shifts mindsets. Her secret to success? Faith, strategy, and radical authenticity.
When she’s not mentoring rising leaders or commanding the stage, Staci enjoys spending time with her grown children and loved ones, watching movies with lots of popcorn, and hosting unforgettable gatherings full of laughter. She believes in living life out loud, loving big, and helping women build self-sustaining lives and legacies.
Laura C. Cowan, Moderator
Laura C. Cowan’s tale of survival and heroism can be seen around the world as the Lifetime Network’s 2025 feature film The Girl in the Garage: The Laura Cowan Story.
Escaping from an abusive polygamist family, Laura and her three children endured unimaginable abuse. Locked away and held captive in a cold, dark garage with no heat, food, water, or plumbing. Laura was repeatedly raped, beaten, and starved, alongside her children.
Stripped of everything but the will to survive, to make it out of that garage.
Today, Laura travels all over the world telling her amazing story and advocating for domestic violence victims.
Panel Discussion: "Black Resilience: Overcomers, Thrivers & Survivors"
Dr. Lisa Wicker
An internationally recognized thought leader, human resources, and career strategist, Dr. Lisa Wicker is also an entrepreneur, author, speaker, wife, mother, and friend. With her dynamic approach to life and her signature style, she connects people across the world and finds her mission to be that of helping others to get the most out of their work lives and companies to create value. She shares contemporary relevant work life experiences and empowering principles with her clients as demonstrated in her award-winning books, Capacity, Women Shattering the Limits – Now!, The Winning Spirit: Building Employee Enthusiasm, and Power Play: Discover the Secrets to Spirit-Winning Success! Following prominent human resources careers with Fortune 500 Companies, Dr. Lisa established her Detroit, MI and Charlotte, NC firm, Linwick & Associates, LLC (LWA). With more than 30 years’ experience creating organizational value and business results through people, Dr. Lisa has earned the reputation as a sought-after expert in the field of HR, change management, learning, and career development. She was voted “One of the Most Successful Businesswomen in Detroit” by The Detroit News and Charlotte’s 50 Most influential Women and is a member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Board Services Network.
Valerie J. Lewis Coleman
Valerie J. Lewis Coleman, serving professional speakers and experts to magnify and monetize their message by publishing quality books!
- Click here to launch your writing career!
- When I See Me™ BIPOC Children’s Book Fair is Saturday, July 25, 2026 in Dayton, OH. Join us for a day of literary fun, giveaways, and more. WhenISeeMe.com Donate to a A Book in Every Bag bit.ly/WhenISeeMe0725
- Oh, The Things I Can Be When I See Me – Samara and Lyric are cousins who love to visit their grandmother, MeMe. The girls talk about all the wonderful things they want to be. Their self-esteem and confidence grow as they learn about women who have done what they hope to do. Filled with historical pioneers and modern-day trailblazers, this picture book empowers girls of color by providing examples of successful women who look like them. Click here to get your autographed copy of the Feathered Quill Bronze Award winner! Creative Child Kids Picture Book of the Year! Readers Favorite Honorable Mention for Children’s Educational
- The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box – Relationship advice that your father didn’t tell you and your mother didn’t know. Click here to get your autographed copy of this Amazon bestseller. For Kindle, click here; for Audible, click here; for Nook and other formats,
The GLAAWC website aims to conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 AA standards. If you experience an accessibility barrier while on the GLAAWC website, please contact us via email at glaawcfd2018@gmail.com. We will provide alternative formats and work to eliminate any barriers to create a more accessible experience for everyone.
GLAAWC. All Rights Reserved. 2025.