Mentoring queens, hosted by Emmy & NAACP image award-winner, Loni Love, is a 1-hour quarterly docuseries celebrating African American female mentors and the strides they make towards the betterment of young women.

    Ebony Staten
    Ebony Staten

    Bio

    Ebony Staten The Vogue Room Foundation (Charlotte, NC) The Vogue Room Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The foundation aims to provide functional and well-designed dorm room spaces for first-generation minority college students. Through The Vogue Room LLC and The Vogue Room Foundation, Ebony applies her unique ability to combine innovative ideas with a keen eye for aesthetics, resulting in magazine-worthy spaces that leave a lasting impression and resonate with the individuality of their inhabitants.

    Angela Yee
    Angela Yee

    Bio

    You know her from her long stint as one the host of the nationally syndicated morning show The Breakfast Club along with DJ Envy and Charlamagne tha God. Angela is currently the host of the syndicated radio show Way Up. She is on the Board of Governors of the We Are Family Foundation and a board member of the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies. She is also the first-ever ambassador for the New York Public Library system.

    Larvetta Loftin
    Larvetta Loftin

    Bio

    Larvetta Lofton is the CEO and Founder of The L3 Agency a full-service integrated influencer marketing and communications consulting firm focused on creating authentic engagements for brands targeting Women, Millennials, and Gen Z audiences. With Millennials, and now Gen Z, being the largest and most diverse generations in American history and with Women being the leading decision-makers in both groups, Larvetta believes that brands who sell to women need to support women and reimagine the way in which they are portrayed in media.

    Carla Hall
    Carla Hall

    Bio

    Carla Hall first won over audiences when she competed on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef: All Stars” and shared her philosophy to always cook with love. Carla spent 7 years co-hosting ABC’s Emmy award winning, popular lifestyle series “The Chew”, and is currently featured on the Food Network in shows such as “Thanksgiving, Holiday and Halloween Baking Championships” (judge), and “Worst Cooks in America.” Hall published her debut picture book, Carla and the Christmas Cornbread, in November 2021. She is active in many charitable endeavors and focuses her board member-level participation in organizations where she can make an impact advocating for children such as with 4H, Pajama Program, GenYouth, and Helen Keller International. In addition, Carla volunteers time to promote other nonprofit organizations such as: The James Beard Foundation, FEED America, Jacques Pepin Foundation, The Smithsonian Institutes and their membership of museums, and many others.

    Cari Champion
    Cari Champion

    Bio

    Cari Champion is currently Host of her eponymous daily show, The Cari Champion Show. The Cari Champion Show airs on Amazon Prime Video under their new Sports Talk banner, and gives fans an unfiltered look at sports, culture and lifestyle from CARI’s witty, unapologetic lens, and the role they play in our everyday lives. A broadcast journalist, Champion also currently serves as a regular News Contributor for CNN. With her limitless influence across all mediums, audiences also enthusiastically tune into Champion on her Naked with Cari Champion podcast presented by iHeartMedia. In 2020, Champion had made history with her move to Vice TV, working alongside Jemele Hill as the first Black women to host a late-night cable news and information show, Cari & Jemele: Stick to Sports. She also recently served as Host of TNT’s The Arena, a thought-provoking forum for provocative topics from the most popular voices in sports. She continues to break barriers, paving the way for younger women of color who aspire to pursue a career in sports television and other areas within broadcasting through her foundation Brown Girls Dream.

    Dr. Christina Rosenthal
    Dr. Christina Rosenthal

    Bio

    Dr. Christina T. Rosenthal, a practicing dentist, graduated from the University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, and Harvard University. She founded The 516 Foundation with its primary initiative, Determined to be a Doctor Someday (D.D.S.), created to encourage under-represented students to pursue healthcare careers. She is also author of the children’s book, You Can Become a Doctor Too. Dr. Rosenthal is a Joseph Henry Oral Health Fellow (Harvard University), an alumna of the American Dental Association’s Institute for Diversity in Leadership, a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and an Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity at George Washington University.

    April Ryan
    April Ryan

    Bio

    April Ryan is the only black female White House Correspondent covering urban issues– a position she has held for 25 years. She is now the longest-serving Black woman in the press corps. April can be seen on CNN. She is also the Washington D.C Bureau Chief on TheGrio. She is also an esteemed member of the National Press Club. April is a Baltimore native and Morgan State University graduate, and she gives back to this community by serving as a mentor to aspiring journalists and assisting with developing “up and coming” broadcasters. April considers her greatest life’s work raising her two daughters, Ryan and Grace – who are phenomenal young women. She is the author of the award-winning book, The Presidency in Black and White, and At Mama's Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White, where she looks at race relations through the lessons and wisdom that mothers have given their children. April is also the author of Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House. Her latest book, Black Women Will Save the World, celebrates Black women's resilience and unheralded strength, reflects on "The Year That Changed Everything" — 2020 — and discusses African-American women's unprecedented role in upholding democracy.

    Tia A. Smith
    Tia A. Smith

    Bio

    Award-winning executive producer and consultant, Tia A. Smith is one of the most sought- after creatives in the industry, continually developing culturally shifting projects that leave lasting imprints. Most recently, she received the Trail Blazer Award from the African American Women in Cinema (AAWIC), a Proclamation from the City of New York and a “Day of Recognition” honoring her artistic contributions. Ms. Smith is a National Member-At-Large within the Producers Guild of America, and was selected to represent the guild as a speaker at the United Nations’ “Commission on the Status of Women: The Role of the Producer” Summit. Smith is the owner of talentedSOL Productions which specializes in developing and producing compelling, cultural content to studios, networks, and streaming services domestically and internationally. For six years, Smith served as Network Executive at TVOne, LLC., and has launched some of its' most successful and record-breaking programming. Ms. Smith's career began at Black Entertainment Television (BET), where she became the youngest Music Director to program the billion-dollar network which had over 80 million viewers.

    Pinky Cole
    Pinky Cole

    Bio

    Pinky Cole is a serial entrepreneur, brand strategist and founder & visionary of Bar Vegan, Slutty Vegan ATL – a nationally acclaimed, Atlanta-based burger joint offering creative takes on plant-based burgers and The Pinky Cole Foundation. Slutty Vegan has four brick-and-mortar locations including Jonesboro, Georgia and Duluth, Georgia plus outposts in Atlanta’s Edgewood and West View neighborhoods, with more to come including Birmingham, Alabama and Athens, Georgia. In February 2021, Slutty Vegan’s team debuted Bar Vegan in the Central Food Hall at Ponce City Market. In May 2019, Cole established The Pinky Cole Foundation with a mission to empower generations of color to win financially in life and in the pursuit of their entrepreneurial dreams while building generational wealth in the Black community. Using grassroots and hyperlocal efforts to empower young people of color to leverage economic opportunities, successful risk-taking and innovation, the organization’s entrepreneurship and financial literacy-focused education initiatives specifically target teens and young adults ages 13 to 22 in the U.S.

    Joi Mondisa, PhD
    Joi Mondisa, PhD

    Bio

    Joi Mondisa, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Industrial & Operations Engineering (IOE) Department and an Engineering Education Faculty Member at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor (UM). In her work, she seeks to identify and better understand mentoring practices, programs, and ecosystems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and learning experiences in engineering education. As a mentor, she is the informal faculty advisor of the UM Black Industrial Engineers Group, (BIndx, pronounced BIND-ex). The BIndx Group is composed of IOE students and faculty who come together informally for meaningful conversations and fellowship to promote learning, mentoring, and networking. Prior to her current role, Mondisa earned her Ph.D. in Engineering Education and an M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University; an M.B.A. degree from Governors State University; and a B.S. degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

    Katrina Adams
    Katrina Adams

    Bio

    Katrina Adams is the first African American to lead the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the first two term Chairman and President (2015-2018) of said organization and the first former player to hold that honor. Under her tutelage the USTA achieved a number of major milestones, including the opening of the 100 court USTA National Campus in Orlando, the strategic transformation of the $600 million USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. and an unprecedented outreach effort into underserved communities in an effort to share the sport of tennis with more people. Having attended Northwestern University and led her team to a Big Ten Championship in 1986 and partnered with Diane Donnelly to win the 1987 NCAA Doubles Championship, Adams learned early on, the importance of teamwork. Adams competed for 12 years on the WTA Tour, winning 20 career doubles titles and reaching the quarterfinals or better in doubles at all four Grand Slam events. Her maiden novel “Own the Arena” was published by Harper Collins Publishers, Amistad Books, February 23, 2021

    Lowanda F. Hill
    Lowanda F. Hill

    Bio

    Lowanda F. Hill entered on duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a Special Agent on August 21, 2004. Since that time she has worked Foreign Counterintelligence, White Collar Crimes and coordinated the return of several international fugitives. As an advocate for change, Lowanda served for over seven years as the Co-Chair for the FBI Special Agents Advisory Committee where she fought to change policy in the FBI in collaboration with former FBI Director Robert Mueller. She is an Adjunct Faculty Instructor who has taught in Bangkok Thailand, Riyadh Saudi Arabia and Botswana South Africa. Lowanda serves as a Crisis and Hostage Negotiator who has peacefully resolved numerous crisis situations, successfully negotiated the release of hostages and taught Crisis Negotiations to numerous state, local and international law enforcement partners. Additionally, Lowanda serves as a Mediator. In her spare time, Lowanda loves foreign travel, ballroom dancing, exploring menu tastings and spending time with her daughter Whitney Amadi, her son Michael Lewis and her grand-daughter Jurnee Amadi.

    Jekalyn Carr
    jekalyn Carr

    Bio

    Jekalyn Carr is a Multi-Award winning recording artist. She is the founder of Jekalyn Beauty hair and skincare line. Carr began singing and ministering professionally when she was only 15 years old. Less than a decade later, she is one of the top-selling independent recording artists in Gospel music with nine Billboard No. 1’s – including six No.1 radio singles, two No. 1 albums and two No. 1 digital singles. In her career, she has had seven Top-10 songs. Jekalyn garnered six Stellar awards wins, 2 GMA wins, five GRAMMY® Award nominations, and two Billboard Music Award nominations. Carr was named one of EBONY Magazine’s coveted ‘Power 100’ that highlights the Most Influential People in the World. She was the first gospel artist to be inducted into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame. Most recently receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of the United States. In addition to her illustrious singing career, Jekalyn Carr is a sought-after speaker, conference host, and radio personality.

    Loni Love
    Host
    Loni Love

    Bio

    Loni Love is an EMMY and NAACP Image Award-winning television host. Loni also currently co-hosts the GRACIE Award-winning weekend radio show Café Mocha with rapper YoYo. She has interviewed a variety of A list guests such as President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama as well as superstars like Fantasia Barrino Taylor, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Tyler Perry, Jam & Terry among many others. Café Mocha is the only nationally syndicated show of its kind that was created exclusively BY and FOR women of color. Along with her work on television, Loni has appeared in myriad movies including Mother’s Day, the successful Paul Bart Mall Cop 2 opposite Kevin James, Soul Plane with Kevin Hart, and Adopt A Highway alongside Ethan Hawke.

    A philanthropist, Loni is an ambassador for Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, NAACP, LA Mission, Dress for Success, Reach Higher, LA Regional Food Bank, Project Angel Food, Girl Scouts and the UNCF to name a few. Loni believes in the power of education and is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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    Alva P. Adams
    Alva P. Adams

    Bio

    Alva P. Adams is Group Manager Multicultural Business Alliance & Strategy and Multicultural Dealer Relations for Toyota Motor North America. She is responsible for directing strategy for Toyota’s multicultural partnerships, organizational support, and sponsorships relevant to Toyota/Lexus multicultural business initiatives covering the Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Native American, LGBTQ, and women external/community outreach. Her leadership encompasses the coordination and communications with k cross-functional departments, executive leadership, field offices, and internal Toyota Motor Sales departments and multicultural dealers. Adams holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Howard University and a certificate in diversity from the University of Houston. Adams currently serves as the Chair of the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles Board of Directors; and serves on the boards of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board (Secretary), National Urban League Corporate Advisory Council, International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute, and National College Resources Foundation. She is President Emeritus of Howard University Alumni Club of Southern California and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

    Collette V. Smith
    Believe N You, Inc.

    Bio

    Collette V. Smith is the Founder and President of Believe N You, Inc. and the NFL’s 1st African American Female Coach in the History of the National Football League by way of being the 1st Female Coach in NY Jets Franchise History, Coaching the Defensive Backs in 2017 during Training Camp.

    Smith is a former Women’s Professional Football Player playing two positions as a Defensive Back and Special Teams on Kick Off, Defensive Backs Coach and was the Director of Marketing, PR, Promotions and Events for the New York Sharks women’s pro football team in two Women’s Professional Football Leagues, the WFA- Women's Football Alliance and the IWFL- Independent Women’s Football League. She didn’t start playing professional football until the age of 42. The Sharks recently won the National Championship in July of 2018 in Atlanta, GA.

    Collette today is a social philanthropist and an entrepreneur specializing in motivational speaking engagements and has been invited to speak at Fortune 100 Companies, Corporations and Ivy League Institutions including Columbia University to speak on disparities women in sports face and the empowerment of black youth, girls and women to see their greatness and excellence through adversity.

    Smith was recently Honored with the HUMANITARIAN AWARD by Leigh Steinberg during Superbowl LVI February 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. and is the only woman to have ever received an award in this capacity from him. She was also Honored with the Legacy Award and Keynoted the NAACP’s Legacy Gala, guest speaker at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network’s “House Of Justice” for their YOUTH HUDDLE program’s live video broadcast, Rev Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push Coalition Summits and visits Juvenile Detention Centers to bring hope and inspiration through her own struggles of Hard Knocks to Triumphs to those that need a second chance at Life amongst many other initiatives that will benefit others.

    She is a true Change Agent and has dedicated her life to empowering our youth, in particular girls and women to know that Any and Everything we desire IS Possible if we Believe In Ourselves. Her cultural and gender specific loyalty is very important to her. She emphasizes the importance of building positive self-esteem through team sports to at-risk teens and women in low-income, underserved and marginalized communities.

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African American female mentors

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