Black Excellence: Kimberley Rudd and David C. Rudd
https://ruddresources.net/our-team
Kimberley has 35 years of writing, strategic marketing and communications, and coaching experience. A skilled project manager, she is trusted to provide counsel, support and ideas to clients.
David is a writer and senior counselor. A communications professional with journalism, corporate communications and PR agency experience.
Black Excellence: Jehana Ray
https://www.packlesstravel.com/about
Welcome to
PackLess Travel!
Headquartered in Boston, a city known for its casual vibe and inclusive atmosphere, we’re building a community that values a more relaxed, efficient, and eco-friendly approach to travel. We’re proud to serve a diverse group of explorers who share our vision for a simpler and more sustainable way to travel. From our Boston beginnings, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how the world travels, one bag at a time.
An avid and experienced traveler, Jehana Ray ’03 first felt the freedom of traveling light on a 2022 trip to Cuba. Exhausted from lugging multiple bags around the country, she suddenly felt compelled to donate her belongings to a local resident. “I didn’t keep much other than a swimsuit and the dress I had on,” Ray says.
It might seem impulsive — but Ray felt relieved and unburdened for the rest of her travels. And it gave her an idea.
After breezing through U.S. customs on her way home to Boston, she scrawled a business idea on an airplane napkin, tucked it away and promised to come back to it. When the small health care company she worked for was purchased in 2021, Ray seized the opportunity to leave the corporate world, and in 2024 she created PackLess Travel, a clothing rental service for travelers.
Black Excellence: Sharon Y. Bowen
https://www.cftc.gov/About/Commissioners/SharonY.Bowen/index.htm
Sharon Y. Bowen was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U. S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on June 9, 2014 for a five year term. She serves as Sponsor of the CFTC Market Risk Advisory Committee.
Black Excellence: Mary T. Washington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_T._Washington
Mary T. Washington (April 21, 1906 – July 2, 2005) was the first African-American woman to be a certified public accountant in the United States.[1]
Mary Thelma Morrison was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Daisy and William Morrison.[2] Her father was a carpenter, and her mother passed when she was only 6 years old.[3] Following her mother’s death, Washington was raised by her grandparents in Chicago. She excelled as a math student at Wendell Phillips High School.[3] She earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Northwestern University in 1941.[4][5]
Black Excellence: Alantha Miles
https://breakthrough.org/alantha-victim-advocates-create-ripple-effect
After incidents of violence in the Garfield Park neighborhood, Breakthrough’s victim advocates respond to support victims and their families. Alantha Miles, victim services coordinator, hopes her team leaves an impression that inspires participants to show that same love, grace, and understanding to others.
https://www.cornersresearch.org/team/alantha-miles
In 2020, Alantha Miles was introduced to the field of violence intervention, gaining knowledge and understanding of the dynamics around gun violence in the city of Chicago. She saw first-hand the effects of gun violence in black communities and the toll it takes on families. Within her, a fire was ignited to dedicate her time, resources, and efforts to help those negatively impacted by gun violence while working to make a positive change in their lives. Through hard work and dedication, Alantha has also completed an associate degree in business and is currently working to complete her certification for project management. In her spare time, she enjoys roller skating and cooking different food dishes.
Black Excellence: Juliet Barnes
CHICAGO – Chicago Stars FC General Manager, Richard Feuz, has named Juliet Barnes as the club’s new Director of Medical, the Chicago Stars announced today.
“We are excited to have Juliet join Chicago Stars FC,” said Feuz. “Juliet’s decades of experience across sports, most recently with the United States Women’s National Team, ensures that our players will continue to receive the best care we can provide so they are able to compete at their highest over the challenging NWSL season.”
Black Excellence: Braxton Cook
https://www.braxtoncook.com/bio
Braxton Cook (born March 27, 1991 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an Emmy Award Winning Artist and one of this generation’s most exciting emerging voices in the Jazz world. Not only does he exhibit world-class virtuosity on the alto saxophone but he is also a uniquely talented vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer whose sound blends Jazz, Soul, and Alternative R&B into a fresh new sound all his own.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/03/g-s1-45613/braxton-cook-tiny-desk-concert
When Braxton Cook stepped into our space, he radiated a palpable sense of gratitude. As a Tiny Desk all-star, he’s no stranger to our little corner: He’s played alongside Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Tom Misch, Phony Ppl and Amaarae, plus gave his own Tiny Desk (home) concert in 2020. But here he takes center stage with his own band, performs his own compositions and transforms the Tiny Desk into a playground.
Black Excellence: Martin Aliker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Aliker
Martin Jerome Okec Aliker (21 October 1928 – 15 April 2024) was a Ugandan dental surgeon, businessman, and community leader. He was a senior adviser to the President of Uganda and sat on the board of directors of nearly forty Ugandan companies. He was the chancellor of Victoria University Uganda, a private institution.[1] From 2004 until 2014, he served as the founding chancellor of Gulu University, a public university.[2i8
Black Excellence: Monique Clesca
https://haffd.org/blog-2-2/blog-post-title-three-p3yc8
Monique Clesca is currently an international consultant after a career of more than 25 years specializing in high-level policy dialogue, human rights, youth and women programming, development, and crisis communication and writing. A feminist pro-democracy, pro-social justice activist, she is also a member of the Civil Society Commission to find a Haitian solution to the crisis and of Haiti Think Tank and a member of the Montana Agreement Monitoring Bureau.