DaShawn Usher is an award-winning advocate, published researcher and celebrated leader. He has cultivated more than 15 years of extensive experience in research, program development and design, health communications, and campaigns. DaShawn currently serves as the Director, Communities of Color and Media at GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, where he is responsible for managing multiple program grants totaling over $25 million.

He has been featured in Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Now This News, Billboard, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, USA Today, Out and more. In addition to curating innovative programming, DaShawn has executive produced original content that has gone on to win multiple social impact Webby Awards, a Shorty Award, and a Telly Award.

Julian J. Walker is an esteemed silver screen actor featured in “Blackbird”, Bounce TV's "Saints & Sinners '' and BET's hit series “Being Mary Jane”. This Jackson, MS native has trailblazed in the literary sectors with his artistic work, “A Year Without You” featured on NBC News  Best Black Queer Books list in 2020. For the past seven years Julian has partnered with leaders and organizations across the globe in hopes of creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ POC. He's currently the Associate Director, Communities of Color for GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ+ organization and Deputy Director for Mobilizing Our Brother's Initiative ( MOBI ).  

For more information on Julian please visit his website www.julianjwalker.com

Kayla Thompson (she/they) is a writer, advocate, and community consultant. Kayla attended New York University (NYU), where she graduated magna cum laude in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and American Literature and a minor in Creative Writing.

Shar Jossell is an award-winning journalist, media personality, and writer. She focuses on arts/entertainment reporting and writes at the intersections of gender, politics, race, and pop culture. Shar has been featured on BET, ESSENCE News, Buzzfeed, TMZ Live, FOX Soul, and That Grape Juice. Her bylines include ESSENCE, Variety, them., ZORA, and Bold Culture--just to name a few, and she penned the March 2021 International Women's Day cover story for Cultured Magazine. 

Most recently, Shar was a part-time co-host on Audacy's Channel Q Radio  (KQPS 103.1 FM), and she served as a chairperson on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Black Journalists of Los Angeles (NABJLA). Shar was also named to Obvious Magazine's inaugural Visionaries: People To Watch list in 2020, and she was a recipient of the 2021 Curve Award for Emerging Journalists.

Ryan Mitchell is a Black queer host and culture commentator who brings an intersectional perspective to all of his work. He joined the first LGBTQ+ talk radio station, Channel Q, in 2018, producing daily and special programming that uplifted the voices of marginalized communities. Through his work, he has become a trusted voice in the industry, leading to his role as a special consultant for Billboard Pride and, more recently, the GLAAD Media Institute.

As part of his work with GLAAD, Mitchell works with traditional networks and streamers, such as HBO and Netflix, to provide cultural criticism and analysis that highlights the much-needed work around LGBTQ+ storytelling. His broadcasting talents serve as a vehicle to provide a platform for underrepresented voices.

Zully Perez has worked in Event Planning going on 10 years. A NJ native, Zully began her career in the Hotel Industry as an event coordinator in NY. Making the dream move to LA, Zully realized planning wasn’t only a job, but it was her passion.

She is the CEO of ZuVents, and has already worked in partnership with GLAAD’s Community of Color’s Department on several events this year.

Dashka Gabriel, called Dash by most, is an Events Manager at GLAAD...and a creative! Experience within the communications, public relations, and special events sectors matched by an innate magnetism for innovation and authenticity has resulted in her greatest passion to date: bringing people together with intention, ingenuity, and mindfulness.

Obtaining degrees in Communication Studies and Public Relations, Dash gained an eclectic skillset working within various agencies, institutions, companies, and freelance projects tailored to clients spanning retail, historical fine art, higher education, wedding services, theater, and independent films. In her previous role at New York University, she oversaw logistics for all prospective and newly admitted student events, including their annual signature stand-out, Weekend on the Square.

Kenneth Courtney Jr. is the Founder of Courtney Creative PR - a non-traditional and forward thinking public relations, branding and events consultancy, focused on elevating the brand profiles of LGBTQ+ clients through social impact across the lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment industries.

Courtney Creative PR’s mission is to develop queer brands and artists into power players in their respective industries.

Kenneth was previously the Director of PR for Mobilizing Our Brother’s Initiative (MOBI), an organization that produces curated social connectivity events for gay and queer men of color to see their holistic selves while promoting community, wellness, and personal development.

Sophia Yeshi is a queer Black & South Asian illustrator and graphic designer in Brooklyn, NY.

She’s a digital native that discovered Photoshop at 12 years old while growing up in Baltimore, Maryland. She uses her work to shine a light on Black women, women of color, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community that are bold, dynamic, and demand attention. She uses her platform to intentionally celebrate the communities that she didn’t see represented growing up. Her aesthetic is defined by joyful figures, vibrant colors, and organic shapes. She works with brands such as UPS, Adobe, Netflix, Spotify, and Madison Square Garden to create culturally-relevant work centered around topics she’s passionate about like LGBTQIA+ pride, support for underrepresented business owners, and mental health awareness.

Crystal Butler has been in the non-profit event planning industry for nearly 12 years. Prior to joining GLAAD, she was the Vice President of Special Events and Donor Cultivation at Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC (BBBS of NYC) where she lead the special events team in executing 10 annual events, raising more than $4 million in revenue. Prior to her positions with BBBS of NYC, Crystal worked for the Hetrick-Martin Institute holding various positions on the special events team for six years. Before moving to NYC in 2014, held roles with smaller organizations in Charlotte NC.