**Bevy Smith**

***Radio personality, television personality & Businesswoman***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
**She's known for her pop culture, fashion, and entertainment expertise, and has worked with outlets like Bravo, VH1, and E! Entertainment.**
**She is best known for co‑hosting *Fashion Queens*, her SiriusXM radio show “Bevelations,” and her memoir *Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie*.**

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**Eric B**

***Hip Hop Music Artist, Producer, Business Mogul & Talk Show Host***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
**Rapper, record producer, and DJ from New York City. One half of the golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he formed the group in 1986 and served as its primary producer and DJ.**
**Their debut album,** ***Paid in Full*** **(1987) was named the greatest** **hip hop** **album of all time by** **MTV** **in 2006,and the duo were nominated in 2011 for induction into the** **Rock and Roll Hall of Fame**.

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**Dave Huie aka Two Dollar Dave**

***CEO & Founder of Vio/k Marketing Group, PowHERful. UNK NBA & Founding Partner of DADA &*** ***Erika Lynn Huie Downs Foundation***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**

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**Leon**

***Actor, Singer, Music & Film Producer***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
**Notable Films: The Five Heartbeats, Cool Runnings, Above The Rim, Waiting To Exhale, Little Richard and more..**
**Leon is also the lead singer of the reggae ensemble “Leon and The Peoples”**
**One of his *most recent acting projects* announced is his role in the legal thriller Wildcards, where he is both starring and producing alongside actors like Elise Neal and Aries Spears**

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**Melle Mel**

***Hip Hop Artist & member of The Furious Five***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
Pioneering hip-hop MC best known as the lead rapper of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He is widely regarded as one of the first rappers to bring social commentary and lyrical storytelling into hip-hop.
**In 2007, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five became the first hip-hop group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.**
**Notable Hits Include: The Message, White Lines, Beat Street Breakdown and much more,**

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**Sean Ringgold**

**Actor**
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
**Presently, Sean can be seen starring as Junior Duncan in the hit TV Series “The Family Business” airing on BET Plus: Previous roles include:**
**- Notorious: He portrayed Suge Knight (CEO of Death Row Records)**
**- Power and Power Book II: Ghost Known for portraying Councilman Rashad Tate’s brother, Kamaal Tate, a high-ranking NYPD officer.**
**- American Gangster – Appeared in the crime drama starring Denzel Washington.**
**- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – Guest role.**
**- Luke Cage – Appeared in the Marvel series set in Harlem.**
**Fun Fact: Sean is married to Emmy Award Winning News Correspondent, Nicole Johnson of Pix11 NY**

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**Sunny Hostin**

***Attorney, Author & Co-Host of “The View” on ABC***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
Lawyer, journalist, and television personality. She is best known as a co-host on The View, where she provides commentary on current events, politics, and social issues. Prior to her work on television, she was a federal prosecutor and a legal analyst, appearing on networks such as CNN and MSNBC.
Sunny is also an author and has written books that often focus on personal stories, legal experiences, and social justice. She is recognized for her advocacy on issues related to civil rights, gender equality, and criminal justice reform.

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**Tarana Burke**

***Founder of The Me Too Movement***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
Activist best known for founding the MeToo movement in 2006, which aims to support survivors of sexual violence and raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault. She started the movement to empower women, particularly women of color, by giving them a platform to share their experiences and build solidarity.
Burke has also worked extensively in youth development and social justice advocacy, focusing on marginalized communities. She has received widespread recognition for her activism, including awards and honors for her contributions to social change.
**In 2018, Tarana was included in the TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people.**

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**Whitney White**

***Actress, Director & Musician***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
Obie and Lilly Award-winning director, actor, and musician recognized for her work in theater, including the Tony-nominated Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (2024). She is widely respected in the contemporary American theatre scene for blending music, storytelling, and classical works like Shakespeae,
**Recipient of the Susan Stroman Directing Award and participant in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.**
**Associate Artist at the Roundabout Theatre Company and Associate Director with the Shakespeare Theatre Company.**
**Acting Credits Include: Ocean’s 8, Louie and The Playboy Club**
Directing & Creative Work includes: *Macbeth in Stride, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, The Amen Corner and Liberation*

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**Yolonda Ross**

***Actress, Writer & Director***
**Event: National Cares Mentoring Movement “For The Love of Our Children Gala” & 80th Bday Celebration for Susan L. Taylor l 3.2.2026**
**Location: I The Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC**
She began her career with roles in TV shows like *New York Undercover* & *Third Watch*. Her breakthrough came with the leading role in the HBO film *Stranger Inside* (2001), earning her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance. She also received another Independent Spirit Award nomination for *Go for Sisters* (2013).
**In 2015, she appeared in the biographical film *Whitney*, playing Robyn Crawford — Whitney Houston’s friend & assistant**
**She has had recurring TV roles on *Treme*, *How to Get Away with Murder* & is a series regular in the Showtime series *The Chi*, portraying Jada Washington**
**In April 2025 she appeared as a guest star on *Will Trent*.**

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**Danessa Myricks**

***Celebrity MUA, Photographer, Educator & Founder/CEO of Danessa Myricks Beauty***
**Event: Sergio Hudson 10yr Anniversary Fashion Show I NYFW l 2.13.2026**
**Location: I New York Public Library, NYC**
**Danessa Myricks Beauty, a global cosmetics brand celebrated for its innovative, high performance, and truly inclusive products.**
She began her career without formal training — originally working in publishing and later teaching herself makeup artistry, photography, and product formulation while balancing life as a single mother. Her hands-on experimentation with pigments and creative techniques quickly gained attention, leading to professional artistry work, collaborations with major beauty companies, and global teaching opportunities.
In 2015 she launched *Danessa Myricks Beauty*, a brand built on the belief that makeup should be accessible, versatile, and empowering for all skin tones and creative styles. Her products — many multifunctional and artisanal in spirit — have garnered a devoted following among both professional makeup artists and everyday consumers and are carried in major retailers like Sephora.

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Sergio Hudson

Luxury Fashion Designer

Event: Sergio Hudson 10yr Anniversary Fashion Show I NYFW l 2.13.2026

Location: I New York Public Library, NYC

South Carolina born American luxury fashion designer known for his sharp tailoring, bold colors, and modern power dressing aesthetic. His designs celebrate confidence, structure, and femininity, often blending classic silhouettes with contemporary edge.

His breakout moment came In 2021 when he Designed Vice President Kamala Harris’ purple coat and dress and dressed Michelle Obama, who wore a plum Sergio Hudson suit that went viral from the Presidential Inauguration.

He frequently dresses celebrities including: Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King, Keke Palmer and much more…

In 2013 He was the winner of the Bravo fashion competition series Styled to Rock, a show hosted by Rihanna that challenged designers to create looks for musical artists and celebrities.

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