The Rev. Mark Thompson spent half of his life as a political activist in Washington, DC, before relocating to New York City in 2010.



His civil rights/political organizing includes: the 1984 and 1988 Jesse Jackson presidential campaigns; the movement forcing Georgetown University to divest from apartheid South Africa in 1985; weekly civil disobedience on Capitol Hill — for which Mark was jailed for 20 days — that helped win the first-ever congressional vote on DC statehood in 1993; the Million Man March in 1995, which Mark emceed; every anniversary of the March on Washington, each of which Mark emceed; the 2004 Al Sharpton presidential campaign; the 2017 Women's March; and is on the Senior Advisory Committee of the Institute for Politics, Policy and History at the University of the District of Columbia.

Radio and TV host, political analyst and commentator, UDC graduate, Mark was honored at the 104th Annual NAACP Convention in Orlando in July 2013 for “25 years of crusading journalism and outstanding leadership in furthering the work of civil and human rights.” Mark is a frequent analyst and commentator on cable news.

Mark anchored coverage of the dedication of the MLK Memorial. He broadcast Occupy Wall Street live, on location from New York's Zuccotti Park. His ministry, broadcasting and activism have taken him to the streets. He broadcast from Johannesburg and Soweto during the first-ever democratic elections in 1994 in South Africa, where he received the name, Matsimela Mapfumo, which means “firmly rooted soldier.” He has broadcast from every Democratic National Convention since 1992. For the past 10 years, Mark has been the only broadcaster to provide gavel-to-gavel coverage of the NAACP Annual Convention. He has also broadcast from the annual Women's March since 2017.



Mark talks politics, breaking news, social justice and human rights as the host of the award-winning "Make It Plain" daily podcast.

Bio

ALDA X aka ARNOLD ALDANA and ANDRE ALDANA

ALDA X was formed in the midst of the Covid Pandemic, after Arnold was hospitalized with covid. Once he was released, Arnold and his brother Andre decided to start writing music together again and finding inspiration for what was to become their self-titled EP ‘ALDA X’.

With Andre’s lush and moody production style and Arnold’s story telling of his love life, drugs and LGBTQ+ matters with acceptance and the struggles he faced with his religious upbringing, this EP brings you into their world. 

SUSAN BRATTON

Intimacy expert to millions, Susan Bratton is a champion and advocate for all those who desire intimacy and passion their whole life long. She is co-founder and CEO of two corporations: Personal Life Media, Inc., a publisher of heart-connected lovemaking techniques and bedroom communication skills, and The20, LLC., a manufacturer of organic and botanical supplements that enhance sexual vitality. 

Susan is the best-selling author and publisher of 34 books and programs including “Sexual Soulmates,” “Relationship Magic,” “Revive Her Drive,” Ravish Him,” “Steamy Sex Ed™,” “The Passion Patch,” “Hormone Balancing,” and “Hot To Trot.” 

She has been featured in the New York Times and on CNBC and the TODAY show as well as frequent appearances on ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC.

You can find The Susan Bratton Show® at BetterLover.com, her personal shares on Instagram @susanbratton, and her lust-for-life supplements, FLOW and DESIRE at The20store.com.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, where she graduated with honors. She also completed post-graduate studies at Stanford University Business School.

Susan is a member of Vintage TED (the original group of TEDsters), Women of Sex Tech, Mindshare Collaborative, and FlightClub Mastermind. A coral chaser, she earned her scuba certification and has done over 50 dives.

As a Barbizon-trained model, Susan did mannequin modeling in department stores to put herself through college. She became a multi-millionaire by age 37, lost everything, then went on to rebuild her business with incredible success.

Her core expertise lies in the intersection between passionate lovemaking techniques and bedroom communication skills. She has studied extensively what makes intimacy truly passionate, surrendered, and connected, and she boils down those skills to simple practices anyone can use to achieve profoundly pleasurable results.

JOHN PROULX

The jazz scene is a buzz about singer, pianist, composer, and recording artist, John Proulx (pronounced “Proo”). His piano playing is hot and swinging, and his voice recalls the smooth, mellow sounds of a young Chet Baker. John’s latest CD, “Say It”, on the ArtistShare label, features Chuck Berghofer, Joe LaBarbera, Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard, a duet with Melissa Manchester, and three string quartet arrangements by Alan Broadbent. John’s previous three albums on MAXJAZZ, “The Best Thing For You”, “Baker’s Dozen- Remembering Chet Baker”, and “Moon and Sand”, have garnered national and international acclaim, and John’s fan base is quickly growing. In addition to touring with his own trio, John has performed with the likes of Anita O’Day, Natalie Cole, Melissa Manchester, Michael Feinstein, and Marian McPartland.

As a composer, John has written songs for many notable singers. Jazz legend, Nancy Wilson, recorded “These Golden Years”, a song that John co-wrote with lyricist D. Channsin Berry, for her 2006 Grammy-winning CD, “Turned to Blue”. Most recently, John co-wrote a song called “Stained Glass” with Melissa Manchester for his new album, “Say It”. John and Melissa also co- wrote a song called “Big Light” for her 20th studio album, “You Gotta Love

The Life”, featuring a duet with Melissa and Al Jarreau. Jazz singer, Mary Stallings, recorded “Stuck in a Dream” (2005, “Remember Love”), and “Before You Know It” (2010, “Dream”), two songs John co-wrote with lyricist K. Lawrence Dunham. Deana Martin also recorded “Stuck in a Dream” on her latest album, “Destination Moon”. As an arranger, John has written arrangements for vocalists Ann Hampton Callaway, Linda Purl, and Antonia Bennett.

John began his formal musical education at the age of 3 in Grand Rapids, MI on Suzuki violin, but quickly switched to classical piano lessons. His late grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist who introduced him to the world of jazz. Hooked on the freedom of improvisation, his education took him to Chicago to study at Roosevelt University’s Chicago School of Performing Arts. In 2001, John moved to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits. He emerged as a young talent on the Los Angeles jazz scene and loved the wide-range of opportunities the city had to offer.

John also spent four months in 2009 at the prestigious Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency hotel in New York playing a nightly solo piano/vocal engagement. Since then, John has appeared on Michael Feinstein’s radio show on NPR, “Song Travels” as well as on Marian McPartland’s radio show, “Piano Jazz”. John recently received a Master’s degree in “Jazz vocal performance” from Western Michigan University, and is currently on faculty at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, Cal State University Long Beach, and jazzvoice.com.