Richard Dubin has started four successful magazines for the medical, consumer health and technology marketplaces. He was the previous publisher of BioMechanics and has been involved in every aspect of the medical publishing industry for 30 years. He started with Current Podiatry in 1991, moved to Podiatry Today in 1992 and created BioMechanics in 1994 to deliver a multi-disciplinary audience. In 2009, he created the start-up publication Lower Extremity Review as well as the interactive and book publishing divisions.

Specialties: Creating cost effective and comprehensive marketing, advertising and public relations solutions for companies wishing to accelerate growth within the healthcare marketplace. He is very excited about newly launched MVP Parent Magazine- dealing with the big challenges of the world of Youth Sports!

Charles “Chuck” Hicks is the founder and director of the DC Black History (https://dcblackhistory.com/) Celebration Committee which celebrates black history year-round.  He is a community activist focusing on issues that directly affect the community. Hicks serves on several Martin Luther King Jr. committees providing guidance, leadership and support.  His work includes serving on the executive committee of the Martin Luther King Jr. DC Support Group, Inc.and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Award Committee. Hicks co-chaired the DC Host Committee for the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.  He was co-chair of the DC Host Committee for the opening of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. Hicks is also a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Hicks is also a member of the DC Commission on Aging and the newly appointed DC Commission on African American Affairs.  He also serves on the Commission on Black Men and Boys under the purview of the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton. He is also a devout member and trustee at Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Ward 1. Hick co-hosts with Joni Eisenberg the “Heal DC” radio broadcast on WPFW 89.3 FM. His service to the community also included work as the coordinator of labor for the District of Columbia for the Million Man March in 1995. Hicks was also a member of the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington Committee. He is the president of the Robert “Bob” Hicks Foundation which advocates for human and civil rights. 

Hicks is also a proud member of the NAACP.  He is also well known for providing 35 years of service to the DCPublic Library’s Black Studies Center. Hicks is a supporter and advocate of the African American Civil War Memorial &Museum. He is also founder of Bread-for-the-Soul Toy & Book Party – an HIV and AIDS organization which provides toys and books for Christmas to children whose parents have HIV/AIDS and to children who are diagnosed with HIV.

He is the former president of the AFSME District Council 20 and is a current member of the retirement chapter.Hicks continues his work as a member of the DC Democratic State Committee and is a dedicated member of two organizations that advocate for statehood for the District of Columbia – Stand Up! for Democracy in DC (Free DC) and DC for Democracy. Hicks is a member of the Waterside Tenants Association where he advocates for tenants’ rights and information transparency.  He is widely recognized for his support for the arts and community programming. Hicks is also an active member of several study groups.



Chuck recently received the 2017 Community Cornerstone Award from DC Councilmember Anita Bonds.

Ashlee Kozac is a confidence, health and nutrition coach with a focus on integration.

Ashlee Kozac  is certified in Buti yoga and nutrition. Her background with narcissistic abuse gave her the inspiration to help empower other women that have ended up on the same path. Stronger through her journey of introspection. She noticed the power that came from her past that she recognized and was certain others would benefit too.

Ashlee allows space and safety in a non-judgmental environment.  Helping women switch their perception and gain clarity from the confusion that can come from narcissistic abuse.  Ashlee empowers you to transform and unlearn patterns of suffering and confusion so you can live from love, joy, and excitement now. Her primary focus is integration. Growth happens when we integrate dense energy. The integration of density is a fast forward button to your least destiny. Breathwork, movement, and nutrition are just some of the tools that Ashlee uses to help her clients resolve the past. With the option of other tools that one could benefit from to transform and raise our vibration(frequency). Ashlee Kozac is a mother of three beautiful children.

SONIA JACKSON

Sonia Jackson (Writer / Performer) is an actor, director and playwright and Founder & CEO of Visions of Possibilities, a nonprofit that focuses on edutainment and is committed to bringing to the public projects that challenge us to live life from what’s possible and works that celebrate the human spirit.

When put in ballet classes at age seven to help straighten her legs, Sonia Jackson discovered she loved performing. That same year, she wrote, directed and performed in her first Christmas pageant. In school, it was math and dance or dance and math.

​After graduating from Chapman College in Orange, California with a BA in Sociology, Sonia entered the corporate world in Human Resources in industries like banking and aerospace. Still, the performance world beckoned so she added stand-up to her list and hit the stage as a comedienne. Once bitten by the performance bug, Sonia jumped in. She put her house up for rent to be free to pursue acting full-time. This action also spawned another opportunity: real estate investing, a career where she continues to advance.

​Having entered the entertainment industry somewhat past the age of ingénue, Sonia felt a need to introduce herself in a memorable way, so she created a one-woman project called I’m Gonna Fly. Since then, she continues to expand in her acting and performance career creating projects like Conversations ‘Bout the Girls.

Sonia Jackson switched from the corporate world to the entertainment industry for the love of performing.  Since she had no credits, Sonia jumped in doing stand-up for fun. A friend suggested she do something memorable which resulted in her first solo show, I’m Gonna Fly, a critically acclaimed play on the world’s first licensed black aviatrix, Bessie Coleman.  Sonia wrote and has been directing her ensemble play, Conversations ‘Bout the Girls. Birthed 15 years ago and consistently performed, Sonia turned it into her second solo show at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2017. Both shows earned her NAACP Theatre Award Nominations. Mamaisms is Sonia’s third and latest solo show.

Acting credits include This Is Us, Stray, POLY, Jurassic Park 3, Speed, Grey’s Anatomy, Villain, In Response Year of the Woman and more. Sonia is a Towne Street Theatre Company Member, has studied improv in LA and Shakespeare in England.

Sonia is expanding in so many ways, she has given herself the title of Creatist.

ELYSE JEWEL

It’s hard to believe Dallas based singer-songwriter, actress, and model Elyse Jewel is only 16 as she’s already won Pop Song of the Year in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest for her debut single “Thinking About You” and shared the stage with legends such as Broadway superstar Kristin Chenoweth. Now, Elyse is back with the release of her breathtaking new pop anthem, “Arms,” out February 5th.

​Elyse was surrounded by music growing up and was introduced to the likes of Eric Clapton and musical theater by her dad and listened to Taylor Swift religiously. Inspired by Taylor, Elyse decided she wanted to be a music artist. Now, she takes inspiration from not only her childhood favorites, but Julia Micheals and Olivia O’brien. Elyse has struggled with anxiety, but music enables her to live authentically and open up. She has had the opportunity to work with Grammy nominated and Top Billboard singers, songwriters, and producers including Nash Overstreet, Shane Stevens, and Kristin Chenoweth. Elyse has performed at venues in the Dallas-Fort Worth area such as The House of Blues, Lava Cantina, The Gaylord Texas, Gilley’s, and the Plano Balloon Festival.

​It’s very apparent that Elyse has a strong, personal connection with her fans and that it is important to her that she can inspire others and create a safe space through her music and platform. Despite the fact that she has performed at prestigious venues and has collaborated with award-winning songwriters and producers, Elyse still maintains, “My number one success has definitely been the way I have been able to use my voice to speak on important subjects such as equality and mental health awareness. I struggle with anxiety, but songwriting has been a great outlet for me to grow as a person and work through my emotions. It’s amazing to be able to connect with different people all around the world and be a positive example for young women and girls.”

​Elyse Jewel is truly a rare gem of an artist and a person, just as her name suggests. We can’t wait to watch her follow in the footsteps of strong female role models such as her idol Taylor Swift and continue to glisten, while using her platform for good.