Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold is an At Large Member of the Buffalo Board of Education.

A native of Louisiana, Ms. Seals Nevergold moved to the East side of Buffalo in 1947 with her parents, the late Clara Ellis Seals and Rev. Willie B. Seals, seven brothers and sister. She is a graduate of the Buffalo Public Schools and Buffalo State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in French Education. She is also an alumnus of the University at Buffalo with Masters of Education degrees in French Education and Counseling Education. In 1986 she earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree at UB in Counseling Education. Dr. Seals Nevergold also studied French at Laval University in Quebec, Canada and at the University of Dijon in Dijon, France.

Dr. Seals Nevergold began her career as a French teacher in the Buffalo School System. She also worked as a guidance counselor in the system. Subsequent positions have included: Executive Director of Niagara Frontier Association for Sickle Cell Disease, Inc.; Vice President for Children's Services at Friendship House of Western New York, Inc.; CEO of Planned Parenthood of Buffalo and Erie County, Inc.; and Regional Director for Berkshire Farm Center. Dr. Seals Nevergold was, until recently, the Director of Student Support Services at the University of Buffalo's Educational Opportunity Center. She has also held adjunct instructional positions at Empire State College and the University at Buffalo. Beginning in the Fall of 2006, Dr. Nevergold and fellow co-founder, Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram, of the Uncrowned Queens Institute began working full-time on the establishment of the Uncrowned Queens Center for Excellence at the University at Buffalo.

The Uncrowned Queens Center for Excellence will enhance the work of the Institute by giving it a home and supporting the extension of the numerous programs developed and implemented by the Institute. The Uncrowned Queens Institute, founded in 1999 by Drs. Seals Nevergold and Brooks-Bertram, strives to promote the collection and dissemination of the individual histories of women, women's organizations and women's collective history; and to teach and educate women on the use of technology to preserve and disseminate their histories.

Dr. Seals Nevergold is an educator, administrator, community and political activist. She has been a vocal advocate for parental involvement in the public schools. In 1989, she also co-founded, with Dr. Brooks-Bertram, Concerned Parents and Citizens for Quality Education, Inc. CPCQE was credited with increasing public awareness of educational issues and organizing parents as effective advocates. In addition, she served on a number of committees and task forces established by the Buffalo Board of Education. An unsuccessful run for school board in 1993 was nonetheless successful in demonstrating the importance of parental involvement in local school politics.

Dr. Seals Nevergold has served in leadership roles on numerous local and national boards. She serves on the boards of Graycliff Conservancy, Buffalo Psychiatric Center and the Afro American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc. Previous board memberships have included the Studio Arena Theatre, Heritage Centers, Buffalo General Hospital, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., Kaleida Health Trustee Steering Committee, Gethsemane Manor Senior Citizen Home, St. John Christian Academy, Columbus Hospital, the YWCA of Buffalo and Erie County, the Buffalo Rotary Club, the Western New York Council for African Relief, and the Buffalo Alliance for Education.

She is the author of: “From Pan Am Protests to the Niagara Movement: the Buffalo Connection (2005); “Fantastic Color & Special Effects: The Seals Ebony Studio” in Western New York Heritage Magazine (Spring, 2002); “To Be an Instrument for Their Voices: Finding, Writing and Sharing Family Histories” in Afro-Americans in New York Life and History, (July 2001); and “Transracial Adoption: In the Child's Best Interest?” in African America Women's Health and Social Issues, Catherine F. Collins (editor). Drs. Seals Nevergold and Brooks-Bertram have co-authored Uncrowned Queens: African American Community Builders of Western New York, Vol. 1 (2002), Vol. 2 (2003) and Vol. 3 (2005). A family historian, Dr. Seals Nevergold is currently writing a family history of her maternal family. She has also given numerous presentations and workshops at conferences.

Dr. Seals Nevergold has received numerous awards including: the Williams Wells Brown Award in recognition of her efforts to preserve local African American history; the UB Star Award 2001 for outstanding work on the Pan-American Exposition centennial celebration; the Excellence in Education Award from Xi Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; the Community Service Award from the Mary B. Talbert Civic and Cultural Club; the Community Service Awards from the Community Action Organization and the Bufffalo Chapter NAACP (2006). She and Dr. Brooks-Bertram were also recipients of the Brotherhood-Sisterhood Award for Education from the National Conference for Community and Justice (2005) and the Keeper of the Flame Award from the National Women’s Hall of Fame (2006).

Dr. Seals Nevergold has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Epsilon Omega Chapter, Inc. since 1987. She has served the Sorority in several capacities, including many years as Ivy Leaf Reporter. In addition, she is a member of the Erie County Chapter of the Links, Inc. She has served on the Christian Education Ministry and is active in other activities at her church, St. John Baptist Church. Dr. Seals Nevergold is married to Paul R. Nevergold and they have two adult children, Alanna Elizabeth Nevergold Marrow and Kyle Robert and two grandchildren, Naia Ellison Reese Marrow and Cameron Josef Nevergold.

Mr. C.R. Gibbs is an internationally noted lecturer, exhibitor of historical information and artifacts, and historian of the African presence worldwide. He is the author/co-author of several books. He is the founder of the African History and Culture Lecture Series which, for nearly two decades,has regularly brought respected experts to lecture at public forums in the Washington,D.C.- Baltimore area. He has served as an assistant tecnical adviser to the Francis Thompson Company on a film entitled "American Years" and as a consultant to the DC Public School System, Georgetown University, Maryland Public Television, and the Smithsonian Institution.

He researched, wrote, and narrated "Sketches in Color," a 13-part companion series to the acclaimed PBS series "The Civil War," for the Howard University TV station. He has appeared on BET, C-Span, and The History Channel and is a D.C. Community Humanities Council Scholar.

Mr. Gibbs is also an honorary paramount chief of the Vai people of Liberia, West Africa. Mr. Gibbs returned recently from leading 26 preople on a transcontinental crossing of Africa, from South to North. The nearly 5,000 mile journey included study stops in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya and Egypt.

The Smithsonian Institution's Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture features Mr. Gibbs among its scholars at the  museum's Online Academy.

PROGRAMS

- Justice Denied: The Roots of the Reparations Movement.

- White Slaves in Africa: The Untold Story.

- Africa's Gifts To America.

- Journey To Justice:The Continuing Political Battle for Equality & Opportunity in America.

- Black America, Africa, & World War II.

- Afro-Latinos: The Hidden Legacy.

Joe Vitale, globally famous author, speaker, musician and healer, is an authentic practitioner of modern Ho'oponopono. He is also a certified Reiki healer, certified Chi Kung practitioner, certified clinical hypnotherapist, certified NLP practitioner, ordained minister, and holds a doctorate in metaphysical science. The author of the international bestsellers The Attractor Factor, Life's Missing Instruction Manual, Attract Money Now, Faith, among many others, Vitale was featured in blockbuster film “The Secret.” Most recently, songs from six of his “healing music” CDs were recognized and nominated for the Posi Award, regarded as “The Grammys of Positive Music.” Vitale is considered today’s most powerful leader and coach on how we can achieve miracles everyday. Joe has been on the following TV shows: Larry King Live, Donny Deutsch's “The Big Idea,” CNN, CNBC, CBS, ABC, Fox News: Fox & Friends and Extra TV. He's also been featured in The New York Times and Newsweek.  He created a Miracles Coaching® program and helps people achieve their dreams by understanding the deeper aspects of the law of attraction and the law of right action. This man was once homeless but today is a bestselling author who believes in magic and miracles.

Ben and Jen Rode are the visionary co-founders of The Rode Institute, an educational center for the advancement of spiritual partnerships, sexuality, and spirituality. Ben and Jen are motivational speakers, leading relationship experts, and cutting edge spiritual teachers. Ben and Jen are internationally renowned transformational leaders and the creators of Explosive Sexual Healing. Ben and Jen have revolutionized sexual healing and redefined spiritual partnership for the modern age by bringing sexuality out of the shadows and into the light of the mainstream. Ben and Jen have been featured alongside Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, the Dalai Lama, and Desmond Tutu in the upcoming Shift Movie. Explosive Sexual Healing has been covered by salon.com, Huffington Post, Sirius FM, The Young Turks, Private Matters TV, Elephant Journal, and has been blasted by Bill O’Reilly. Ben and Jen’s passionate mission is to unite spiritual co-creative partnerships for the advancement of humanity.

Jeffrey Smith is an international bestselling author, award winning filmmaker, Executive Director of the Institute of Responsible Technology, and the leading spokesperson  on the health dangers of GMO’s.

The most recognized consumer advocate promoting healthier non-GMO choices, Jeffrey Smith’s meticulous research documents how biotech companies continue to mislead legislators and safety officials to put the health of society at risk and the environment in peril. His work expertly summarizes why the safety assessments conducted by the FDA and regulators worldwide teeter on a foundation of outdated science and false assumptions, and why genetically engineered foods must urgently become our nation’s top food safety priority.

In 2012 Smith’s feature-length documentary Genetic Roulette, The Gamble of Our Lives was awarded Movie of the Year (Solari Report) and Transformational Film of the Year (AwareGuide). Described as a “life-changer” and seen by millions worldwide, the film links genetically engineered food to toxic and allergic reactions, infertility, digestive disorders, and numerous problems that have been on the rise in the US population since genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were introduced.

His books include: Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, the world’s bestseller on GMOs, and Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, the authoritative work on GMO health dangers.

A dynamic keynote speaker, Mr. Smith has lectured in more than 40 countries, counseled leaders from every continent, and has been quoted by thousands of news outlets including: The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC World Service, The Times (London), the Associated Press, Reuters News Service, the LA Times, Time Magazine and the New Scientist. He appears frequently on radio and television on shows such as the Dr. Oz Show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Doctors, CBS News, Fox News, CNBC, NPR and Democracy Now.

Mr. Smith is the founding executive director of The Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), the most comprehensive source of GMO health risk information for consumers, policy makers, and healthcare professionals. IRT’s educational programs are driving the tipping point of consumer rejection against GMOs, which is already starting to push genetically engineered ingredients out of the market in the US.

Mr. Smith resides in California and Iowa— surrounded by genetically modified soybeans and corn.

Jerry Catalano, President, has been representing musicians and recording artists for over 25 years and has extensive expertise in the complexities of royalty accounting, tour accounting and tax compliance. Jerry is a frequent instructor on accounting for the entertainment industry. He is a member of the Illinois CPA Society, American Institute of Certified Public Accountant, National Academy of Record Arts and Sciences, and the American Association of Composers and Publishers.

Jerry is also a vocalist and plays the 12 String Guitar with the band, The Fource.

Fiction author, international freelance journalist, blogger, and former news reporter, Anju Gattani grew up in Hong Kong under the influence of cultural tides from the east and west. Anju has also lived and been published in India, Australia, Singapore and USA in a variety of genres from fiction, feature, travel and news, to cover stories, interviews and perspective pieces. Her debut novel, ‘Duty and Desire, A Tale of Modern India’ was published in 2011. She is a member of several professional writing organizations, participated in numerous book events, and is a writing instructor.

Her curiosity about cultures, the traditions imprinting people’s values and the effect on their lives was the beginning of her journey. Anju observes how fixed impressions, predetermined mind-sets and habit-to-stereotype define people’s thinking patterns and behavior. With family and friends scattered across the globe, Anju questions why, despite leaps in technology and communication, meaning is still being lost in translation; her characters explore these concepts.

She is currently at work on her third novel in the Winds of Fire series and hopes her books will one day Bridge Cultures and Break Barriers.

Works at Brandon Hall School as:

Science Department Teacher

SPARK Talks Coordinator

Varsity Girls' Basketball Head Coach

Science Olympiad Coach