Samuel has over 25 years experience in museum and historical society institutions. He has served as manuscript curator for some of the most important historical resources in African American history. An award winning curator, writer, editor, lecturer, and researcher Samuel has numerous publications in peer review journals, encyclopedias, books, magazines, newspapers, and has written or edited three books, "Soul Soldiers: African Americans and the Vietnam Era (editor);" "Through the Lens of Allen E. Cole: A Photographic History of African Americans in Cleveland, Ohio (co-author)," and "The Civil War in Pennsylvania: The African American Experience (editor)". 



Samuel serves as the Immediate Past President of the Association of African American Museums and has been a member since 1992. He has also served on the executive council of Association for the Study of African American Life & History (ASALH); and former vice president of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH in Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society of Pittsburgh.

Carol Schwartz’s devotion to the District of Columbia began in 1966, when she came here to teach special education. Carol was first elected to the Board of Education in 1974, where she served until 1982. Subsequently, she was elected four times (1984, 1996, 2000, 2004) to an at-large seat on the D.C. Council, leaving in 2009. Carol, a former Republican and now Independent, ran for Mayor several times (1986, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2014), twice against Marion Barry. As a Republican, she garnered as much as 42 percent of the vote in a city where Democrats have accounted for nearly 80% of the electorate.

On the Board of Education, Carol was elected Vice President a then unprecedented three times and was a champion for educational reform to increase test scores and for the creation of Banneker Academic High School. On the D.C. Council, her many accomplishments included lowering taxes, creating the Department of the Environment, and spearheading sick and safe leave for workers, making D.C. the second jurisdiction in the country to do so. Carol also strengthened D.C.’s Whistleblower Protection Law to become the toughest in the country, and was known for her strong oversight which greatly improved city services. She also unearthed and stopped numerous government “sweetheart deals,” earning her the title of “Best Friend of the D.C. Taxpayer” from Washington City Paper.

Carol has also shown her commitment to public service by contributing her time, her energy, and her voice to a wide array of community causes. Her volunteer work has included serving on the Boards of the Metropolitan Police Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs for 25 years (where she became its first woman President), the Whitman-Walker Clinic (where she was elected Vice Chair) for 17 years, the Hattie M. Strong Foundation for 20 years, and the Community Advisory Board of the Kennedy Center for three decades. In addition, she is currently on the Board of the Humane Rescue Alliance, the National Council of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Advisory Board of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.

For her work on behalf of the District, Carol has received the National Capitol Area Leadership Award from the Human Rights Campaign, the Whitney M. Young Award for Community Service from the Greater Washington Urban League, the Three Decades of Leadership Award from the Washington Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, among many others, and has recently been inducted into the D.C. Hall of Fame. In early 2016, Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed her to the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability.

Born January 20, 1944, in Greenville, Mississippi, Carol spent her childhood in Midland, Texas, where she attended public schools, worked in the family store, and helped care for her brother and only sibling Johnny, an individual with intellectual disabilities, who passed away in 2004. She graduated from the University of Texas in 1965 with a degree in elementary and special education. She has three adult children, all of whom are proud graduates of the D.C. Public Schools.

On October 26, 2017, Carol released her autobiography entitled 'Quite a Life!: From Defeat to Defeat … and Back' which is available at caroldc.com, amazon.com and at these local bookstores: Politics and Prose, Busboys and Poets, Upshur Books, Capitol Hills Books, Bridge Street Books, East City Bookstore, Walls of Books, and the Howard University Barnes and Noble.

LISA NICHOLS is one of the world’s most-requested motivational speakers, as well as media personality and corporate CEO whose global platform has reached and served nearly 30 million people. From a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur, Lisa’s courage and determination has inspired fans worldwide and helped countless audiences break through, to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Motivating the Masses, Inc. – one of the country’s only publicly traded personal and business development training companies – Lisa has helped develop workshops and programs that have transformed the lives of men and women, and altered the trajectory of businesses throughout the country and across the world.

Lisa is also a best-selling author of six books, and her 7th book ABUNDANCE NOW, published by HarperCollins. In ABUNDANCE NOW, Lisa continues her journey with her fans, providing a clear and practical blueprint for personal success, drawn directly from the life experiences of its beloved author. ABUNDANCE NOW is the follow-up to Lisa’s New York Times bestseller, NO MATTER WHAT.

Lisa’s extraordinary story of transforming her own life from public assistance for her family to leading a multi-million dollar enterprise is the inspiration behind her bold mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same. Today, fans worldwide revere Lisa for her mastery of teaching people how to accomplishing unfathomable goals and tap their limitless potential.

A noted media personality who has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, the Steve Harvey Show, and Extra – just to name a few, is also celebrated for the impact she has on the lives of teens. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation Motivating the Teen Spirit, she has touched the lives of 211,650 teens, prevented over 3,800 teen suicides, supported 2,500 dropouts in returning to school, and has helped thousands reunite with families.

Among the prestigious awards and honors bestowed upon Lisa for her extensive work are the Humanitarian Award from the country of South Africa, The Ambassador Award, and the LEGO Foundation‘s Heart of Learning Award. The City of Henderson, Nevada named November 20th as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day; and the City of Houston, Texas named May 9th as Lisa Nichols Day for her dedication to service, philanthropy and healing.

Lisa lives, plays and works in the greater San Diego, California area and on stages around the world, working alongside her world-class team committed to Motivating the Masses.

I am Mike Partain, a co-founder and public spokesman for an organization called "The Few, The Proud, the Forgotten."  From 1953 until 1987, the base water supply for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was highly contaminated with industrial chemicals. For the past decade I have served as a community representative to the estimated one million Sailors, Marines and their families potentially affected by the Camp Lejeune contamination. I have testified twice in Congress and I am recognized as an expert on those issues.  I was invited as a special guest to the White House in 2012, for the signing of the Janey Ensminger Act into law. Much of our fight for justice was chronicled in the award winning documentary "Semper Fi: Always Faithful."

Pax of Wildly Women by VC Bestor

Predators balance Mother Nature. So Farraga takes time off from menopause to run a charity - Fanged Wilds and Women Program - to inspire others around the world to protect the most dangerous animals in natural habitats.



Very few ladies end up being eaten.



They are, however, targeted by extremists to whom one word is an unspeakable obscenity: Eco-feminism. Many can't even pronounce the word. What can the ladies possibly do to defend themselves?



Besides patrolling holistically herded livestock at the margins of wilderness, the micro-finance recipients also market apparel that - theoretically - repels animal attacks. For instance, F.W.W.P. uniforms are garish, since bright colors can indicate toxic unpalatability. Celebrities espouse the style as a trendy statement.



Fashion models, snobs and the hoi-polloi head toward climate collapse. F.W.W.P. anti-poaching squads stand up to opponents - even environmentalists, and fanatics of every stripe - and ultimately Save the World.

Fanged Wilds and Women Program is a 501c3 Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Organization.

GAIL MICHAEL

Gail Michael is a writer, poet, sculptor and a deep thinker. For the past 4 decades, she has been on an eternal search to understand the meaning of her life and to heal her deep childhood wounds. She finally realized that every being and situation that comes before us has a message and this is where the healing begins.

Her career in corporate America spanned 20 years when she realized she had to resign and follow a dream to the Island of Capri to write a novel. So she did. Once on this enchanting island in the Mediterranean and alone with her thoughts, old memories, fears and anxiety bubbled up. She had to address them to forgive her innocence and release them. Only then was she able to step off the island and travel throughout Italy and Greece. Her internal growth and clarity and this picturesque backdrop created the character Roxanna and the story in her latest book, Unveiling Rosanna. Roxanna’s story is loosely based on Gail’s experiences and adventures.

From 1983 to 2003, Gail’s poetry was published by the International Library of Poetry, Noble House and the Amherst Society. In 2002, her first nonfiction book was published, I Am a Thousand Winds That Blow, the Healing Power of a Remarkable Death, the story of her mother’s battle with cancer.  In 2005, she was invited to co-author in the Giving Gratitude Series, Wake Up – Live the Life You Love with Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Greg Scott Reid and others.

The Passions of Roxanna was released in 2008 after Gail’s time in Italy but she eventually pulled it from her publisher to rewrite it and change the story from the place where she is today. “We can only write from what we know,” she says. “I could never have written this revised story before because I had not healed all those parts of me that needed attention.”

Her desire has always been to inspire and entertain others with her books, articles, poetry and sculptures.  Her life experiences have taught her loving kindness, compassion and empathy for others and finally herself. She is now enough.

No matter where she is in her day, Gail continues to pinch herself and asks, “How does it get any better than this?”

KATHERINE TERRIEN

Katherine Terrien is a Seattle, Washington, born and raised, singer/songwriter. From a young age she would be found singing at the top of her lungs to family members, but has since taken her boisterous personality to the stages and streets of L.A.. At age twenty-five, she plays around at local venues and hopes to bring her mellow, soulful music to the people of this world wherever that may lead. Keep up to date with her on her Instagram for upcoming shows and events and on Youtube for new videos!

Lidia Caton was born in Trinidad and Tobago and later moved to the United States where she joined the U.S. Navy.  She became a U.S. citizen when she was on active duty.  She joined the Navy in 1979 and initially left active duty in 1981.  She then served a few years in the Navy reserves, and in 1988 she returned to active duty.  Between 1988 and 2006, she served on a number of ships, including the USS McKee (AS-41), the USS Dixon (AS-37), the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), and the USS George Washington (CV-73).  During her Navy career, she traveled the world on multiple deployments, with stops in many countries.  She retired from the Navy in 2006 as a Petty Officer First Class, SW/AW Mess Specialist/Culinary Specialist.  Since her retirement from the Navy, she has worked for Home Depot, Florida Youth Academy, General Dynamics and most recently for Veteran Choice. She also does volunteer work with the Veterans Court in Hillsborough County, Florida.   She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Everest University.  She is our guest on The Veterans News Hour to discuss several topics, including serving in the US Navy, the VA’s Veterans Choice program, and veterans’ treatment courts.