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.

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.

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.

Thais knows firsthand what it’s like to have a dissatisfying relationship with her life.   After struggling for years with emotional eating, anxiety and several identity crises, she found the key to happiness - worthiness, and set out to support other women embody their spiritual journey and truly be the change. Thais currently works with clients through private coaching, mastermind groups, retreats, workshops and speaking opportunities.

SETH MAXWELL

Seth’s life is busy and full- just the way he likes it! Like most 20-somethings, Seth wears many hats: Son, Friend, Entrepreneur, Activist, Producer, Actor and Speaker. Seth is the Founder & CEO of The Thirst Project, a creative and diverse non-profit organization located in the heart of Los Angeles. The Thirst Project has made a bold commitment to ending the clean water crisis.

Seth is a storyteller at heart, and has spoken internationally at over 300 schools, countless churches, and numerous conferences, including the TEDx Hollywood Youth Conference, the Nexus Global Youth Summit, the Master’s of Science in Communication Commencement Ceremony for Northwestern University, Envision’s Global Youth Leadership Conference in Washington D.C., and meeting with Obama Administration Officials at the White House to discuss how to activate Millennials for social justice and social change. Seth serves the United States Department of State as a member of their U.S. Speaker Program for International Programs representing the United States as a leader in his fields at events and conferences abroad. Seth challenges people to fulfill their true purpose in life & become an engaged and socially-conscious human being. He also is passionate about providing relief for those impacted by the clean water crisis, HIV/AIDS pandemic, feeding the hungry and providing support for the millions of orphans and widows in our world today. Additionally, Seth serves on the Board of Directors for Heartland Film, a national arts organization based in Indianapolis and the Board of Directors for the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation.

With his inspiring and humorous style, Seth challenges your thinking and touches your heart. He has traveled internationally speaking to audiences about The Clean Water Crisis, Courageous Leadership, The Power of Youth, and Living an Adventurous & Extraordinary Life. Seth has appeared in numerous professional stage productions, television shows and films, and currently is one of the activists/personalities who Hosts USA Networks’ cause-based millennial news show “AsipreIst.” Seth was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30″ in 2014, and has been honored with the Vh1 Do Something Award, and the Charles Jellinger Humanitarian in Entertainment Award from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Seth currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

MAYA FIENNES

Maya Fiennes may be better known in the yogi and holistic health arena but her music has penetrated beyond the yoga mat. Macedonian born Maya has combined her talents as a successful classical pianist and performer with her upbeat personality to create a unique sound that lays a heavy hand on the Kundalini yoga she has been practicing for 20 years. Her music has always been tempered by the unfolding tragedies he Balkan homeland, influencing the natural optimism and exuberance of her songs with hints of darkness and melancholy.

Love Now – the new single from her forthcoming album ‘SHIFT” – has Maya’s vulnerable vocals sing the mantra Sat Siri Siri Akal, which sits perfectly on the uplifting and stirring instrumental bed co-written with LA based composer Danny Cocke. As with every track on the album, ‘Love Now’ has been written to a specific frequency. 528hz. The Love Frequency. Once could say it is perfectly timed as this mantra – also known as the ‘Aquarian Mantra’ – is said to impart deep sense of peace to the chanter or singer. It brings courage and victory. This is something that should resonant strongly during these chaotic times.

“This is the point where ambient, dance, world and classical music all meet, at the crossroads of quiet dignity and power….” [Q Music]

I’m a real life Cupid.

Yep, I shoot my arrow of love on a daily basis, scouring the globe for soulmates. I’ve been a professional matchmaker for 15 years helping countless couples connect with their true love and go on to marriage.

My confession is that my years of working with singles has brought me to the realization that if we aren’t madly in love with ourselves and absolutely love our own life, it doesn’t matter if Prince Charming rides  into your neighborhood, he is going to gallop right on by your house.

You see, when you KNOW that you are worthy, special, unique and fan-freaking-tabulous and you leap out of bed each morning because life is so darn fun, your energy will radiate out into the universe and opportunities will unfold in front of you like a magic red carpet.

I’m here to help remind you of your worth, your passion and your divine spark!

I love being me and I believe that YOU are special, beautiful, with gifts to share, and have a perfect soul mate that you will connect with once you embrace your uniqueness and love yourself.

Finding your inner kid will help you bring the joy back into your daily life. I don’t know about you, but I refuse to let age dull my sizzle and zazzle.

I’m a Gemini, so there are not one, but two wacky redheads residing in this space, and even with two of us, there are not enough hours in the day to do all of the things that grab my attention. I have so many interests, that my husband Adolfo has asked me on several occasions, “Marlita, do you want to go to the moon too?”

Jane Del Piero is a Medicine Woman, Modern Day Shaman, Dream Accelerator, Healer, Acupuncturist, Nutritionist, Sound healer, Ascension facilitator and Transformational Guide. Her clients are worldwide, and her healing services have been employed also by bands including the Dead, Robert Randolph, Dave Mathews, Government Mule, The Black Crows.  Jane did healing work for six months for Quenten Tarenteno on The Hateful Eight movie.  Her company LuvLight, offers healing services including: acupuncture, massage, acutonics (sound healing), gong baths, herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, reflexology, shamanic services, retreats, workshops and personal training services. LuvLight’s website includes an on-line store for herbs, sacred essential oils, textiles and Goddess adornment for body and home. Jane also offers sacred services, empowerment rituals, and distance healing around the world.