Freddy Rodriguez (January 17, 1975 -present) - A rising star in Hollywood, Rodriguez first gained wide spread notoriety as a cast member of HBO's hit series Six Feet Under. His film and television credits include, A Walk in the Clouds, Dead Presidents, Ugly Betty and Humboldt Park (currently filming). Rodriguez has been nominated for an Emmy and has won several Imagen and SAG awards.

Kenneth Dunkin - Raised in the Cabrini Green Housing Development of Chicago, Dunkin attended Lincoln Park High School and went on to earn his associate’s degree from Harold Washington College. Dunkin continued his education at Morehouse College where he earned his bachelors degree in Political Science and later his masters degree in social welfare from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. Dunkin worked as social worker for many years. Most recently, he was the Director of the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, where he managed over $2.5 million in program services. He also worked as a consultant for the City of Chicago Department of Health and Department on Aging. He interned with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Care Financing Administration, and United States Senator Paul Simon. Dunkin is currently a member of the Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission (appointed by Illinois Supreme Court), Board of the Chicago International Film Festival, Lawson YMCA, Near North Health Services Corp, Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. and the Governor’s Film Task Force.

Kiratiana Freelon graduated cum laude with a degree in Economics from Harvard University in 2002. While at Harvard, she was the co-executive editor of the Black Guide to Life at Harvard. At the end of her senior year, she was awarded the John H. Finley fellowship for travel around the world. She has traveled to West Africa (Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Guinea-Conakry, Burkina Faso, and Ghana), Brazil, and Paris. Currently, Freelon is working for the Chicago2016, including writing a popular blog that follows the progress of the Chicago bid.

Shelagh (Sheila) Jackson has written & published two young adult/mature adult novels. She is currently in the process of writing & publishing a series of children's books.