Rae Lewis-Thornton is an Emmy Award winning AIDS Activist. She rose to national acclaim when she told her story of living with HIV/AIDS in a cover story to Essence Magazine. In the past twenty- two years, she has traveled worldwide in an unending crusade in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Rae Lewis-Thornton has been featured in countless magazines such as, Glamour, O-The Oprah Magazine, Woman’s Day, Essence, Jet, Ebony, Emerge, Black Excellence, Heart and Soul, WOE, Poz and The Crisis, as well as, many newspaper outlets, such as The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun times, to name a few. She received an Emmy Award for an on-going series of first-person news reports on her life of Living With AIDS, for CBS-Chicago. She has been featured on national television and on line shows such as, Huffington Post Live, TV One, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Nightline with Ted Kopel in a news article Rae’s Story, AIDS the next Wave and AIDS 25 years in review with Ted Kopel. She has also been on Dateline, Black Entertainment Television (BET) CNN, and the Montel Williams Show as well as, countless other news and radio shows around the world.

Rae has become a pioneer in using Social Media to educate and challenge stigma around HIV/AIDS and to promote issues around self-love. Her integrated use of Social Media has gained her national acclaim. She was featured on BET News, and in a cover story for the Chicago Tribune, that was picked up by the Associated Press on her savvy use of Social Media.

Rae has been asked to share her expertise in blogging and Social Media for Social Change. She has spoken twice at BlogHer’s annual conference. In 2013 she was the closing keynote for HealthMinder and 2014 she lead a Pathfinder, helping bloggers specifically blog for Social Change. In 2014 to spoke at Walgreens Corporate office around HIV education and the use of Social Media. She participated in Chicago Social Media Week on a panel with Chicago’s Commissioner of Public Health in 2012.

Her award winning blog Diva Living With AIDS has had unprecedented success. (http://www.raelewisthornton.com In 2014 she was name Top Ten Social Makers in HIV/AIDS by ShareCare, Dr. Mehmet Oz, interactive online health and wellness site. She won the CBS Most Valuable Blogger Award in Health and Wellness in 2010 and the Black WEBlog Award in Health and Wellness in 2012. Her blog receives approximately 50,000 views monthly, with over a million views in just three years. Her blog is syndicated on the Body.com, which is the largest HIV resource in the country, Poz Magazine.com one of the oldest HIV/AIDS Magazines in the country and BlackDocotrs.com. Rae also writes for ChicagoMoms.com about health and wellness. Her brands include, Tea With Rae, Tea Reviews with over 20 Companies around the world participating. She launched a Twitter Book Club RLT Reads in 2010 with up to a 100 participates. Rae can be found educating on Twitter daily @RaeLT and in 2010 she won the British Academy of Golden Tweet Award in Public Service.

Rae launched a line of fashion bracelets, RLT Collection in 2009. Her handcrafted original designs can be seen on the wrist of celebrities, such as Sheryl Lee Ralph, Phaedra Parks from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kim Coles, Dionne Warwick, Jennifer Holliday, Santita Jackson, Her exclusive web-store is http://www.rltcollection.com In 2016 Rae expanded RLT Collection to include other handcrafted items by her. Fully embracing her, “artistic and design gifts,” she added, hand knitted items; luxury bookmarks, textile and canvas art. She plans to Launch RLT Handbags, a line of handmade clutch and tote bags in the summer of 2016.

Rae Lewis-Thornton graduated Cum Laude from Northeastern Illinois University. She began her Masters in Political Science at the University of Illinois-Chicago, two classes from graduating, she developed full-blown AIDS and quit school because of her health. Ten years later, alive and moving forward in spite of AIDS, she attended McCormick Theological Seminary on a Merit Scholarship and earned a Master of Divinity Degree. She received the Author Hayes Fellowship in Church History from McCormick upon graduating. She worked on her PhD in Church History at the Lutheran School of Theology-Chicago. She is a ordained minster.

Rae has published two books, The Politics of Respectability and Amazing Grace Letters Along My Journey. She is currently editing her memoir, Unprotected . Rae Lewis-Thornton received the Distinguished Alumnae Award from her alma mater Northeastern Illinois University in 2011, as well as, countless other awards for her work around HIV/AIDS.

Rae Lewis-Thornton continues to use her expertise in HIV throughout the country. She is currently teaching in the Community Health Workers Certification Program at South Suburban College. Rae has lived with HIV for 34 years and AIDS for 25. She continues to use her life and story to enrich the lives of others.

Chantay Moore is a dually licensed Financial Professional and believes success should be measured not just by your financial well-being, but by how confident you feel about your financial future. With over 12 years of financial industry experience, her mission is to help families reach their financial goals through a personal long-term relationship based on a thorough, honest approach to help them manage their money. Last year, she partnered with the Heartland Institute of Financial Education, a national non-profit, to become the first female Certified Financial Educator® and Instructor in the Chicagoland area. Chantay now teaches financial wellness workshops at corporations, school districts, churches and several local unions. Her areas of specialty are Women's Financial Strategies, College Planning Strategies, Retirement Planning Strategies and working with Small Businesses and their owners. Chantay earned her Bachelors degree in Accounting from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois where she currently resides with her three young children.

Financial Planning Practice website: https://wealthwave.com/chantaymoore

National non-profit website: www.hife-usa.org

I once considered being known as "Bernie Mac's daughter" a curse. I now consider it a badge of honor. My father was not simply a remarkable man, but a remarkable human being and I consider myself privileged to have experienced his love, guidance, and example. It's an even greater honor to know that much of what he was made of is in me. And it's been quite a journey to rest comfortably in my confidence. I was a quiet and shy child by nature. I fell in love with school and received several awards during my academic career. A Who’s Who Among American High School Students honoree, I graduated a year early from Morgan Park High School in 1995 and went on to Xavier University of Louisiana, where I received a B.S. in Psychology, and an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling. After working several years in the social service field, including working with the Criminal Courts of Orleans parish in New Orleans and The South Suburban Council on Alcoholism, I began working for my father as his assistant. I worked closely with him until his death. After his death, I became Vice-President of The Bernie Mac Foundation, where I recognized that I have a gift for speaking with and bringing healing to people. I speak on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to Sarcoidosis Awareness, Overcoming Difficulties and Depression, Growing up Mac. I am passionate about helping others actualize their potential to become their best selves. I have always been an avid reader and fan of the written word. I have been published in several magazines. I wrote a piece dedicated to my father that was featured in the June 2009 issue of Ebony magazine. I run a blog, berniesdaughterblog.wordpress.com, where I share my life experiences and wisdom, with the intention of bringing healing to others.

Karen Jordan Williams is the System Manager, Learning and Development at Cook County Health and Hospitals System in Chicago, Illinois.

Ms. Williams has successfully coached and mentored first-to-senior level managers and individual contributors to achieve business results. For over 20 years, she has conducted train-the-trainer workshops to help other trainers and leaders develop professional presentation and facilitation skills. She has coached executives one-on-one to help them refine visual and vocal presentation skills that enhance the overall message. Additionally, Ms. Williams has experience working with a diverse client base that includes academic institutions, consumer goods, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and waste disposal companies.

Ms. Williams has a Master of Arts Applied Professional Studies from DePaul University, in Chicago, Illinois and a Bachelor of Science Mass Communications from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Necole Muhammad is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, High School Principal, Yoga Teacher, Certified Life Coach, Certified Sex Educator and is currently a Doctoral Candidate of Social Work. Necole Muhammad has over twenty years of experience working with individuals of all walks of life. Necole Muhammad’s areas of expertise are based upon a broad range of professional and firsthand experiences. Mrs. Muhammad has been married for 22 years with two adult children, worked in the political arena as the Assistant Chief of Staff to an Alderman, protected abused and neglected youth, monitored court mandated adjudicated and non-adjudicated youth as a Cook County Juvenile Probation Officer, provided social emotional support to youth and adults as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has served as a school administrator for six years.

Mrs. Muhammad received her Law Enforcement Administration, undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University, Master of Social Work from Chicago State University, Master of Educational Leadership from American College of Education. She is also known as the Urban Social Worker and Executive Director of Urban Social Worker & Associates a federally recognized not-for-profit ( 501c3), along with teaching four different types of yoga three days a week. Necole Muhammad’s broad range of passions are all about creating paradigm shifts, supporting women and young girls as they strive to live on their highest level through intentional self-preservation practices.

Shartia Divine enjoys hosting: it’s a true passion of hers and she finds it to be truly rewarding; satisfying her on both the personal & professional levels.

Ms. Divine hosts events as an emcee and she has been the co-host of a television show that is aired throughout the Chicagoland area. Grateful for her communication ability, Shartia has had the opportunity to record voice-overs for various corporations and such. One of the commercials was featured on two of Chicago’s most prominent radio stations, WGCI & V103.

Lastly, Shartia Divine also loves music and has been dancing since she was 3 years old. Dancing and performing continued throughout her elementary-age and high-school years. During this time, she participated in plays, dance-troupes & Pom-Pom squads.

In college, Ms. Divine continued to dance on troupes/step teams and more. Shartia is partnered with the Earth in Motion Fitness organization (Park Forest, IL) and is also a certified Zumba Instructor. She loves fitness, and teaches a variety of dance Cardio classes.

Ms. Divine holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate/Interpersonal Communication, a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, and certificates in TV & Radio Broadcasting & Life Coaching. Her desire is to help others from the inside out, reminding them of the importance of utilizing a holistic approach.

Ms. Divine offers supportive life coaching, fitness coaching, and more.

“Learning to love yourself completely, heart, mind, body and soul is the true Shartia Divine experience…”

Shartia’s goal and desire is to help women cultivate their inspirations, experience healing, activate continuous growth, and remain encouraged. She hopes women will practice genuine self-love, while discovering their inner strength, true desires while healing within, and to authentically embrace their overall beauty.

Ms. Divine understands that this process is not an easy one. Like others, she has endured her share of heartbreak and wounding soul experiences. However, through the hurt, silent pain, insecurities, struggles, and the unnamed, Shartia has learned a great deal about herself. She has combined her communication, education, and authentic life experiences to reach a selfless goal. Her desire to help others is a true and ultimate pleasure.

For these reasons and more, Shartia Divine bka Shartia Jones recently became an author. The title of her book is ‘Daddy’s Girl; A True Love Jones Story’. Her passions, her message, her story and her internal desire to inspire are shared within these pages. Ultimately, Shartia Jones hopes and prays the women will utilize their revealed confidence and power to overcome obstacles and surpass their goals in life. Goals that involve matters of the heart, mind, body and soul.

Toni Akers is a Minister, Author, Certified Herbalist, Natural Health Teacher & Consultant, License Cosmetologist, Motivational Speaker and a Specialist in Solving Hair Loss Problems.

Toni’s life mission and healing practice focuses on Basic Nutrition, Single & Combination Herbs, Vitamins and Mineral, Essential Oils and Flower Essences, DNA healing, Colon and Emotional cleanses, along with improving your outer beauty with better skin and hair care.

Toni attended Pivot Point Beauty School in Evanston IL where she got her cosmetology license and completed Natural Hair courses at the Christian Fields Natural Hair Academy in Chicago. She attended the Living Food Institute in Atlanta where she gained her knowledge on how to use food as medicine. She earned her herbal certification and knowledge from Nature’s Sunshine and her Essential Oil knowledge from continuing education from doTerra, which means gift of the earth. Toni received both her Masters and PhD for The Hope Bible Institute School of Ministry, and is the founder of the greatest projects God has given her to date; The TEA Party. T.E.A. stand for Teaching and Equipping with an Anointing. It is a ministry designed to teach and equip women to excel in all aspects of their lives. She is the author of several self-help books and is inspired to open a Healing Spa called Totally You.

Toni goal is to work with her clients to enter into the shalom of health. (The very word “health”, is traced to its Hebrew roots, comes from the word shalom).

Shalom means to have peace or to have safety in your mind, body and soul. She teaches how to cleanse your heart, body and your life of toxins that robs you of your peace and good health.

Toni was a member of the Cook County Clerk’s Women Advisory Committee and has serve the community in many ways some included running a houseless shelter and assisting others with job readiness. Some of her business and special training consist of Influencing with integrity, Foundation of Supervision, Managing Professional Growth, National Management Practices, Front-line Leadership, Managing Diversity, Coaching Extraordinary Customer Relation, Helping Other Succeed, Selection Interviewing, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Bringing out the best in others, Selling Skills, Business Writing, Presentation Skills, Solution Selling, and a host of technical courses.

Toni is very well rounded, she loves people and is gifted in teaching others on how to let their light shine from the inside out.

Yanni Brown is an Author, Blogger, a Speaker, Certified Relationship Educator and a Workshop Facilitator. With over 15 years of experience in market research and relationship education certification Yanni Brown offer this body of knowledge as it relates to relationships. Yanni Brown proudly offers her expertise in many forums including, workshops, women only workshops, couples workshops, facilitating "Intimate Discussions", conferences, seminars and retreats. Making Love Better TwoGether's curriculum is customized to fit the needs of small to large groups, community and or organizations.

Dr. Goldwyn B. Foggie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Northwestern University and a Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has over 20 years’ experience in women’s health and is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Her interest in fitness and nutrition grew some years ago as her parents suffered from the sequelae of type II diabetes and heart disease. She joined Team Dream (a women’s triathlon group) and learned to swim and began an active lifestyle which led to completing two triathlons and several races from 5k to half marathon distance. She participates in Women Run the World and Black Girls Run (a fitness group which supports women on every fitness level).

Dr. Foggie became a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and quickly developed a love for the field of bariatric medicine.

In 2016, Dr. Foggie started a Weight Management Clinic at Family Christian Health Center in Harvey, IL, and in 2017 launched Illinois Wellness and Weight Loss Centers whose mission is to assist patients with gaining and maintaining their health.