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Sheba Simpson-Amsterdam, M. Ed, is a native New Yorker who has lived most of her life in Harlem. Sheba is a mother, grandmother, and wife. She has dedicated her life to educating students in NYC public schools for more than twenty years as a Special Education teacher, Dean, New York City Men Teach Mentor and currently as the Special Education Coordinator at a high school in the Bronx. 

Sheba also works at Achieve Beyond, as a case manager, providing early intervention services to children from birth - three years old. Whenever Sheba is asked what has kept her in the field of education, her response is always the same; the relationships she has cultivated with her students and their families.

Sheba is the founder and CEO of I’m On Assignment, Inc. a nonprofit organization located in New York City, which services marginalized communities through advocacy, education, financial literacy and social justice. 

Sheba is a 2022 alumni of Leaders of Color, a member of the International Society of Female Professionals, a keynote speaker for Black Speakers Network and SuccessFest 2023. In addition, she is a volunteer with Helping Hands, which delivers food packages to homebound individuals.

As a former 2021 candidate for NY City Council, Sheba knows all too well about political and professional sabotage. However, she has not let it deter her from remaining committed to serving marginalized communities through advocacy, education, financial literacy and social justice.

In addition, Sheba is the author of the book, “I’m On Assignment, And So Are You!” which was born out of the many people she met during the  campaign.

People who had such similar life experiences, beliefs, talents and aspirations. Sheba’s book helps people silence the noise to get to their purpose and fulfill their earthly assignments. 

Sheba is also the co-author participant in the book “Choose Purpose Over Fear, Win Every Time” Her chapter is “You Can Block Me, But You Can’t Stop Me!: How To Overcome Political and Professional Sabotage.” Both books are available for purchase on Amazon.com. 

To contact Sheba, please visit her nonprofit website www.imonassignmentinc.com, email imonassignment22@gmail.com or call 646-499-3350.

Coach Dee Coleman is the founder & CEO of Dee’Tox Life Coaching Services, Co-owner of Creative Beauty Salon Suites, & Founder/CEO of Masc Gent Bosses.  

As an award winning entrepreneur, model, 3x author, speaker, and influencer, Coach Dee, also known as the self-love goat, is on a mission to showcase healing and self-love through radical self-acceptance!   

Being a representation as MOC queer woman, her leadership, influence, style, dedication & passion for unapologetic living is inspiring and empowering the world especially those in the LGBTQ+ community. 

Que Monroe, also known by the poetic name Lyric Janè , is a bestselling poet, writer, and the visionary CEO of Meaningful Exchanges, a creative collective that has provided a safe and empowering space for the LGBTQ community for over a decade. Her work blends art, advocacy, and entrepreneurship to inspire resilience, faith, and purpose.  

She has been writing since the age of six, using words as both a refuge and a source of strength. Her poetic journey led her to publish the critically acclaimed poetry collection Scattered Pieces and Whispers of Resilience (A Conqueror’s Story). She has earned recognition in Tuv Magazine and was honored at the Mindful Care Gala (2024) for her raw and powerful portrayal of perseverance through chronic illness, chronic pain, depression, social anxiety, and PTSD.  

Her voice serves as a beacon for those navigating invisible struggles, proving that even in the darkest moments, resilience is possible. As an advocate, she speaks out about the realities of chronic pain and mental health, ensuring that those who often feel unheard can find solace and strength in her work. Her mission extends beyond the page, pushing for better support systems for those living with chronic conditions.

Beyond writing and advocacy, she is a creative entrepreneur building multiple passive income streams through digital products, poetry eBooks, marketing, content creation, and spoken-word recordings. Her work remains rooted in the belief that words hold the power to heal, transform, and ignite meaningful change. 

Dr. Jayme Canty (she/her) is a humanities scholar and oral history scholar who amplifies marginalized voices in her research, teaching, and activist service. She is an intersectional humanities scholar-activist with a focus on the experiences of Black women and Black queer persons living in or from the American South. Her work intends to humanize the experiences of marginalized Southern Black persons.

Her research focuses on the collective narrative of how the American South shapes and molds the experiences of Southern Black queer lesbian women and persons. She has presented at several conferences about her research, such as Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies South (WGS South), National Council of Black Studies (NCBS), and National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA). In 2022, she was appointed as a board member of WGS South, working as

the Black Indigenous Persons of Color (BIPOC) Caucus chair. Her current research chronicles the collective narrative of Southern Black queer lesbian women and gender non-conforming

persons, uncovering how the American (US) South, particularly the Christian Black Church, shapes and molds their lived experiences. Her forthcoming manuscript, Snapping Beans: Voices

of a Black Queer Lesbian South, outlines the ways the South informs their intersectional identities.

She is currently a professor at her alma mater, Clark Atlanta University.