8th Annual BRIC Media Maker Weekend: AI-volution | Day 2, Oct. 28

Reshma B is a music journalist and filmmaker who specializes in reggae and dancehall music. Her work appears on media platforms such as BBC, Billboard, Pigeons & Planes/ Complex, VIBE, BET, Boomshots, and she is the reggae and dancehall curator at TIDAL.

She has conducted extensive interviews with most of the top acts in Jamaican music from roots legends like Lee “Scratch” Perry, Jimmy Cliff and Bunny Wailer to dancehall stars like Shabba Ranks, Supercat, Vybz Kartel, Popcaan and Spice. She writes the monthly column “Murda She Wrote” highlighting the latest reggae & dancehall releases which currently runs on Tidal Magazine accompanied by its own playlist. For Reggae Month 2021 Reshma B rolled out Tidal’s first homepage Reggae Month campaign, with specially curated playlists and videos to pay homage to Jamaican culture which is now an annual institution at the respected streaming platform.

Reshma B’s in-depth cultural knowledge and strong relationships with leading artists have made her a popular figure within the scene. She has produced/directed music documentaries such as ‘Hood Celebrityy: Jamaica Inna Real Life’,
'Skip Marley: Let’s Take It Higher’ and feature films like BBC’s ' STUDIO 17: THE LOST REGGAE TAPES’.

Mike IRAK / REHAB is an American multimedia artist and designer. He is one of the original founding members of the legendary IRAK CREW and also the founder of the brand PRICEBUSTERS. Alongside Kunle Martins and IRAK crew, they would redefine the faces of late 90’s downtown New York City art, Graffiti and Fashion scenes. Mike REHAB has had work featured at Superchief Gallery NFT, ALIFE, DDP Museum Seoul Korea, and Recently at Nox Gallery in Tokyo Japan.

Valerie Viard is a researcher and writer born to Haitian parents in Queens, NY. Currently enrolled in Hunter College's Digital Sociology master's program, her research focuses on the ways in which Black people engage with and are influenced by the ever-evolving landscape of the internet and emerging technologies. To support her thesis, she conducted research that explores the profound effects of social media on the perceptions of relationships among Black people.

This work culminated in the publication of an essay called, “is this love real?”, accompanied by an engaging podcast. In her essay, she coined the term 'digital tie signs,' a concept she coined to blend the ideas of Erving Goffman's tie signs with the realm of digital love, shedding light on the complex dynamics of modern relationships.

In the summer of 2022, she worked with the Crypto Research and Design Lab, where she explored Black individuals' experiences within the evolving landscape of Web 3. The research explored issues of financial inclusion, the engagement of marginalized communities with new technologies, and the policy and social implications of the adoption and scaling of emerging technologies. She has presented this research to the staff of the CFTC, and the research has been cited in Congressional testimony and by Harvard and Columbia doctoral students. Her contributions to this field are pivotal in understanding the intersection of race and technology in the crypto space.

Her dedication to understanding and illuminating the intricate relationships between Black culture, emerging technologies, and her work stands as a testament to the power of research and storytelling in driving meaningful conversations about the digital age we inhabit. Currently, Valerie is channeling her energy and creativity into writing and directing her first documentary.

Raydar Ellis is a “Jack of all trades, master of many” in a musical landscape that embraces diversity. Whether he is producing, spinning party-goers into a frenzy, rapping, influencing students as a professor at Berklee College Of Music, or contributing as a key component to Revive Music Group, Ellis has made tremendous strides to cement his place as a major player on several fronts in the music scene.
Ellis has spent the better part of his career in the NYC Jazz community, setting up his turntables alongside upright basses and horn sections while triggering samples as a member of many live outfits. As a core member of the Revive Big Band (directed by Igmar Thomas), Raydar’s commitment to the principle instruments of Hip-Hop (Turntables and Samplers) has helped shift the perception of what was possible with the devices in traditional spaces.

Some of Raydar’s musical excursions had him in concert for prestigious venues like The Kennedy Center, The Apollo, Minton's Playhouse, The Blue Note, & The MoMA. Other excursions had Ellis in recording studios contributing to Grammy winning and nominated recordings, like Esperanza Spalding’s “Radio Music Society” and Terri Lyne Carrington's "Waiting Game".

Rounding out a solid recording and performance history, Ellis has created musical ads for companies like Salesforce, Toyota, Cup Of Noodles, & Sony PlayStation. His work has also seen placements for shows like WWE Countdown, 90210, R&B Divas (TV One), and NBA 2K (Rockstar Games)

Shena Nicole is a highly accomplished ChatGPT-certified brand consultant, business coach, speaker, and educator with over ten years of experience in various fields. Her diverse expertise extends to various areas such as brand development, brand psychology, conscious branding, tech, and consumer behavior. Shena’s entrepreneurial journey includes notable brands that have landed business partnerships with Victoria's Secret and have been featured in People Magazine (online). Additionally, she holds a certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University, has served as a business mentor under NYU’s Female Founders Fellowship program, and currently works as a business coach under WE NYC and as a Brand/Marketing/Strategy Coach under the Freelancer's Union.

Jayson Jimenez has been specializing in production since 1994. While studying film at Hunter College, Jayson freelanced for a number of production companies. Acquiring a number of skills ranging from directing and producing to cinematography and editing. Throughout his career, Jayson has worked on projects exclusively with Getty Images, Viacom, Goldman Sachs, Thomson-Reuters, Lifetime, A&E, Diversity Inc, Clear Channel and many others. In 2004, Jayson went on to start his own production company in New York City’s Flatiron District. Preserving the excellent relationships he’s built with his clients, Jayson has dedicated his company to working closely with the social elite and documenting their personal events around the world (client lists available upon request). At the moment, Jayson is developing two documentaries and collaborating with producers on a number of pilots for television. "Oro Macht Frei" (working title), a historical film about the extortion of thousands of Italian Jews for gold during the end of WWII, is currently in post-production. The second documentary is in pre-production and is a biography of an iconic and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Disc Jockey that is considered to be one of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop. As versatile as he has proven to be, Jayson's true passion is for documentary filmmaking. Understanding the impact that this medium has, Jayson Jimenez is dedicated to perfecting his craft in the art of storytelling. Jayson is also a Getty Images videographer capturing the biggest names in entertainment.

Donovan Rodriques is the founder and managing attorney of Rodriques Law, PLLC, in New York, New York. A top-rated transactional attorney with more than twenty years of legal experience, Mr. Rodriques provides exceptional counsel and support to clients who have legal needs involving entertainment law and business law.

Donovan Rodriques concentrates his business and entertainment law practice in the area of film and television development, financing, production and distribution. He advises, counsels and represents clients on all aspects of finance and distribution transactions; rights acquisitions; private equity deals; development, talent, production and distribution agreements; insurance, guild and union matters; copyright and trademark protection; business formation; business development; corporate compliance and mergers and acquisitions. He provides timely and thorough legal advice on potential risks and issues, as well as propose practical, responsive solutions in connection with the legal and business needs of clients. He has extensive experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of contracts, including nondisclosure agreements, vendor agreements, licenses, sponsorship, influencer, partnership, shareholder, barter agreements, events, releases, waivers, amendments, indemnification agreements, insertion orders and intellectual property agreements.

Being an entrepreneur and filmmaker, he has a keen interest in independent film and television development, financing, production and distribution of features, scripted and unscripted series and mini-series, and creative distribution channels for independent production companies, filmmakers, and producers. He helps clients package talent and simultaneously, he talks to financiers, funding bodies, distributors and sales agents, strategizing and course-correcting along the way. He has a keen understanding of the physical, technical, creative, and fiscal processes that go into a project and that ensure a production gets finished on time. It is in this area, that his expertise with law and business merge, which makes him most effective to his clients.

Donovan Rodriques is a member of the City Bar, and Business Law and the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Sections of the New York State Bar Association.
Donovan Rodriques, Esq.
Rodriques Law, PLLC
Business and Entertainment Attorneys
1460 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 804-8663
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rodriqueslaw.com

Onel Mulet is a filmmaker,composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, flute, percussion) whose career spans nearly three decades. As a film composer, his work is featured on award-winning documentary, shorts and feature length narrative films which have premiered nationally on Showtime, HBO and PBS.His latest film, Roman Diaz Como el Agua(Like Water), is streaming on BRIC TV, HULU and The Roku Channel.

Since the project’s founding in 2005, he’s worked closely with Founder and Executive Producer Neyda Martinez as Producer and Creative Director of HABANA/HARLEM®. With an eye towards reaching the hearts, ears and souls of listeners everywhere, he thoughtfully supports artists whose timeless work bridges the past, present and future with enriching and cutting-edge collaborations and presentations. Additionally, he’s supervised the release of five cd’s and co-produced Michele Rosewoman’s New Yor-Uba’s 30th and 35th anniversary recordings to high critical praise.

For HABANA/HARLEM®, he’s produced shows at Symphony Space, Joe’s Pub, BAM Café, Harlem Stage, Lincoln Center’s Rubinstein Atrium, Central Park SummerStage. Additionally, Onel has been invited to serve as musical director for Mama Africa: A tribute to Miriam Makeba, and the Black Rock Coalition’s 4 Women honoring Eartha Kitt , Abbey Lincoln, Odetta and Miriam Makeba for presentations at Lincoln Center Outdoors, The Schomburg Center and BAM Café.

Onel has performed in some of the most prestigious music festivals and concert venues across Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. He has toured, performed and or recorded with artists including Enyenison Enkama, Akilah Oliver, Jayne Cortez, Latasha N. Nevada Diggs, Tamar Kali, Francisco Aguabella, Arturo Sandoval, Oriente Lopez, Carlos “Patato” Valdes, Pedro Luis Ferrer, Jose Luis “El Puma” Rodriguez , The Gipsy Kings, David Oquendo, Roman Diaz, and Pedro Martinez, among others. He has also toured the world playing saxophone and flute for the late icons Celia Cruz and Candido Camero, multiple members of the Fania All Stars, and the inimitable Albita Rodriguez, to name a few.

Onel is an adjunct professor at Baruch Colleges Zisk School of Business and a media professor for the nonprofit organization, Brooklyn Free Speech where he teaches Spanish and English language courses in digital photography, stop motion animation, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Audition, TV studio production, and podcasting, as well as working for BRIC TV as an audio engineer in the field and the television studio. A native of Miami, Florida and of Cuban heritage, Onel has been based in New York since 2002.

Born in Brooklyn raised in Queens, Esther knows the importance and value of representation in the world. Having formerly sat as an Education City Council Representative for District 29, Lelievre worked to make equitable changes in the education system by collaborating with councilmembers of various districts. Esther is the CEO of MWBE Queen Mixxy Media and Founder of The Lelievre Foundation.

With a history in serving the needs of youth through education and media training, Esther has organized 4 youth programs on Career/Business Exploration, Entrepreneurship, Cannabis Education, and Financial Literacy. Esther’s passion for youth education is highlighted by Queen Mixxy Media’s work with local nonprofit & the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. For three years Esther organized the operation of the Mermaid Parade as well the youth-education program Behind The Sideshow, a STEM Workshop focused on disability access in science. I have honored to receive BRIC B Harmonious award and Hometown Media Awards.

Through strategic partnerships with IS 98, Staten Island teachers, Emblem Health, Essentia Water, AYR Wellness, and the West Indian American Day Caribbean Association (WIADCA) she has organized book distribution, 5 back to school drives providing backpacks to more than 2,000 students within the 5 boroughs & with disabilities. As a proud member of the Haitian diaspora, I often travel around the US, the Caribbean, and Europe speaking directly to people involved in their local communities to develop documentaries, manage programs, and learn. She has been featured on BRIC TV “Catching the Vibe at the New York Caribbean Carnival and VP Records “On the Riddim” for my media work producing video and music content covering music, food, art, and the Carnival circuit.

I am Tanya Simpson, the creator and CEO of The Situationship company and brand. I have a BA in English and an MBA in Human Resources. Although I’ve been with my 9-5 for 13 years, nothing has fulfilled me like running my own business. I started The Situationship in 2019 and have since created dating card decks to use to get to know potential mates better, as well as host a dating game show, helping people blindly find love. The Situationship’s goal is to promote self-love first, in order to attract healthy love from others. Another goal is to create safe and fun spaces for singles to meet like-minded individuals.

A New York resident, hailing from the heart of Los Angeles, Christina Richardson evolved from a child actress to an award-winning filmmaker. With over two decades in the industry, She’s directed video content for Facebook/Meta, the NYC Department of Education, and Ghetto Gastro.

Her portfolio is not limited to branded content; Christina also directed and produced narrative short films and video content for major organizations and nonprofits, harnessing the power of storytelling to convey impactful messages and drive change.

Her storytelling prowess extends beyond directing. She's penned copy for global commercials, and written short films for Atlantic Records artists Meek Mill and Future (Wins and Losses short Film, Feds did a Sweep).

Christina is qualified as 1st Assistant Director by the Directors Guild of America, gaining a unique insight into the intricacies of filmmaking on a union level. This experience has been the cornerstone of her directorial journey and given her the opportunity to work with global brands such as Walmart, Superbowl, and McDonald's.

In 2017 Christina founded the Bronx Film Initiative. An organization that brings award winning filmmaking to east coast public schools with the “Let’s Make a Movie” program.

Dr. Duclas Charles (PharmD) is a Pharmacy Manager working in Medical Cannabis here in New York City. A Brooklyn, NY native, Duclas discovered his love for science and people at Brooklyn Technical high school, which led him to pursue his Pharmacy degree at The Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, DC.

Upon returning to New York, he began his career in Pharmacy. He has practiced in community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy. He has also spent time at a tech-based pharmacy start-up where he served as the Operations Manager before making his leap into medical cannabis. Duclas' love for helping and teaching others coupled in combination with his interest in integrative medicine made Medicinal Cannabis a perfect fit.

Aside from his duties as a Pharmacy Manager, He is the Founder of Black Health Connect, an international network of African American Health Professionals focused on addressing the issues of Health Equity for Black and Brown patients by addressing diversity equity and inclusion in healthcare, a member of the Board of Directors for The Association for Cannabis Health Equity and Medicine (ACHEM), a member of the International Society of Cannabis Pharmacist and the Association of Cannabis Specialist.

Outside of healthcare, Duclas the co-founder of Strivers' Row a Collective of Entrepreneurs Professionals and creatives Based in the NYC area, and I also sit on the advisory cabinet for Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BENYC), a groundbreaking model established 2019 to help create equity of opportunity by advancing Black entrepreneurship.

Chelsea has been at the forefront of propelling black and brown artists of the diaspora into mainstream recognition. With over a decade of experience, her portfolio shines with successful music marketing projects for acclaimed talents Yemi Alade, Estelle, Busy Signal, Jah Cure, and Christopher Martin to name a few. By aligning special projects with prominent industry entities such as The Recording Academy, I Heart Media, VP Records, and more, Chelsea has been able to create opportunities for hundreds of artists to bring awareness to their brand. In her current role as Client Marketing and DSP Relations Manager at Symphonic, Chelsea heads the editorial marketing for Hip Hop, R&B, and Caribbean genres.

Tanya Lawson is an accomplished Senior Director of Strategic Marketing, specializing in the Caribbean and the Diaspora. With a keen eye for market trends and a deep understanding of cultural distinction, she has successfully curated and implemented top-notch marketing and branding strategies within these diverse markets.

Before her role as a Senior Director, Tanya proved her expertise in the industry while serving as the Promotions Manager at VP Records. Her project management skills and knowledge of the music scene enabled her to work closely with renowned artists such as Gyptian, Assassin, Mavado, Ricky Blaze to name a few.

Tanya's valuable experience also includes her time at Sony Music Entertainment, where she served as a Coordinator in the Marketing and Promotions department. There she honed her skills in designing impactful campaigns and coordinating various aspects of marketing and promotions for a wide range of projects.

Tanya's passion for connecting the Caribbean and Diaspora markets and her ability to drive remarkable results have solidified her reputation as a strategic marketing powerhouse. With her exceptional leadership, visionary mindset, and deep industry knowledge, Tanya continually pushes boundaries, elevates brands, and maximizes market potential.

Hailing from Bergen County, New Jersey, Mike Epstein has always had his eye on a career in the big apple. He began working at Cinematic Music Group in 2014, and quickly garnered acclaim for his work on Cinematic Artist Flipp Dinero’s hit single “Leave Me Alone”, which gained viral fame and would go on to earn quadruple platinum RIAA certification, and more importantly, change Dinero’s life forever.

Mike’s role in breaking the new artist would earn him a reputation for performing at a high level and doing it with respect, care, and values. With ethics at the forefront of his values, he is now the SVP of Digital Marketing & Strategy at GoodTalk (formerly Cinematic Music Group), where he leads digital marketing and efforts to develop new relationships for promoting GoodTalk's roster of artists using digital, social media, and live performance platforms.

He also leads a team of digital strategists to design promotions for album releases, live touring, content releases, d-2-c e-commerce, viral and influencer marketing, and website development for major artists that have included T-Pain, Flipp Dinero, That Mexican OT, Luh Kel Yungeen Ace, Mick Jenkins, and more. With almost a decade of music industry experience, Mike is building his own reputation for his close relationships with artists and their wide digital success.

Mike has spoken at the 2019 and 2021 Digital Summit in multiple cities across the country, and at Music Biz Association’s 2021 Virtual Conference. He continues to remain at the forefront of music and technology. Mike looks forward to continuing to pass knowledge to the next generation of music.

Chris Pulakos is the current Media Resource Manager at BRIC. He is currently working to both digitize and preserve BRIC TVs video archive as well deploy a new MAM system to house future productions. Previously, Chris has worked to help distribute content for AMC Networks as well as archive and post-produce content for Dotdash Meredith. He has earned a Masters Degree in Library Science and loves metadata...and the New York Mets! He happily lives & works in Brooklyn, NY USA.

Sean Ellis Joined BRIC Arts Media in November of 2022. As a Media Asset Coordinator Sean supports the technical and digitizing efforts of BRIC's archiving team. While attending The City College he fell in love with media arts and after graduating he pursued his goal of working in the media Industry. He has previously worked with Bill Moyers on his weekly news program as well as DiJiFi where he brought old tapes back to life. One of his future goals is to start a non-profit organization that teaches media literacy and technical skills to various ethnic groups that are under-served in America.

Born and raised in the heart of Flatbush, Brooklyn- Barbara has always followed her passions in media and brand marketing. From hosting shows on BCAT to graduating from Brooklyn College- Barbara continues to make her mark in the media industry.

During her freshmen year at Brooklyn College, Barbara was granted the opportunity to intern with HOT 97 & 98.7 Kiss FM at Emmis Communications in NY. In a few years she was promoted to Programming support working hand in hand with HOT 97’s Program Director- Ebro Darden and Karlie Hustle producing showcases at the legendary SOB’s and the biggest Hip Hop concert in NY/NJ with over 80K in attendance- SummerJam. Soon after, she was promoted to Account Executive responsible for partnering and developing marketing campaigns for brands across the 5 boroughs. With this role, she was able to work with clients such as Pepsi, Apple, Ciroc, MetroPCS, MetroPlus, American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, with additional health/community activations.

After discovering her love for community and small business marketing, in 2018, Barbara founded Guerilla 7 Marketing & Solutions- a marketing agency focused on guerilla and digital strategies to increase brand awareness and customers for small businesses in NY that’s focused on making a positive impact. In her newer role of Director Of Community Development at HOT 97 & now- WBLS, Barbara continues to elicit corporate brands to do good for our communities.

Cynthia Gordy Giwa & Tayo Giwa are writers, photographers and filmmakers who live and create in Brooklyn. A married couple, they are the creators of Black-Owned Brooklyn, an online publication in which they document local Black business, culture and history. In this work they seek to preserve and celebrate stories that are often erased in gentrified Brooklyn.

Their 2022 documentary The Sun Rises in The East, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, chronicles The East, a pan-African cultural organization built by young people in 1970’s Bedford-Stuyvesant. Their 2000 documentary short, Soul Summit: Doin’ It in the Park, tells the story of Fort Greene’s iconic Soul Summit house music party.

Cynthia has written extensively about issues at the intersection of race, culture and politics. She worked in journalism for a decade, as Essence’s first ever White House correspondent and the magazine’s news editor, as well as senior political correspondent for The Root. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, NPR and Slate.

Tayo is a documentary photographer who focuses on cultural gatherings and portraiture. As a film director, he seeks to unearth history that should be more widely known. Tayo has also worked for 15 years as a media and technology lawyer specializing in intellectual property, contracts and emerging technology.

Tayo and Cynthia live in Bedford-Stuyvesant with their two daughters.

I've captured images for almost 20 years and I live, eat, and breathe photography. I enjoy observing frozen moments in time and capturing the very essence of beauty in literally everything. Photography is an art form that started as a hobby and throughout the years I've evolved creatively and mastered the craft. Today I offer my love for photography, my passion, my eye for composition, and my technical skillset to you. As an artist, I innerstand the importance of conveying the image of who you are. I have photographed many different subjects, scenes, and moments all over the world. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and so I invite you now to look through my frozen moments in time.

Eric, a native New Yorker, is an Art Director and Motion Designer with a passion for crafting captivating video experiences. He's a devoted father of two, a handball enthusiast, and a skilled drone photographer, capturing the city's beauty wherever it's permitted.