King Crush Thursday - The Interviews

SEKOU CAMPBELL began his legal career at an American Law 100 firm founded in Philadelphia, representing commercial litigants in a range of disputes from copyright infringement to breaches of contract and related claims as well as entertainers who required sophisticated and diverse commercial transactions from diligence on film projects to renegotiation of complex record deals. Now, in addition to...

Aaron Graves—Musician/Composer/Arranger/Producer/Conductor  also learned to play various instruments including piano, bass, organ, and drums, in the church where his father, a great musician with a musical family, was pastor.   Aaron eventually moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of sixteen to play bass guitar with Richard Smallwood and attended The Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts....

Kwasi Ampomah currently works in sales and project management for Team Clean Inc., a commercial cleaning company in Philadelphia that is minority and woman owned. Kwasi currently leads a division in biohazard and crime scene cleaning within this company. He is also a current graduate student at Brown University.

Philadelphian Greg Corbin is a son, brother, father and husband, as well as an educator, poet, storyteller, writer, healer, imagination activist, hip hop head and advocate of mental health. A Lincoln University grad with 20 years of experience in education, arts and human development, he strives to innovate and create strategies that amplify holistic community engagement. He is the founder of the...

Austin Woodlin is a 30 year old husband, father, teacher and leader from Philadelphia, PA. As a full-time musician, he is very involved in the music industry as well as his local gospel music community. He currently serves as Minister of Music for Pentecostal Bridegroom Temple (Phila, PA), Music Director for the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church (Phila, PA), Music Director and Producer for Stellar Aw...

Elbert Sampson recently returned to Philadelphia, having lived in South Florida with his mate, Patricia, where he spent much of his time studying Spanish and learning to play the upright bass.  He retired 10 years ago as CEO of a Philadelphia Charter School. Subsequently, he worked for two years as the Director of Education for a nonprofit that provides services to immigrants.  He has had a busy p...

 Lorne is an all around Creative. DJ and content creator, from his popular radio show MagzFM on 106.5FM in Philly to the eclectic Maggy’s Rooftop Aerial, Lorne is a naturally curious person who often makes connections that others miss. Take in his honesty and vulnerability and  desire to deflect the “light” from himself into others.  

Virgil Sheppard currently serves as the President/CEO of Hope Partnership for Education. Hope Partnership for Education is a North Philadelphia independent middle school and education center that provides a high quality, values-based education that supports and challenges students from adolescence to adulthood. Prior to Hope, Virgil served as the senior national school partnerships director for Ci...

Isaac Ewell Isaac has had a portfolio-career; he’s been a high school history teacher, curriculum designer, record executive, and corporate trainer, who, as an educational executive, invested millions of dollars in grant money from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to help create several high-quality schools in low-income communities all across the country. Most recently, after recognizing...

Russell A. Hicks is an active father, youth mentor and an award-winning social entrepreneur. He is a business owner and CEO of Ebony Suns Enterprises, LLC, a consulting company that provides business coaching, training and project management for schools, non-profit organizations and companies in the green economy that hire and invest in youth. He is originally from Chicago, and an alumni of Howard...

 Barry Wilkins is a STEM educator at Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion High School. Besides teaching traditional secondary math subjects such as Algebra II and Geometry, Mr. Wilkins is also the lead instructor for Personal Finance at the school. In this role Mr. Wilkins has the unique opportunity to combine his passion for community engagement with financial literacy. Prior to becoming an educator...

Keith Loftis has been described as one of the most lyrical & compelling jazz saxophonist of today. Keith was born in Dallas, TX where he began his study of jazz and classical music as a child. He is a graduate of the nationally recognized Booker T. Washington High School of the Visual and Performing Arts in Dallas, with fellow classmate and 2X Grammy Award Winner, the late Roy Hargrove.   Keit...

Shawn Mooring is the Head of Philadelphia Programs for The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. In this role Shawn provides leadership to the Institute’s grant making, programs, and initiatives to support journalists and news organizations striving to build sustainable and equitable models of local news that meet the needs of Philadelphia communities.  Shawn also leads the Institute’s learning and im...

Lyonzo Vargas is a Social Entrepreneur, Community Architect , Urban Wellness Advocate and Urban Maestro, on an unstoppable mission. Lyonzo currently resides in Philadelphia, however entered the world in the melting pot of the Bronx, NY. Living in a culture filled with people suffering from stress and anxiety due to poor mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional diet, motivated Lyonzo and his two...

Allen L. Irvin, III is a loving husband, father, business owner, actor and lover of music. In addition to being a barber for over 25 years, Al has worked with local and national heavy hitters in the music industry. He sang background and/or vocally arranged for Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Glen Lewis, Faith Evans and more. He was also the co-host of a popular blog radio show for 2 years. Al looks...

John Barber III is an accomplished professional who brings over 20 years of financial and grants experience. Prior to this assignment, Barber was the Chief Financial Officer for the Urban League of Philadelphia.   Barber’s diverse background includes financial services for the Office of Nonpublic programs for the School District of Philadelphia, where he was responsible for coordinating and overse...

Edward Gay is a husband, father, brother, entrepreneur and pastor. Originally hailing from Suffolk, Virginia, he has lived in Philadelphia for nearly 65 years, where he met his wife of over 60 years, Viola. Edward shows his Love for others through his actions, not just his words, and strives to make his community better, one person at a time.

Gregory Simpson, Washington, DC native who now calls Philly home. After graduating from Cheyney University, Gregory began his music career in the Philadelphia area. Currently the Pastor of Music and Arts at the Bible Way Baptist Church in West Philadelphia. He is also the Director of Education at The Fortress Arts Academy. Gregory also has been a music educator and administrator in the Philadelphi...

Carvin Haggins is a Grammy Award Winning and Multi-Platinum Selling Song Writer, Producer, Engineer, Co-Founder of Karma Productions, Co-Creator of Forever Music Inc., Creator of Ethical Music Entertainment and Co-Founder of the Ring Music Group.

Wallace Peeples, better known as Wallo267 is on a mission to impact the world. Early in his 20-year prison sentence, he developed a philosophical approach to life that embraced accountability and rejected excuses. Driven to inspire others to discover their purpose and achieve greatness, Wallo267 packaged this mindset into authentic and relevant messaging tied to a narrative of never giving up. Wal...

Brian K. Oglesby  is the President and CEO of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council and an economics entrepreneur. An avid recreational athlete and “outdoorsy” type, you’ll probably run into Brian running, hanging in a gym, playing in any number of local sports leagues, hiking, or cruising along the river on his bike when he’s not in the office or traveling for work.  Brian is also a d...

Tom Waters  is the founder and CEO of Men with Vision Inc., a non-profit organization he founded in 2012. Men with Vision primary mission is to lead men to God or back to God and then help them discover their God given purpose. They believe in Preparing, Restoring, and Empowering men. Men with Vision services include Outreach, Workshops, preached message and informational tools that are beneficial...

Max Rodriguez is the founder of the Harlem Book Fair, the nation's longest running African American book festival, and Publisher of QBR/The Black Book Review, named the "African American book review of record by Martin Arnold,  New York Times Culture Critic. He is the author of "Sacred Fire: The QBR Essential 100 Books", published by. John Wiley & Sons. He is blessed to be loved and believes m...

Episode 123 Atif Bostic, a Philadelphia native, is an accomplished leader in the areas of strategy, workforce development, community and economic development, business operations, finance, leadership development, reentry, and criminal justice reform; having worked with and for public and private institutions, nationally; developing comprehensive solutions, to solve complex problems that drive meas...

EPISODE 124 - Devon Walls grew up immersed in art and African culture in Chester, Pennsylvania. His whimsical abstract portraits incorporate elements of street art and a quirky visual style reminiscent of Basquiat and Picasso. As a multi-media painter, Walls’ unique geometric characters radiate, drip, and bend with energy. His uncle Bill Dandridge, a prominent artist and activist advocating for ju...