Speakers | Panelists Participants

Youth DJ | Music Curator | Community Ambassador

Maiye Haynes, known to many as DJ Mae Mae, is a rising star in Charlotte’s music scene. At just 14 years old, she has already built a reputation for electrifying crowds with her unique mixes and positive energy. Balancing school, creativity, and community, Mae Mae uses music as a way to bring people together and uplift her generation. Whether spinning at local events or community celebrations, she brings joy, skill, and intentionality to every set. As a proud honors student and youth entrepreneur, DJ Mae Mae is proof that the future is both bright and beat-driven.

Early College Student | Aspiring STEM Professional

Taneilya Young, is a focused and ambitious 15-year-old currently enrolled in an engineering early college program. I’m passionate about education, self-growth, and paving the way for my future in STEM. I balance my academic journey with school spirit as a cheerleader at Harding University High School, where I’ve learned the importance of discipline, confidence, and teamwork. In middle school, I was honored with the President’s Award for Educational Excellence for maintaining straight A’s and B’s. Outside of school, I’m gaining real-world experience working at Cuzzo’s Cuisine, where I’ve learned responsibility, time management, and how to thrive in a fast-paced environment. I believe in hard work, staying grounded, and always showing up as the best version of myself. 

Educator | Community Leader | Cultural Elder

Dr. Blanche Penn is a revered elder, lifelong educator, and powerful voice for community uplift in Charlotte. With decades of service in education, civic leadership, and cultural preservation, Dr. Penn has dedicated her life to building bridges between generations and ensuring that no one is left behind. Her work spans from classroom teaching to grassroots organizing, often centered around uplifting Black youth and elders alike. Whether mentoring young leaders or standing in the gap for the vulnerable, she operates from a deep well of faith, integrity, and ancestral wisdom. Dr. Penn embodies what it means to be rooted in community and relentless in the pursuit of justice.

Strategist | Community Collaborator

Tracee Erickson is a seasoned social worker, youth advocate, and community school leader with over 15 years of experience serving under-resourced communities. A native of Brooklyn, NY, she holds a B.S. in Business Administration from CUNY Medgar Evers College and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University. Tracee began her career in public education, serving in both NYC public schools and North Carolina charter schools. As a former Community School Director in the South Bronx—one of the nation's most underserved districts—she led a nationally recognized turnaround effort that helped her school exit the Renewal School Program and become a designated Rise School. Her leadership earned awards in family engagement, community collaboration, and academic improvement. Currently, Tracee serves as the Senior Intervention Coordinator at Present Age Ministries, where she manages all agency referrals and collaborates with the FBI, law enforcement, courts, DSS, school systems, and hospitals to support victims of sexual abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. She also leads the Discovering Your Value (DYV) Program, delivering an 8-week preventative curriculum to girls in schools and community spaces across North Carolina. Tracee is also the founder of ROYALTY GIRLS, a nonprofit empowering girls and women through a faith-based lens. Her life’s work reflects a deep commitment to healing, justice, and holistic transformation for youth and families.

Founder, Little Listeners of the Carolinas | Youth Advocate & Public Speaker 

Harmoni Moorer is a 15-year-old at Sugar Creek Charter School and the co-founder of Little Listeners of the Carolinas, a youth-led initiative dedicated to promoting literacy and violence prevention through storytelling and community engagement. A passionate advocate for youth empowerment, Harmoni has completed the Generation Nation Civil Leadership Academy and served as a youth ambassador for Mecklenburg County Commissioner-at-Large Arthur Griffin. Her commitment to social change has led her to participate in various town halls addressing gun violence and safe communities, including events organized by Councilwoman Tiawana Brown and community leader Shamaiye Haynes. Harmoni's impactful work has been recognized in the book I Am Queen Charlotte, highlighting her as one of the city's youngest activists making a significant difference. Through her public speaking engagements and community involvement, Harmoni continues to inspire and lead efforts toward a more equitable and compassionate society.

Justice Seeker | Community Organizer | Strategist for Education, Liberation, and Belonging 

Shamaiye Haynes is a lifelong advocate for justice and belonging, currently serving as Co-Director of QC Family Tree, a grassroots organization in Charlotte, NC, focused on cultivating community for the common good. A rising force in public education advocacy, Shamaiye is a school board candidate for CMS District 2 and a leading voice in the Charlotte Community Think Tank as the founder and organizer.  This is where she co-leads work around the Community Schools Model. With a background in finance and operations at a Fortune 500 company, she brings strategic insight into her organizing. Shamaiye combines her lived experience, deep community ties, and fierce commitment to education excellence to drive transformative change in housing, education, and policy.

Attorney | CMS District 2 Board Representative | Founding Member, Charlotte Community Think Tank

Elected in 2013, Thelma Byers-Bailey represents District 2 on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education. A native Charlottean and proud graduate of West Charlotte High School, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and a law degree from St. Louis University. Her legal and civic leadership spans decades, with service in California and North Carolina. As a founding member of the Charlotte Community Think Tank and president of the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Association, Thelma is a fierce advocate for public education, community voice, and historically Black neighborhoods.

Educator for Justice | Civic Leader | Bridge-Builder Between People and Policy  

Dr. Susan Harden is a longtime educator, civic leader, and community advocate. She recently retired from UNC Charlotte, where she taught in the College of Education and directed the Civic Minor in Urban Youth and Communities. A former Mecklenburg County Commissioner, Dr. Harden is deeply committed to participatory democracy and believes in centering community voice in public policy. As a founding member of the Charlotte Community Think Tank, she has been instrumental in advancing community-rooted strategies such as the Community Schools Model. Her scholarship and public service continue to inspire collaborative approaches to education and equity.

Servant Leader | Education Advocate | Community Builder 

Yvette Townsend-Ingram is a proud HBCU graduate, lifelong learner, and founding member of the Charlotte Community Think Tank. Originally from West Virginia, she moved to Charlotte nearly 30 years ago in pursuit of greater opportunity and has been a champion for working families ever since.

With experience in education, policy, and program development, Yvette has secured funding for HBCUs, served in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and led community-centered initiatives like Participatory Budgeting. Her priorities include expanding county services, advancing equity, and uplifting historically excluded communities.

She holds a B.S. from West Virginia State University, an MBA from Strayer, and is ABD for a DBA from Walden University.

Food Justice Advocate | Community Organizer | Radical Caregiver 

Kenya Joseph is a community advocate and the Executive Director of Hearts & Hands Food Pantry, a vital organization providing groceries and personal care items to thousands of families across the Charlotte region. Kenya's leadership reflects her deep commitment to food justice, economic dignity, and Black liberation. Through strategic partnerships and grassroots organizing, she ensures community members not only survive but thrive. Her work is rooted in care, equity, and radical love for people.

Attorney | Education Advocate | Board Chair, CMS Board of Education

Stephanie Sneed is a respected attorney and public education champion, currently serving as Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education. A founding member of the Charlotte Community Think Tank, Stephanie brings her legal acumen and grassroots experience to the forefront of policy discussions. Her leadership is rooted in values of equity, advocacy, and youth empowerment. She remains committed to uplifting historically marginalized voices and building systems that work for every child. 

Cultural Architect | Youth Empowerment Visionary | Champion of Creative Education 

Claude Whitfield is a creative entrepreneur, educator, and the visionary behind Backspinz Music Academy—a nonprofit that equips youth with tools in DJing, music production, and creative entrepreneurship. Rooted in hip hop culture and community empowerment, Claude's work blends technical training with mentorship, helping young people build confidence, discipline, and viable pathways in the arts. Through Backspinz, he’s reshaping what youth development looks like in Charlotte—one beat at a time.

Student Advocate | Aspiring Attorney | Gardener 

Braidyn Quinn is a rising sophomore at CMS Early College with a growing passion for justice and equity. Known for his thoughtful perspective and deep commitment to fairness, Braidyn is already making his mark as a youth advocate. He dreams of becoming an attorney to help dismantle systemic barriers and ensure equal rights for all. Outside the classroom, Braidyn is preparing to join the workforce part-time and finds peace and purpose in gardening.  It reflects his desire to nurture growth, both in his community and in himself.