Pre-recorded discussion featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood (President & Founder, Hip Hop Caucus), Elijah Karriem (Director), Malik Jordan (Social Activist & Poet), and Antonique Smith (Executive Producer), moderated by Nakisa Glover (Think 100% Organizer, Hip Hop Caucus)

Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. is the President & Founder of Hip Hop Caucus, a minister, community activist, U.S. Air Force veteran, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. Rev Yearwood entered the world of Hip Hop Politics as the Political and Grassroots Director for the Hip Hop Summit Action Network in 2003 and 2004, and as a key architect of P. Diddy’s “Vote Or Die!” campaign in a run up to the 2004 Presidential Election. To carry the energy of the efforts beyond election day, he founded Hip Hop Caucus in September of 2004. The goal of Hip Hop Caucus is to build a powerful and sustainable organization for the culture’s role in the civic process and empowerment of communities impacted first and worst by injustice. As a non-profit, non-partisan, multi-issue organization, Hip Hop Caucus focuses on addressing core issues impacting underserved and vulnerable communities, with programs and campaigns that support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. Through a collaborative network, Hip Hop Caucus holds elected officials accountable, shapes policy, and builds more diverse and powerful movements to ignite positive change.

Elijah Karriem was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Spending his early life studying music and martial arts, he began learning film production as a teenager working as a production assistant on independent films shot in NYC. Since then he has cultivated his professional career with nearly two decades production experience in music and digital media. Passionate about the state of cinema and the participation of African-American men and women in the industry, Elijah has developed a reputation for innovation in high quality viral video creations for brands and celebrities. His work has been featured on Complex Magazine, MTV, BET, NY Daily News, NY Post and Foxxhole Radio. Elijah develops content with a primary focus on African-American and Multicultural audiences. "Ain't Your Mama's Heat Wave" a comedy special produced by Hip Hop Caucus' Think 100% FILMS is his feature length directorial debut.

Malik Jordan is a social activist and poet from Norfolk Virginia who mainly speaks about gentrification in his community. At the age of 11, Malik started speaking on the injustices in his home town with help from the non-profit youth organization Teens With A Purpose. When Malik is not creating change in his community, he likes to model, create comedic videos with his brother, and host shows and events.

Antonique Smith is a Grammy nominated singer, actress and activist. She is most famous for her starring role as Faith Evans in the blockbuster film, Notorious. She first garnered attention in her buzzworthy leading role as Mimi in the musical “RENT” on Broadway and she is currently starring in season 3 of the hit Nat Geo anthology series Genius. This season is titled Genius: Aretha which will air beginning March 21st. Antonique plays the Queen's mother Barbara Franklin.

Nakisa Glover is the Think 100% Organizer for Hip Hop Caucus. She is a native of Charlotte, NC. She works to raise awareness about climate justice threats and she advocates for real solutions on behalf of the communities she serves. She holds a biology degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has built a track record as a community organizer, with years of experience in corporate, community and service-based roles. She has been recognized as a 2019 Grist 50 Fixer, with the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr Growing The Dream Award, and the 2016 Clean Air Carolina Airkeeper Award joining North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Dr. James Kenny and other business leaders. Ms. Glover actively develops strategies to engage millennials in climate and environmental justice.