Byron V. Garrett is an accomplished business executive, government official and humanitarian. He is Chairman of the NFEA, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming education through meaningful family engagement. Byron is also the Visionary/Chief Creative Officer of The Valdecio Collection, a lifestyle luxury brand. Additionally the former Director of Educational Leadership & Policy for Microsofts is a consulting author for Scholastic. In 2017, Scholastic launched the Byron V. Garrett Social Emotional Learning Collection. Inspired by his bestselling book, The ABC’s of Life, the library was created to equip young people with the skills needed to navigate society, making it a powerful and inspiring resource for today’s classroom. Currently, he is a Board Member for CircleIn and the CeCe Peniston Youth Foundation, an Emissary for The Guyana Foundation, and was named “Mr. Enterprise” by Black Enterprise on their Modern Man 100 list.

Michael Passons is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and founding member of the Grammy-nominated Christian pop group Avalon, one of the defining vocal groups in contemporary Christian music. Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Michael began singing and playing piano as a child, later studying classical piano. During his years with the group, Avalon earned two RIAA-certified gold records, twenty No. 1 radio singles, six GMA Dove Awards, two Grammy nominations, and an American Music Award for Favorite Artist in Contemporary Inspiration. Their signature song, “Testify to Love,” became one of the most beloved inspirational songs of its era. After leaving Avalon in 2003, Michael stepped away from the spotlight for many years before publicly sharing his story in 2020 and reclaiming his voice with honesty, grace, and courage. Today, Michael’s return to music carries a deeper resonance: a story of faith, identity, healing, and the power of finally being fully seen. 

Ty Herndon is a Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning country artist whose voice and story have made him one of the most distinctive figures in modern country music. Since his breakthrough debut single, “What Mattered Most,” reached No. 1 in 1995, Ty has sold more than four million albums, charted seventeen Billboard Top 10 singles, and earned three No. 1 hits, including “Living in a Moment” and “It Must Be Love.” Beyond the music, Ty has become a powerful voice for authenticity, healing, and acceptance. In 2014, he made country music history as the first major male country artist to come out publicly as gay, and he has since used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion through his annual Concert for Love & Acceptance. His recent memoir, What Mattered Most, reflects on fame, faith, recovery, identity, and the courage it takes to live truthfully.