Listen On

Kramer McDaniel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Clinical Supervisor.  She is the owner of Agape Therapeutic Solutions, a growing private practice. Kramer attained a Masters of Social Work degree with a certification in Gerontology from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Kramer has 11 years of behavioral health experience and focuses on healing holistically, Grief & Loss, overall life transitions and motivating others to live life on purpose. Kramer currently resides in Lafayette, Louisiana which has become home. Kramer enjoys trying new foods, traveling and serving serve at her local church. Kramer is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, Leadership Institute Acadiana Class XXXIV and most recently name as Acadiana's 2021 Top 20 under 40. 

Tonya Bolden-Ball holds a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She earned a graduate certificate in Life Coaching from Grand Canyon University and completed Cornell University and University of South Florida Diversity and Inclusion certificate programs. Tonya is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, and Speaker. She is the owner of the TBB Collective and currently serves as the Regional Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Ochsner Lafayette General.

Born Herbert J. Green, Jr, is from Lafayette, Louisiana and has always had a distinct appreciation for all types of music. As a 5 year old, Herb would sit on his father's lap to listen to the Louis Armstrong show on shortwave radio. His paternal grandmother, Miss Clara

B. Davis played box guitar and two great uncles play accordion and Zydeco music. Two of Herb's older sisters sang gospel music in his families home church and his two younger brothers played trumpet and trombone. Though music was apart of his legacy Herb and another sister gravitated towards athletics. As he grew, Herb never lost his love for the music he listened to with his dad. Herb began training himself by banging on countertops or whatever was around the house, he would keep rhythm with different groove patterns. After joining the Military in 1986, Herb met Hector Ruiz of Puerto Rico. Ruiz began to teach Herb different beats on Congas, Bongos and Timbales.

After the military, Herb moved to Atlanta to overcome some of life's disappointments and develop his skills as a percussionist. Linking up with saxophonist Abel Johnson who formed the Groove Band, a smooth jazz and cover band that found some success but broke up after a couple of years he also played for the English Ave Baptist Church Choir his first paying gig. There Herb met musicians like Ollie Woodson, Bobby Byrd, Roberta Flack, Phil Collins and many others who gave advice that he still follows today. His influences are Paulinho Dacosta, Luis Conte", Dr. Leonard Gibbs, Ahmad Jamal, Ralph McDonald, Tito Peuente and many other percussionist who bring the STANK to the music!!!! Moving back to Louisiana, Herb joined JB SAAX and THE BAND1  an explosive, controlled and musically articulate group of musicians where he
continued to grow and mature as musician and percussionist.

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Leigha Porter M.Ed is the founder an artistic director of F.I.R.E. Expressions Performing Arts Conservatory, Co-Creator of The Creole Nutcracker, a

southern reimagining of the classic Christmas tale and theater production, incubator and owner of  PARC Village, a Community Art Center and collective space that supplies resources for

empowering creatives of color. For the past 8 years, Ms. Porter has served as an arts advocate, arts administrator, and movement artist and continues to serve the North side of Lafayette, a historically black and economically and culturally under-served community. Leigha was awarded a bachelor degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2010, followed by a Masters of Education from Grand Canyon University in 2016. She has studied Theater Arts at Dillard University in New Orleans, trained in ballet, modern and jazz techniques with world renowned choreographers such as Debbie Allen, Lula Washington, and Walter Hull and has traveled the

country teaching dance workshops and masterclasses. In 2015, Leigha attended the Horton Pedagogy Teacher Workshop at The Ailey School in New York City to study the Horton Technique and is a candidate with the Institute for Dunham Technique Certification, to allow her

to teach this technique in her community and globally. Leigha provides community service as an adjudicator for the NAACP National Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics and has been the recipient of a number of awards, including 705 Top 20 under 40

(2022), the Delta Women in Business Award (2019), Spoken Red Enterprise Small Business Award (2019), and Grand Canyon University Success Spotlight (2019). In 2022 Ms. Porter was

1 of 18 selected for the South Arts Emerging Leaders of Color Cohort, a program representing the next generation of cultural workers and art administrators from across the country. Leigha has a reputation among her peers and colleagues as someone who is challenging perceptions about how to successfully engage and educate the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs of color. Leigha feels a sense of accomplishment when she is able to help the community expand their minds and capabilities through the use of artistic discipline and is consistently advocating for the arts to ensure kids and adults are exposed and inspired to the many forms art can take.

For Alexander Lazard, bridging the divide between the business world and community work is second nature.

A Lafayette-native, Alexander  currently serves as the Administrative Pastor at Destiny of Faith Church, a multi-generational congregation focused on spiritual, economic, and social development of people. In this role he is responsible for ministry capacity building and organizational marketing efforts while building community. He is married to Ferin Wiltz Lazard of St. Martinville (8 years) and they have two boys together – AJ (4 years old) and Kash (3 year old).

Alexander Lazard is a creative, strategic, and methodical professional with a history of entrepreneurial accomplishments, time-tested leadership skills, and an impassioned commitment to community service. With over 13 years’ experience optimizing operations and developing multi-year business plans for multiple high-profile organizations, Alexander has made forward-looking decisions that drive sustainable and scalable business growth; developed actionable strategies to maximize profit potential; and carefully shaped the processes and policies that sustain an efficient, productive, and financially sustainable organization.

 Dexter Portalis is a spoken word artist, entrepreneur, photographer, life insurance agent and social media & branding specialist. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and Marketing at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette.   Dexter is known for his ambitious drive and entrepreneurial mindset. He became well known in the Lafayette area for performing at Mic’D Out Monday’s at the Brass Room and other popular events in the city, being a founding member of campus organization PowerfUL Poets and touring Louisiana with poetry trio, Blacksmith.  Dexter’s entrepreneurial career started in 2017 when he started Soulful Services LLC, an online social media marketing company helping clients attract, engage and grow their target audience. He currently operates BlackLove Touch, a photography and vinyl art & apparel company alongside his wife, Shaylin Portalis. Dexter is also a life insurance agent providing financial services and his knowledge of the industry to the community.