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SPEAKERS & PERFORMERS
Culture, Celebration, and Community Consciousness
Dr. Michael Porter
Author, Professor
Michael Porter is a native of Savannah, Georgia. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor that works as a mental health therapist at Horizon Behavioral Health Privia Health, located in Hinesville, Rincon, and Savannah, Georgia. Michael helps families, couples, teens, and children work through a range of issues in their life’s journey. Michael Porter has worked as a mental health therapist for the state of Georgia, Coastal Harbor Treatment Center, and Chatham County Department of Family & Children Services. Michael has conducted workshops on suicide prevention, conflict resolution, building healthy male-female relationships, and healthy parenting among other topics.
Aja Embry
Herbalist, Earth Stewart, Singer/Songwriter
Aja Embry, a native of Decatur, GA. Aja decided to grow a garden for an ancestor; that's when she fell in love with earth work. It's been about 15 years since that time, and her work has expanded to include a long history of community service and retail. She has been running local farmers markets in Atlanta for the past 5 years. Her passion quickly turned to a desire to educate youth. After seeing the disconnect between what farmers do in fields, versus what the general public understands about that work and the food they grow for us to eat.
BRUCE INGRAM
Storyteller
We, as a society, are connected to history not just in formal written passage, but through the more personal acts of storytelling. Storytelling is a unique way in which history is revealed to us in an unscripted format. The story is told repeatedly and delivered from one generation to the next with sacred regards. The stories do not become diluted over time, but richer, as previous characters are weaved into the
history of this narrative. It is in this legacy passed down by his great-grandpa Steve who was a slave that lived to be 114 years old. This demonstrates Bruce Ingram's passion for storytelling, he tells the stories told many moons ago, were added to the records of historical accounts that are worth preserving.
Patt Gunn
Tour Guide, Griot (storyteller)
Mama Gunn is the Dawta' of Susie Golden Gilliard, the Granddawta' of Ada Shellman Golden and the Great-Great Granddawta' of a Freed Slave, Princess Shellman from McIntosh County, Georgia. Her 'soulcraft' is 'truth-telling'. She tells Master Gullah' Geechee stories of the African American journey from slavery to freedom. She is the CEO of Underground Tours of Sav'h, LLC., and Co-Owner of the Savannah Gallery on Slavery and Healing, Inc. Additionally, She is the President of a non-profit social justice organization, The Center for Jubilee, Reconciliation and Healing, Inc. in Savannah, Georgia. In 1999, She produced a Gullah' Geechee' folk artist group, 'The Saltwata Players'. The group's musical genre are Negro Spirituals and Civil Rights freedom songs. "I Always try to bring value to any circumstance - never take value away.”
Dr. JF Clay
MC, Tai Qi Instructor
Dr. Clay, has been a Black Community Activist for over 30 years. Dr. Clay has had great leaders to grace and anoint his life scholastically, constituently as well as, being mentored. Dr JF Clay, holds an Associate in Art, along with a degree in General Education from Lincoln Land Community College; a Doctoral from Lincoln Institute/Gaia College; he is a graduate of Lanphier High School, Springfield, IL; heis President and Chair of the School of the Apostle and Prophets; President and Chair of Yahshua’s Advanced Home School Center; he is CEO and Senior Pastor of Praise Tabernacle Ministries; he is an experienced and well-seasoned Counselor; and served as a Certified Chemical Dependency Technician. Dr. Clay, is also a radio personality and well sought after motivational speaker.
Queen Quet
Cheiftess of The Gullah Geechee Nation
Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine is a published author, computer scientist, lecturer, mathematician, historian, columnist, preservationist, environmental justice advocate, environmentalist, film consultant, and “The Art-ivist.” She is the founder of the premiere advocacy organization for the continuation of Gullah/Geechee culture, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition.
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Chef Lydasia Prather
The Greene St. Vegan LLC
Lydasia Prather is the visionary founder and chef behind The Greene Street Vegan and AUTHENTIC Juice Bar—a movement rooted in plant-based healing, cultural fusion, and community wellness. With a deep love for nourishing food and a mission to reconnect people with their roots, Lydasia blends Gullah, Indigenous, Caribbean, and soul food traditions into bold, nutrient-dense vegan meals and cold-pressed juices made with purpose and passion. As a culinary creative and wellness advocate, Lydasia uses food as a form of resistance, healing, and empowerment—bringing flavor, heritage, and authenticity to every dish and every drop.
Dr. Cle'a McBride Etheridge
Healer, Massage Therapist
Dr. Cle’a Etheridge owner of Tranquility Touch, a Massage Therapy and Wellness Spa located in Jonesboro, GA. Dr. E as she is affectionately known, has been an active member of the Natural Healthcare and Wellness community for over eighteen years. A progress-driven therapist and clinician thriving to help educate others about alternate healing. Her most recent accomplishments includes a 2020 Doctoral degree from Higher Place Christian University. A certification in Qi Gong, a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, meditation, and mind body healing and many other medical certificates. Qi Gong is a practice to balance Qi (chi) the energy of life.
Ayo Ngozi
Artist, Community Herbalist
Ayo Ngozi is a community herbalist, artist, and small farmer. She has been an instructor and advisor to several herbal schools and programs and is currently building an urban farm, Brickyard Gardens, in her adopted hometown of Savannah, GA. A former Braiding Seeds Fellowship recipient and a visual and performance artist, Ayo’s current artmaking practices incorporate plants both as the media and the subject.