100 to Watch

NBJC’s “100 Black LGBTQ+/ Leaders to Watch” campaign highlights the contributions and leadership of Black LGBTQ+/SGL students, young and emerging professionals. 

Since its launch in 2015, many leaders on the watch list have established or managed organizations and campaigns increasing life outcomes and opportunities for our community. Examples include Texas State Representative Venton Jones; Maryland Delegate Gabriel Acevero;  Samantha Master, trainer at the iconic Midwest Academy; Toni-Michelle Williams, Executive Director of SNaPCo; DaShawn Usher, Founder of MOBI and senior leader at GLAAD; Monique Dorsainvill, the Public Policy Director at Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram; Dr. Van Bailey, the owner of Van Bailey & Co. and Trans Youth Emergency Project Coordinator at the Campaign for Southern Equality; Sixto Cancel, Founder and CEO of Think of US; Preston Mitchum of Bravo’s Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard; and Faith Rogers, the Chief Operations Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Biden-Harris Administration. Additional members of the 2015 cohort can be found at http://www.100toWatch.org.

A new generation of emerging leaders represents the Millennial and Z generations, who have earned recognition and additional support.  Amplifying early achievements affirms the reality that Black queer, transgender, and gender-expansive talent has always been here, and we deserve opportunities to thrive. Anyone suggesting they cannot find Black queer talent is telling a white lie.