2024 Keynote Speaker

DJ Heat, the beatsmith extraordinaire hailing from the vibrant city of Washington, DC, is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. With a passion for curating electrifying soundscapes that transcend genres, DJ Heat has become a sought-after talent renowned for her unmatched skills on the turntables.

From the early days of honing her craft in local clubs, radio and sharing stages with Grammy-nominated artists, DJ Heat has mastered the art of seamlessly blending tracks, captivating audiences with her infectious energy. Her ability to read the crowd and create an unforgettable atmosphere sets her apart as a true tastemaker in the DJ scene.

Beyond her undeniable talent, DJ Heat's magnetic personality and dedication to her craft have earned her a loyal following, earning her the recognition of one of the Top TikTokers of 2021 by the Washingtonian. She radiates positivity and creates an inclusive space where music lovers from all walks of life can come together and lose themselves in the magic of the beats.

Dior Ashley Brown to the right of the photo.

Dior Ashley Brown is a woman on a mission. Known for her broad range of creative roles, including community builder, humanitarian, activist, entrepreneur, and musician, she is a seasoned, respected member of the DC creative scene and beyond, committed to empowering all people, especially Black women and girls, and leaving a legacy of positive change. Dubbed the “Hip-Hop Polymath” by the Washington Post, Dior knows how to create impact. She is founder of the DC Music Summit, a premier music conference and exchange hub, featuring industry leaders, artists, influencers, and high-profile brand sponsors who join forces to help grow the music industry in the nation’s capital. 

A proud DC native, raised across the globe, Dior is a Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumna. She holds a bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Maryland.  At her core, she is about breaking down barriers and sparking a movement, revealing the ways diversity lends greater understanding of what it means to be human.

Cecily Music

Cecily is a vocalist, songwriter, voice teacher & mindfulness facilitator based in Washington, DC. She offers meditations, workshops, and sound healing sessions that assist her community in cultivating love, joy, peace, ease and balance.

Nessa Dove

 Nessa Dove is a versatile guitarist who has graced legendary stages like the Key Club LA, House of Blues West Hollywood, Bitter End NYC, Howard Theater DC, and shared the stage with iconic acts such as Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, SugarBear of EU, and Rayshun Lamarr of NBC's the Voice. Nessa was a featured performer at the prestigious 35th annual Wammie Awards in Washington DC in 2023 and performed an electrifying rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" . She is versed in multiple genres of music including Rock, Pop, Blues, RnB, Gospel and Hip Hop. Influenced by legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, B.B King, and Slash. Nessa brings GREATNESS. Through the sounds of her guitar, through the power of love and music, and with the help of a Force greater than us all, let's transcend our limitations and FLY with the Dove!!!

Cynthia Norman

Cynthia Norman is a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter with more than thirty-five years of professional experience in all facets of interpreting. Cynthia began her love of American Sign Language at the age of nine when her uncle, who was an interpreter, began teaching her the sign alphabet.

Later, a Deaf family in her religious community spotted that Cynthia could not hear from her left ear and asked her parents if they could begin to teach her sign language in case, she ever completely lost her hearing. That began the journey into Deaf language and culture, which has led to her love of providing and advocating for access through American Sign Language.

Cynthia has worked in numerous spaces as a freelance interpreter and served for four years as a center director for a nationally known video relay interpreting call center, where she gained valuable skills in leadership and developing budding interpreters.

Cynthia is a powerful leader and works diligently to support the Deaf and interpreter communities that she is a part of, She has hosted interpreter events, workshops, and conferences, is working to create an international black interpreter directory, is mentoring emerging ASL interpreting students, and is creating safe spaces for interpreters to talk about the work of providing access between Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people.

Cynthia is a proud mother of three incredible children and is a daughter, sister, auntie, cousin, and friend to many.