Shawanna Vaughn knows a thing or two about heartbreaks and she's not going to let any more tears fall without fighting back. That is why Shawanna created Silent Cry Inc which campaigns for social justice issues such as women’s health care, mental health among incarcerated individuals, and child abuse in foster care systems- all while providing emotional support through advocacy work.

Jessica Taylor has worked as a mathematical researcher at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute. She holds an MS in Computer Science from Stanford University, and blogs at unstableontology.com.

Matthew is the Chief Executive Officer at Nanotronics, a science technology company that has redefined factory control through the invention of a platform that combines AI, automation, and sophisticated imagining to assist human ingenuity in detecting flaws and anomalies in manufacturing, an industry that has stagnated since the 1950s. Prior to Nanotronics, Matthew was an Owner and Vice President of Development for Tech Pro, Inc., which was acquired by Roper Industries in 2008. During his time at Tech Pro, he lead two acquisitions and the transformation of the instrument manufacturer into new global markets, having formed partnerships or subsidiaries in 15 nations.

Lydia Agu is a social justice advocate, lawyer, mother of five and entrepreneur. She studied Political Science at Lehman College - CUNY, Criminal Justice at John Jay College - CUNY, and received her juris doctorate from Fordham University School of Law. She is adept at grant writing. She is passionate about helping those who are less fortunate in our society, from domestic violence victims to those who have been impacted by the justice system. She also mentors young people of color who are interested in legal studies. She owns a bookstore called The Black Thought Collective, which was started during the pandemic as a way to generate excitement about reading in children of color. She hopes to be able lend her knowledge and skillset to Silent Cry and to be a vessel of hope for the young people that Silent Cry services.

Ruth McDaniels is an electrifying Activist whose delivery of the truth encourages, equips, and empowers humanity. Born in the US to parents from Trinidad & Tobago, Ruth worked in high-volume multicultural settings as a Peace Officer for the New York Department of Education, New York City Police Department’s School Safety as a level 3 supervisor, and a Sergeant at the New York City Department of Human Resources administration’s Police Department. Ruth developed and implemented policies and procedures. She trained and supervised staff to ensure public safety in an environment surrounded by trauma and disenfranchisement.

With over 25 years in law enforcement, Ruth has retired and still serving the community. Ruth McDaniels was the Vice President of the 32nd Precinct Community Council and member of their Clergy council; President of BUFNY/II Harlem Tenant Association and the Founder of “Harlem Blooms” the West 137th Street Spring Tree Bed Initiative (that provides freshly planted flowers, tree replacement, and protective fences). Ruth hosted the first NYPD Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO) “Meet and Greet” at Mother AME Zion Church and spearheaded the Annual Coat Drive, for local residents, individuals, and families in shelters. Ruth serves on the Advisory Board of The Studio Museum of Harlem and is the recipient of several awards including a certificate of special congressional recognition from Congressman Adriano Espaillat in 2020, a Bill Perkins 2011 certificate of appreciation award, a Danny Thomas award, a St. Jude for Children Certificate of Appreciation and the Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society award.

Ruth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the College of New Rochelle, majored in Communications, and was inducted into the Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society. She is also a recipient of a Master’s in Public Administration from Mercy College. Ruth is a woman of integrity and wants to liberate the world by telling the truth. Her motto is “Let your Yeah be Yeah, and your Nay be Nay,” as she believes in holding herself and other community leaders accountable. A chaplain and devoted Christian spiritual leader, most importantly, Ruth McDaniels is the Matriarch of her five children and seven grandchildren. Her hobbies include swimming, music travel, and helping the disenfranchised.

Malik Vaughn is a young man on the rise. He is a graduate of New Design High School, and he has big plans for his future. Malik loves gaming, and he is very passionate about animation and content creation. He also has a strong interest in finance, and he is a budgeting and payment processing officer for Silent Cry Inc. Malik is an intelligent young man with a bright future ahead of him.

Sharon D. Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina is an author; speaker; producer; life coach; fiancé; mother of 3 amazing Daughters; as well as a loving grandmother. Her story wasn’t always this promising, however. Through some wrong choices, Sharon found herself serving 27 months at Alderson Federal Prison in West Virginia. This harrowing experience allowed her to take full responsibility for her actions, while also pushing her to redirect others from taking that same path. While in prison, she then set out to rebrand herself. As a result of that quiet and disciplined resolve, instead of serving time, Sharon instead allowed time to serve her.

While continuing to learn along the way from her past failures and mistakes, she wrote and developed a program that combined both a book and a workbook for prisoners entitled: No More Shackles: 200 Ways to Freedom (Vols.1 & 2). Sharon also leaned strongly on her faith during her incarceration. Her favorite scripture (Philippians 4:13) which says that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" was the spiritual fuel God used to pull her through her ordeal, while also giving her the needed strength to go the distance. Likewise, her second favorite scripture (Hebrew: 13:3) which states, "Treat a prisoner as you wish to be treated" galvanized her to take up prison reform as her very own call that God would patiently lead her toward; realizing that the only way to move forward herself was to take up the cause of those imprisoned as her new “true north”.

Sharon continues to devote her own life to be all God has designed her to be, employing all of her gifts and talents. This has led to a new talk show in the works, a new book ready to be released; as well as her very own fragrance line, among a few. And to see Sharon Johnson today is indeed to look into the eyes of a truly redemptive story; and one that is still being most beautifully written!

Evan McMullen worked as a Senior Application Engineer at dSPACE, which is a Business Intelligence (BI) founded in 1988. They are part of the Application Development team within the Information Technology Department . Evan is currently based in Ann Arbor. He currently working on non traditional therapies in a holistic healing spaces. Management with farming implementation and agricultural. Certified to instruct Kung Fu. And, a board member of Silent Cry Inc

Jessica Hollis-Summers is the owner and operator of Fenix Creative Services, LLC (www.fenixcreativeservices.com). She is a veteran professional freelance author, editor, and artist who has a passion for beautiful words and beautiful imagery. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jessica strives for excellence and holds herself to the highest standards of quality, accountability, and creativity, and she seeks to use those talents in the service of the community. Jessica is also a full-time case manager and peer support specialist with a local non-profit agency that works with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women; as a formerly incarcerated woman herself, Jessica strives to be an advocate, ally, witness, and agent of change, to mitigate injustice and suffering wherever and whenever she can.