Level up.

12-14 January 2023

Calling creators, entrepreneurs, big dreamers, big thinkers, makers, and curators who want to talk innovation, new ideas, and the next frontier!

The Big Dipper Innovation Summit is a three-day multi-faceted experience designed for envisioning and discovering what’s possible for the future.

Meet them at the Summit.

Charlamagne Tha God

Media Mogul

Dr. Dietra Trent

White House Initiative HBCU Executive Director

Bakari Sellers

CNN Political Contributor

Charis Jones

CEO of Fastest Growing Privately Held Retailer

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Rodney Scott

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Stephen K. Benjamin

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Alfred C. Liggins, III

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Kendrick F. Ashton Jr.

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Esosa Ighodaro

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Dr. Karyn R. Lacy

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Tahira White

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PJ Haynie

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Devon Henry

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Aaron Montgomery

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Dr. Robert Winn

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Taylor K. Shaw

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Dr. Cedric Green

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Demola The Violinist

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President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.

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President Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D.

— Rodney Scott — Stephen K. Benjamin — Alfred C. Liggins, III — Kendrick F. Ashton Jr. — Esosa Ighodaro — Dr. Karyn R. Lacy — Tahira White — PJ Haynie — Devon Henry — Aaron Montgomery — Dr. Robert Winn — Taylor K. Shaw — Dr. Cedric Green — Demola The Violinist — President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. — President Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D.

Rodney Scott

James Beard Foundation Award Winner

Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley

Sr. Pastor Alfred Street Baptist

Taylor K. Shaw

Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Shadow & Act Rising Executive Award Winner

Tahira White

Co-Founder and Executive of 19th & Park and Wercflow

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Charlamagne Tha God

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Dr. Dietra Trent

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Charis Jones

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Bakari Sellers

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Rodney Scott

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Stephen K. Benjamin

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Alfred C. Liggins, III

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Kendrick F. Ashton Jr.

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Esosa Ighodaro

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Dr. Karyn R. Lacy

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Tahira White

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PJ Haynie

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Devon Henry

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Aaron Montgomery

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Dr. Robert Winn

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Taylor K. Shaw

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Dr. Cedric Green

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Demola The Violinist

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President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.

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President Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D.

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Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley

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Ed L. McCoy, Jr.

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Mayor Samuel Parham

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Mayor Levar M. Stoney

— Charlamagne Tha God — Dr. Dietra Trent — Charis Jones — Bakari Sellers — Rodney Scott — Stephen K. Benjamin — Alfred C. Liggins, III — Kendrick F. Ashton Jr. — Esosa Ighodaro — Dr. Karyn R. Lacy — Tahira White — PJ Haynie — Devon Henry — Aaron Montgomery — Dr. Robert Winn — Taylor K. Shaw — Dr. Cedric Green — Demola The Violinist — President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. — President Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D. — Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley — Ed L. McCoy, Jr. — Mayor Samuel Parham — Mayor Levar M. Stoney

Devon Henry

History Making Construction and Logistics Entrepreneur

Alfred C. Liggins, III

CEO of Urban One, Inc.

Gayle Jessup White

Descendant and Officer of Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Esosa Ighodaro

Co-Founder of Black Women Talk Tech

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Charlamagne Tha God

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Dr. Dietra Trent

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Charis Jones

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Bakari Sellers

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Rodney Scott

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Stephen K. Benjamin

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Alfred C. Liggins, III

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Kendrick F. Ashton Jr.

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Esosa Ighodaro

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Dr. Karyn R. Lacy

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Tahira White

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PJ Haynie

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Devon Henry

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Aaron Montgomery

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Dr. Robert Winn

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Taylor K. Shaw

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Dr. Cedric Green

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Demola The Violinist

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President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.

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President Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D.

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Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley

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Ed L. McCoy, Jr.

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Mayor Samuel Parham

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Mayor Levar M. Stoney

— Charlamagne Tha God — Dr. Dietra Trent — Charis Jones — Bakari Sellers — Rodney Scott — Stephen K. Benjamin — Alfred C. Liggins, III — Kendrick F. Ashton Jr. — Esosa Ighodaro — Dr. Karyn R. Lacy — Tahira White — PJ Haynie — Devon Henry — Aaron Montgomery — Dr. Robert Winn — Taylor K. Shaw — Dr. Cedric Green — Demola The Violinist — President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. — President Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D. — Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley — Ed L. McCoy, Jr. — Mayor Samuel Parham — Mayor Levar M. Stoney

President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.

Virginia State University

President Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D.

Virginia Union University

Mayor Samuel Parham

City of Petersburg