David Shapiro is the CEO of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, the unifying champion for expanding quality youth mentoring relationships. MENTOR was founded 25 years ago to build and activate a youth mentoring movement. Since then, the number of mentoring relationships has grown from 300,000 to more than four million. Under Shapiro’s leadership, the organization has been highlighted by the Social Impact Exchange, the Stanford Social Innovation Review and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and was selected by the U.S Department of Justice to establish and operate the National Mentoring Resource Center.

In 2014, MENTOR’s report, The Mentoring Effect, found that 1 in 3 young people reach adulthood without a mentor. MENTOR’s strategy to close that gap incorporates policy expertise and advocacy, public awareness and mobilization. The organization bridges research to practice, and develops and delivers standards, training and tools in collaboration with its national network of affiliate Mentoring Partnerships.

Shapiro was previously the CEO of MENTOR’s Massachusetts affiliate, Mass Mentoring Partnership and he has held positions with the U.S. Golf Association Foundation and the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay. He chairs the Mass Nonprofit Network board and serves as a volunteer leader with America’s Promise Alliance and National Human Service Assembly.

Mike is a believer in the power of mentoring and has dedicated his career to contributing to the national mentoring movement. Mike joined iMentor in 2003 and became CEO of iMentor in 2007. iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower students in low-income communities to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions. iMentor partners with high schools and provides every student in the school with a mentor. Since 1999, iMentor has connected 15,000 students with mentors, through our partnerships with public schools in New York City and nonprofits nationwide. iMentor has also recently launched a direct-service site in Chicago to be followed by a launch in the Bay Area. Under Mike’s leadership, the organization has grown its direct-service annual enrollment from serving 400 New York City high school students to serving 3,200 New York students and 200 students in Chicago.

In 2006, Mike launched the iMentor Partner Programs, expanding iMentor’s reach beyond its direct service work by bringing iMentor’s effective mentoring model to communities across the country. Partner Programs pro¬vides iMentor’s curricula, technology tools, and consulting to non-profits nationwide so they can implement their own effective mentoring programs in the iMentor model. Currently Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates across the country serve over 2,300 students in partnership with iMentor.

Mike is a member of the board of directors at Blue Engine and BUILD. He is also the recipient of an Ashoka Fellowship, which recognizes leading social entrepreneurs who have innovative solutions to social problems and the potential to change patterns across society. Mike began his career as a high school teacher in East New York, Brooklyn, where he also coached the boys’ basketball team and launched an after-school writing program. He is a graduate of Bucknell University.

Karlton Harris is the founder and president of Re-entry Consultants of America (RECOA) LLC. He is the author of the award winning, recidivism reducing book, “I’m Free! Now What?” After his guest appearance on Oprah’s Lifeclass, Karltoncreated and produced his reality television show “Six-Sons”. When Karlton is not being a father to his six sons, he is leading Houston’s My Brother’s Keeper Juvenile Diversion Program. A troubled youth and former prisoner himself, he knows firsthand the challenges and obstacles that await once outside the prison walls. Karlton is a much sought-after conference speaker and holistic re-entry specialist. In 2015, he was recognized as “The Father of the Year” by The Fathers and Families Coalition of America and the National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc.

Karlton, his wife Karla, and their six sons reside in Houston, Texas. For more information on Karlton Harris please visit his website at www.karltonharris.com.

"Merging Ethan’s Tennessee folk and the jazzy beach vibes of the band’s roots in the Caribbean,  Ethan Parker Band brings a refreshing new sound and style with his original songs".

Born and raised in Memphis, Ethan was immersed in Blues and Folk traditions before moving to Florida where the acoustic guitar and ukulele deeply influences his music. Writing music at the age of 15 he went on to study music at Palm Beach Atlantic University.  During the first week of school he met Jean Marc Alexandre (drums and vocals) and they began dreaming of something bigger and better.  Ethan originally started out as a solo artist but while at school he also met two other talented musicians, Hantz Metellus (Bass & Viola) and Pablo Martinez (guitar). Together they would form the core and become the backbone of what would come to be known as the Ethan Parker Band. Soon a variety of talented musicians including Pierre Aristil and Amos Pierre (Keys) helped contribute to the bands unique sound. Every concert is uniquely different and the band often times has musicians including Danny Marquez (Drums and Percussion), Marck Morgan (Saxophone), Euvoski Cunningham a.k.a Muff (Drums), Roget Pontrbriand (Trumpet) and Brinton Lyndsay (guitar) often joining the band on stage for special events.

In 2015 the band partnered with their nonprofit organization, Project Primavera and toured 40 cities across the US with the goal of creating mentors in the lives of orphans and at-risk youth in each city.

Project Primavera Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization that helps orphans and at-risk youth through music and mentorship. The organization sends out artists and musicians that put on concerts creating mentors. While on tour these musicians perform free music workshops for various children’s homes. The organization also provides free professional music lessons to children in foster care. For more information visit, www.projectprimavera.org and www.ethanparkerband.com.

Richmond Punch is a violin virtuoso who delivers a riveting, dynamic, explosive, and powerful performance! He is a graduate of Juilliard and earned a Master’s Degree from Yale University. His business specializes in live violin music for all events including special events, corporate events, concerts, festivals, weddings and worship. Mr. Punch plays everything from classical music to jazz, hip hop and gospel. He has been featured in numerous magazines, on various radio and television stations across our great nation and is now focused on international pursuits. Mr. Punch has delighted and dazzled audiences from Atlanta to Anchorage, Las Vegas to New York and everywhere in between. For more information, visit www.richmondpunch.net.