Get Your Mind Right: Hip Hop, Entrepreneurship, and Wellness

About the Speakers

Dave Bellevue is a career Recording Artist [Oxymorrons], Buddhist, and Technology enthusiast. After losing a close friend to suicide, he became a huge mental health advocate. He began his advocacy by becoming a JED Foundation Storyteller. Then started curating, moderating, and speaking on panels with various organizations, including Time Magazine, The Ad Council, NAMI, and The Mental Health Coalition to name a few. Since then he’s been using his voice to bring awareness to mental illness, which affects the lives of millions globally. He couldn’t help but notice the lack of awareness, resources, and the overall stigma surrounding Mental Health in BIPOC communities. In an effort to change and combat these issues, he created his own organization named Swag For Stigma. He has spent the last 8 years advocating for mental health awareness in every capacity.

Erik Blamoville II was born & raised in Elmont, NY. Erik started out as an office intern for Pharrell William’s Billionaire Boys Club streetwear brand and has since evolved into an expert Brand Partnership & Marketing professional. Erik, via his creative agency GENEIUS, offers creative direction, content creation, and marketing services to artists and brands who are looking for a more direct/personal partnership that is tailored towards each client’s specific needs and wants. Currently, Erik serves as Creative Director for legendary Hip Hop pioneers, RUN DMC. Erik is also an active member in his community. Through a mental health awareness platform he co-founded, Mind Your Mental, and his nonprofit Try Love Foundation, Erik has worked diligently to help break the stigmas surrounding mental health and create opportunities for the Youth in his hometown of Elmont, as well as Hollis, Queens.

Manny Faces is an award-winning journalist, speaker, and founding director of The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy. As a podcast professional, Manny also produces acclaimed shows including social justice-meets-Hip-Hop program, News Beat, and Hip-Hop Can Save America! News Beat was awarded “Best Podcast” at the New York Press Club Journalism Awards in 2018 and 2021, while Hip-Hop Can Save America! is listed as “recommended material” at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Manny’s work largely focuses on championing the unique and powerful abilities of Hip Hop music and culture to uplift humanity — particularly in areas such as education, science and technology, health and wellness, social justice, journalism, entrepreneurialism, the fine arts, and more.  An accomplished public speaker, Manny has presented at universities, companies, conferences, and festivals throughout the world.

Candid Mack founded Future MOGUL Academy in 2020. She is from The Bronx, New York, and she works with youth ages 14-24, teaching them the importance of goal setting and how to develop a successful business. In 2019, Candid became an Entrepreneurship Counselor; during that time, she taught cohorts on food industry entrepreneurship for the Queens FEASTS 12-week program, where she advanced her skills in project management, business coaching, program development, and curriculum development. In May of 2022, she introduced the first in-person Pitch Deck Competition, where $10,000 in prizes were awarded to new entrepreneurs for their businesses. Candid is currently the Program and Events Coordinator for National Girls Collaborative Project. Teaching youth has allowed Candid to see firsthand the need to continue providing education about goals and entrepreneurship. Her ultimate vision is to create a generation of young adults who are mastering their goals and experiencing success beyond their imagination.

Daniel McCartney is a booking/music agent at UTA (United Talent Agency) in Beverly Hills, CA and Founder/CEO of Outlast Records. Daniel currently represents Grandson, Palaye Royale, Mod Sun, Point North, Siiickbrain, Garzi, and many other rock/alternative acts breaking today. Daniel got his start in the business touring as the guitarist in the metalcore band Gideon. Perhaps most importantly, Daniel started the non-profit organization The Continuance Foundation with a focus on mental health for musicians.

Simone Whitney is an experienced radio programmer and producer with a demonstrated history of working in digital, broadcast, and streaming media. Skilled in radio, music programming, event coordination, project management, talent relations, content creation, and social media. Strong arts and design professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Electronic Media/Journalism from LIU Post.

Regan Sommer McCoy

Shardé Mack, Psychiatry