KURT FAUSTIN

 

Kurt Faustin is an emotional intelligence educator, TEDx speaker, Certified Brain-Based Coach, and Founder & CEO of The Dropout. His science-backed approach helps people better understand how stress, emotions, and self-awareness impact the way they lead, perform, and make decisions. Kurt has worked with more than 100 organizations and impacted over 55,000 people through keynotes, workshops, and programs nationwide. His philosophy is simple: “People don’t do what they know; they do what they feel.”

 

ERICA DAVIS

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Erica Davis is a real estate developer, investor, agent, entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to building wealth, creating opportunities, and strengthening communities. Her passion for real estate goes beyond buying and selling properties—it’s about creating pathways to ownership, financial freedom, and generational wealth.As Founder and CEO of Erica Davis Estates, a Black woman-owned development company, Erica develops and invests in quality housing throughout Boston. As a real estate agent with Thumbprint Realty, she helps buyers—especially first-time homebuyers—navigate the journey to homeownership with knowledge, strategy, and confidence.For Erica, building in Boston is about more than developing properties—it’s about investing in communities, creating opportunities, and showing the next generation what ownership can look like.Through The EDE Movement, Erica provides young people with mentorship, exposure, and opportunities to learn about real estate, entrepreneurship, leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building. She believes that exposure can change what young people see as possible for their future.With God at the center of everything she does, Erica is grounded in family and purpose. Her mission is to develop people, create opportunities, strengthen communities, and build lasting legacies for generations to come.

 

KUEEN KING

 

Kueen King is a visionary entrepreneur, beauty and wellness leader, licensed cosmetologist and educator, mentor, wife, mother, and woman of unwavering faith. With 25 years of experience in the beauty industry, Kueen has transformed her career into a platform for purpose, empowerment, healing, and community impact.Known for inspiring others to see beyond their circumstances and step boldly into their God-given potential, Kueen uses her voice, experiences, and businesses to encourage people to heal, grow, dream bigger, and live with intention. Through initiatives such as her Write the Vision Goal-Setting Brunch, she creates powerful spaces for entrepreneurs to connect, gain clarity, and build meaningful legacies.Whether she is behind the salon chair, mentoring an entrepreneur, encouraging someone through a difficult season, or pouring into her family, Kueen leads with authenticity, compassion, and purpose. Her greatest mission is to inspire others to recognize that their story is not the end.

 

ROBERT LEWIS REYNOLDS

 

Robert Lewis (fondly known as Lewis) was born in Hughes Arkansas in 1958 to Cary Reynolds and Pearline Pointer Reynolds. He is number six of eight children born to this union. Lewis is the youngest of three boys. He was born between two older and two younger sisters. His two brothers have since passed. His father, Cary untimely death, (car accident} left his mother to care for eight children alone. To entangle matters even further, Lewis’ baby sister, Alberta passed away a few months later following the death of his father. She died at eight months due to spinal complications. Lewis described his earlier years as challenging. His mom had very little money to buy food, there was had no running water in the house and the ground outside could be easily be seen through the cracks of the wood floors in their house. Life began improve for the family shortly after his eldest Brother Leon secured a job with the Coca-Cola Company in Massachusetts. Once his 20 -year- old brother, Leon got settled he sent for his mom and siblings to join him. Lewis was eight years old when he moved to Massachusetts with his mom and siblings. He attended Lynn Public Schools. He graduated from Lynn Classical High School in 1977 where he was a two- sport athlete. He was a star at both basketball and football. His football skills fortified him with a scholarship to Boston College where he played defensive end. During his Jr. year of high school, he fathered his first child. Ironically, he fathered his second child during his Jr. year in college. Even though attended school and played sports both high school and college he found time to work so that he could assist with the support of his children. Lewis has four children, 3 boys and one girl. Following college Lewis worked for West Lynn Creamery for three years. He then went into construction. He currently resides in Lynn with his dog. Starry. He lived with his wife, Kathy (common-law) up until a year ago. However, they were together for over 28 years. Kathy unfortunately passed away last year, 15 days after being diagnosed with Cancer. Her death took a major toll on Lewis, as his whole life was centered around her.

 

KATRINA BINGHAM

 

Katrina Bingham, whose sir name is Murkison, was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1956 to Aron and Catherine Murkison. She is the second of eight children. At the age seven, she migrated to the Massachusetts with her mom and five brothers following her parents’ separation. The family ultimately settled in Lynn, MA. Her father, Aron, relocated to Connecticut, and then to MA a few years later. Katrina attended Lynn Public Schools. In 1972, during her Junior year at Classical High School, she became pregnant and gave birth to her first child, Rosalyn. This was a very difficult time for the family. Her mother, Catherine, who was already struggling financially, had to now make room for one more. Katrina chose to leave school to care for her child. She was able to secure a few base pay jobs, but nothing significant. She even dabbled at modeling. She later returned to Lynn Classical and received her diploma in 1976. In 1979 she married Joseph Bingham Sr. Katrina is the mother of 4 children, Rosalyn Murkison, Joseph Bingham Jr., Corey and Jarred Bingham. She relocated to Boston in 1989 following a separation from her husband. During this time, she was the owner and operator of a small restaurant formally known as Grove Hall Steak House and Coffee Shop.The stressors of life finally caught up with Katrina in the 1990s. She lost her youngest brother at 33. This divorced mother of four was existing on auto-piolet while trying to manage her family, maintain a restaurant, and grapple to pay bills. Consequently, Katrina turned to drugs for comfort. She reported this as one of the darkest times in her life. Her mother agreed to care for her children while she checked herself into a long-term treatment facility in Falmouth, MA.In 2011, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This devasting news took a significant toll on her. After going through treatment, she was giving a clean bill of health, only to be told it had returned 2 years later. She couldn’t believe it. She was certain that she would not live to see her grandchildren grow up. However, she is here today and still standing.

 

JAMES LEVEQUE

 

T A L K 2 E M

 

MY NAME IS JAMES FILS LEVEQUE I WAS BORN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BY HAITIAN DESCENDANT PARENTS. I MIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES AT THE TENDER AGE OF FOUR YEARS OLD AFTER THE DEATH OF MY MOTHER. WHEN I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES I LIVED WITH MY FATHER GEORGE LEVEQUE. MY FATHER WAS A HARDWORKING MAN WHO MADE HIS LIVING DRIVING TAXICABS IN THE STREETS OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS; IT WAS THROUGH HIM I LEARNED ABOUT SURVIVAL. AN IMPORTANT LESSON MY DAD INSTILLED IN ME WAS TO ALWAYS EDUCATE YOURSELF.“GO TO SCHOOL IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH OPTIONS FOR YOUR FUTURE.”

 

MY FATHER PREACHED THIS TO ME DAILY. HE WOULD ALSO SAY THAT “EDUCATION IS NOT FILLING A BUCKET, BUT LIGHTING A FIRE.”I WOULDN’T CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE THE BEST STUDENT WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, BUT I GOT THE JOB DONE. I ATTENDED CHARLESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I WAS A MEMBER OF A SUCCESSFUL BASKETBALL TEAM THAT WON TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. MY ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE HAS HELPED ME GROW INTO THE MAN THAT I AM TODAY. MY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH, JACK O'BRIEN, WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN INSPIRATIONAL IN MY LIFE. HIS ABILITY TO USE BASKETBALL AS A TOOL TO MOTIVATE HIS PLAYERS TO ATTEND SCHOOL, DO WELL IN CLASS AND APPLY THEMSELVES AT ANYTHING THEY DO PREPARED ME FOR THE FUTURE.

 

DEDICATION AND HARD WORK ON AND OFF THE COURT HELPED ME GET ACCEPTED TO ENDICOTT COLLEGE. AT ENDICOTT, I MAJORED IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT AND EARNED MY DEGREE IN 2005. I ALSO WAS A FOUR YEAR LETTERMAN FOR THE ENDICOTT COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM. AFTER GRADUATION I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY COMMUNITY AND SHOW MY PASSION FOR WORKING WITH INNER CITY KIDS. I WENT INTO THE EDUCATION FIELD WHERE I BECAME A TEACHER.

 

I HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. I HAVE LEARNED TO REGARD LIFE EXPERIENCES AS IF I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE AND SO MUCH TO GAIN THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF. I HAVE LEARNED TO STAND BY MY BELIEFS AND FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS. I AM AN ACTOR, WHO HAS BEEN IN INDEPENDENT MOVIES INCLUDING "DECISIONS" BY ITB PRODUCTIONS, "LOUIS DREAMING" BY BOSTON UNIVERSITY PRODUCTION, "FAITH UNDER FIRE" AN OLIVE KITTERIDGE HBO TELEVISION SERIES. I HAVE TAKEN COURSES ON MONOLOGUE STUDY WITH DAVID MCDERMOTT AT BIH STUDIOS IN NEW YORK, I HAVE BEEN IN NATIONAL COMMERCIALS FOR EXAMPLE, KEURIG, NIKE AND UNDER ARMOUR. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF CO-HOSTING THE RADIO SHOW "WHATS ON THE MENU" ON BOSTON'S 102.9 FM.

 

I’VE TACKLED MY GOAL TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR BY GETTING INTO FINANCIAL SERVICES AND BECOMING A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER.WHILE ON THIS PATH I STARTED MY OWN PODCAST CALLED "TALK2EM" WHERE WE DISCUSS SELF HELP STRATEGIES, POP CULTURE, MUSIC, RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW IT ALL LINKS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS. I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE JOURNEY THAT I’M CURRENTLY ON BECAUSE WHILE EDUCATING MYSELF I AM ALSO EDUCATING MY COMMUNITY WITH MY NON-PROFIT TALK2EM INC. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL LITERACY TO OUR YOUTH IN SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY TO PARENTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS. MY GOAL IS TO HELP OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY GROW IN FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO SUPPORT IN BUILDING A SOLID FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.