Meet the 2019 P.E.A.R.L.S "NO CAP" CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Meet the Host

Krispin Watson is a self-driven entrepreneur who has made it out of some of life’s toughest situations. She is mom to two beautiful kids who have been her motivation to keep going and never give up. Krispin is a native of Grenada, MS, but currently resides in Birmingham, AL where she works in property management, and is a freelance makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics. She is a mentor for kids in her community and a positive influence to individuals worldwide.

Krispin started a self-titled blog, krispinwatson.com, where she shares her insights on business, beauty, fashion, relationships, and her spiritual beliefs. 

Having overcome many obstacles in life that could have ruined her, Krispin has made it a priority to use her life experiences to help others. She has written a book that is awaiting publishing that describes a three-part process to turn one’s pain into purpose. 

Krispin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies from Jackson State University where she graduated in 2013. Ever since then, Krispin has been working to make a name for herself digitally and socially. She is an influencer on social media where she has worked with many brands such as L’Oreal, Scout Bags, Plan B One Step, Medela, Beauty Bakerie, CeraVe, Maybelline, and many more.
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Krispin hopes to share how she overcame defeat with individuals all over the world that may be struggling with overcoming difficult battles in life.

Meet the Speakers

So,what is www.facebook.com/5browngirls/Five Brown Girls? It is a space created by five friends and sisters to be a place where women can grow from each other. It all started as an idea. Here we were: five women in our 30s, who were each successful in her own way. We are mothers, wives, leaders, business women, educators, motivators, and we even have a therapist. We were inspired by the way we have been able to be uplifted and motivated by one another. We thought, what if there was a space that we could spread this kind of love and motivation from one sister to another? After many talks, Five Brown Girls was born. 

What we want this space to be is a place for us to lean and depend on each other. We want to explore our power and magic beyond our wildest dreams. We want to talk about being mothers and wives. We want to discuss our mental health and self-care. We want to explore our creative sides together. We want to be political warriors and change agents for our communities. The possibilities are limitless! ​

Lashante Cox (Chef Po) is a delta born native of Shaw, MS but was raised in Jackson, MS. She attended Murrah High School and also studied at Jackson State University (Jackson, MS). She discovered an interest in food while spending time in the kitchen with her mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. Through those experiences, she developed her love of creating elevated dishes that remind her of those experiences cooking with them. Chef Po is also the mother of one son  and his love for food and his creativity fuels her passion for food. Although she doesn’t have any formal culinary training, food has always been her gift and passion. This inspired her to open her business Chef Po Urban Kitchen in 2016, Personal Chef and Full catering and many other services offered as well.

Kristy Johnson is a resident of Jackson, Mississippi. She is the former Miss Black Mississippi USA 2017 for the Miss Black USA scholarship pageant system. As a titleholder, she represented the state as an ambassador by hosting over 100 community engagements and partnerships with various nonprofit organizations. Today, Kristy has started a pageant consulting business, Krowned by Kristy, assisting and preparing women of all ages to fulfill their dreams within the pageant industry. She is also the first state Director for the state of Mississippi with the Modern American Miss Pageant organization that was founded in 2017 by Dominique Dickerson. 

While sharing her wealth of knowledge in the pageantry, she is also a motivational speaker, panelist, judge and host for community events throughout the state of Mississippi.

​Professionally, she is currently employed as a Mobile Crisis Emergency Response Therapist at Region 6 for Holmes County. She motivates future clinicians to follow their dreams within the mental health field. She is actively involved in the National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Counseling Association and the founder of her own nonprofit organization, Kommunity Builders.

On her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, meditation,watching movies on Netflix and Amazon Firestick, shopping and spending time with family and friends.

​Ashley Griffin is from Greenwood, MS. She is a senior biology major at Delta State University and will graduate in May 2019. She served as Miss Black MS USA 2018 and won the community service award at Miss Black USA. In the fall of 2019, Ashley will begin the neuroscience PhD program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Being able to help other girls hone in on their confidence to become better professionals, better role model’s and stronger young ladies is always a for filling feat for Ashley. 

Hattie Boone-Southern, is a makeup artist and owner of aPrettyPinkface,LLC based out of Holmes County. She was formally employed by Mac Cosmetics Inc. and is now currently work part time with Sephora, Inc. as a Color Consultant and certified artist. Growing up, she has always enjoyed the ideal of putting on makeup and helping friends get ready for special events. 

She currently has a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Jackson State University. She is also a Supervisor for MAC Center known as Mississippi Access To Care. She has a staff and 17 counties in the state of MS that she is currently responsible for when it comes to resources. She must admit that becoming an artist was not  her first career goal.

However, after receiving her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling she rediscovered the passion of beauty through makeup and its art.

Toni Morrison stated, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”. Wilburn Smith is a native of Tchula, MS but currently resides in Jackson, MS. Wilburn is a product of Holmes County where he is currently beating the statistics placed on Blacks, specifically Black males from the area. He is a graduate of S.V. Marshall High School. After completing high-school, Wilburn furthered his educational endeavors at Mississippi State University graduating with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English. Soon after, Wilburn moved back to Holmes County to pursue one of the greatest achievements in his life- “teaching”. While dedicating his time and service to teaching, he attended and graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Master’s of Business degree in Human Resources and a Master’s of Education degree in Higher Education Administration. 

He is currently teaching 4th grade English/Writing at William Dean, Jr. Elementary School in Lexington, MS and pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership- Student Affairs. When Wilburn is not teaching, mentoring, helping improve the policies being implement in education, advocating for marginalized groups, attending conferences and fighting for equality; he is spending time with family, friends and his two beautiful nieces; shopping; reading; and traveling. 
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Not only is Wilburn a motivated, dedicated, effective and stylish educator, he is also the Owner/Founder of Changing Lives Thru Writing, LLC. where he owns and operates a full writing agency specializing in proofreading, editing, resuming writing, research papers and so much more. 

One of Wilburn favorite quotes that he lives but daily is by Tupac Shakur, “I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.” ​

​Jaleel King is  from Goodman, MS and a graduate of the formally known Jacob J. McClain High School in Lexington, MS. He received his Bachelor’s in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Elementary Education from Jackson State University. He enjoy's working with kids and watching/playing sports. He's a family man and enjoys spending time with his better half.

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Zachary Thaggard is a native of Jackson, MS. An active member of Lighthouse Ministries Church where he takes part in the Worship Leader of Lighthouse Worship, and many other programs that are provided in his church. He attended Jim Hill High School and graduated from Alcorn State University with a degree in Vocal Performance. While at Alcorn State University he worked with the Religious Life under the leadership of Rev. CJ Rhodes. He currently works at William Dean Jr. Elementary School in Lexington, MS.

Zachary Thaggard is an Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of   America. He has helped in the community through tutoring programs, serving and providing items for the homeless and elderly. 

"Go in Peace” is the lead single for an EP which is projected to be released in 2020. Zachary Thaggard is writing various materials that will help enhance worship teams and build young men to be modern-day gentlemen. He is also the founder of ZDT Ministries which focuses on mentoring, teaching, preaching and inspiring others to live out their God-given purpose.

Mr. Alonzo Cornelius Washington was born and raised in the city of Lexington, MS.  He is an alumnus of Jacob Joshua McClain High School where he was a proud member of the marching band, Beta Club and also served his school as Mr. Senior the class of 2010.

Upon graduating, Alonzo chose to attend THEE Jackson State University where he excelled in obtaining his undergraduate degree in Education while continuing his band membership in THEE Sonic Boom of The South Marching Band. Alonzo is a proud member of the Alpha Beta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and is also a Prince Hall Affiliated Freemason by way of T. C. Almore Lodge #242.  

​He is currently pursuing his Masters in Higher Education Administration at Mississippi College while he continues to serve the community through his daily occupation as an English educator in the Shelby County School District in Memphis, TN.  He believes that if we pass the keys to success down to our youth through education, they can unlock any door.

Jameel Muhammad is a 24 year old graduate of Alcorn State University. He has a MBA in Finance and Marketing. His life's mission is to give back to the community by giving them a life changing financial education.

Dontrell Banks is a 2014, BBA-Accounting and 2018 Masters Business admin graduate from Jackson, MS. He is a native of Summit, MS and is now residing in Fort Worth, TX. He works in mortgage servicing as an investor reporting analyst and fitness coach. He is also a former member of the Sonic Boom of the South and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. He is passionate about helping and impacting the youth and doing anything math related!