4th ANNUAL Ajilla CONFERENCE AND FUNDRAISER
The conference theme this year is “The Next Normal”
A year like 2020 forced the entire world to stop, pause and reflect. As professionals and contributors to society, what role are we playing in determining the “next normal” for future generations? At this event we will share things to consider as we approach our “next normal” while celebrating and honoring high school, college and corporate leaders who walk in their purpose and are making an impact.
Meet Our Guests and HONOREES
2021 Ajilla Passion. Purpose. Possibilities Honoree.
Tiana Conley
Tiana serves as the Vice President of Global Cereal for the Kellogg Company, where she is responsible for the $6 billion flagship portfolio with treasured brands such as Special K, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Corn Flakes. Prior to joining Kellogg, she was Marketing Director of global tequila at Beam Suntory, where she led a portfolio of 5 brands and oversaw operations at the Casa Sauza Heritage Center in Tequila, Mexico. Before joining Beam Suntory, Ms. Conley held a variety of marketing roles at Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble, including leading the $4 billion Global Bath Tissue Portfolio as well as leading the P&L for the North American Olay brand. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University Williams College of Business in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tiana is based in Chicago and is mother of two children, Griffin and Ava.
Learn more about Tiana by clicking HERE
Whitney Reynolds
Event Chair and Emcee
Emmy nominated & Telly Award winning Whitney Reynolds' national news background and love for people have been combined to create a show that is changing the dialogue for talk TV. She produces a program that is dedicated to being a safe space for delicate life stories. She discovered this mission first hand through her own difficult childhood. The Whitney Reynolds Show educates, inspires and makes a difference, one topic at a time. What started as an online talk show moved to NBC within its first year. In 2012 the show made strategic changes, which included a shift in focus and move to PBS and Amazon Prime. In 2020 the show was picked up for national distribution by NETA and will premiere across the country in 2021.
The mission however, doesn’t stop with her TV program. Since 2013 Whitney has hosted a motivation segment on iHeart Radio. She also authored Beyond The Interview and is contributor to Chicago Parent Magazine.
Originally from Oklahoma, she's learned how to combine southern charm with big city hustle. Her motto is: If the door closes, find the darn window. Whitney graduated from Baylor University in three years and moved to New York to intern for Good Morning America. Post GMA, she was a morning anchor in both Oklahoma and Texas. She has since planted her roots in Chicago and lives in the Lakeview neighborhood with her husband David and twins.
Learn more about Whitney by clicking HERE
Live Painting by Jeff Beckham
Completed Painting will be auctioned off
Jeff started painting in December after the untimely passing of a friend. His last conversation with Brian Sleet was about what outlets he had to manage stress if he decided to run for office in the future. “He asked me what I liked to do other than basketball (because at my age, my knees can’t take that every day). I said, “when I was in high school, I loved to draw and paint.” He said very simply, “well, paint.” We’d discussed the fact that both of us had worked quite a bit, and neither one of us had taken a real vacation (where we left a laptop at home) in a long time. His words resonated with me hours after I found out about his death, so I went in my closet and got out a canvas and some paint I’d bought a year prior, and I started painting. Since then, I’ve probably painted and sold over 60 original pieces, and I have shipped over 300 prints to 4 continents and nine countries since April. It has become my most significant outlet and has brought me immense peace.”
In addition to being an artist, Jeff Beckham a business professional with experience in business development, sales and marketing, external affairs, and technology. Jeff is a community leader who serves as CEO for Chicago Scholars, a non-profit that helps low-income and first-generation students in Chicago. Learn more about Jeff by clicking HERE.
Live Poetry Performance by boomie bol
Olubunmi, fondly called Bunmi writes under the name Boomie Bol. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, she started writing at an early age, often behind her bible talking to God about world peace and forgiving the Devil.
Her first memory of writing a shared poem was at age thirteen; titled “Universal Woman”, it was a gift to her school principal.
After years of paper silence, due to some trauma, tragedies, and misdirection. Boomie started writing again around 2010 and has since vowed never to stop.
She performs her poetry and has been featured in several events including F.AT.E. ‘s Diaspora Monologues, and Ajilla Foundation. Boomie shares her poems and short stories on her social media accounts and blog - www.boomiebol.wordpress.com - and her poetry can also be found in other publications such as Black Fox Literary Magazine.
She holds a BSc. and MBA from the Northern Illinois University, and is married to her one husband.
Together they have their twin daughters and continue to live and make memories in Illinois.
Her debut poetry collection “paper heart” was released to heartwarming success on October 27th 2020.
Learn more about Boomie Bol by clicking HERE
