KIM FULLER - YOUR HOST

Kim Fuller is a mindful photographer, Buddhist, meditation guide, author, TEDx speaker and founder of Born to Rise™.  Her passion is to help women stand in their power, their story and their beauty so they can live a confident and peaceful life.   Her programs include Soul Pilots and the Art of the P.A.U.S.E. Both are supportive in the expansion of your life and the cultivation of self love and happiness.

She is a mother of three children, one of whom is adopted and her greatest spiritual teacher.  Her book “Finding” tells the story of her journey with this young boy and the Dalai Lama.  One of Kim’s greatest gifts is she is a great hugger. 

Kim Barker Lee
Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion

IGT
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Kim Barker Lee created IGT’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion following her appointment to the role in 2018. She is responsible for leading IGT’s global diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, programs, and initiatives. Kim serves on the Board of Trustees for the Community College of Rhode Island Foundation as second vice president and is chair of the foundation’s Governance Committee.  Kim also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP), amongst other advisory boards. Kim was born and raised in East Harlem New York and also considers Chicago, Illinois home after practicing law there for most of her professional career.

Kim’s favorite motto is “Lifting As We Climb, ” a reminder to use your voice and position to benefit others, especially if you have a seat at the table.

Raylene Taskoski

I'm a speaker, comedian, podcaster, and a direct sales consultant. I'm a wife, mother, a Grammy, a winery enthusiast, and a beekeeper. I had an after-school detention for talking every single day for 3 years. I like being barefoot but hate cold feet. I'm a huge fan of the Oxford comma. I love reading, laying in the sun, cruises, visiting those grandkids, all the Marvel Avengers movies, and making people laugh.

Over the past decade, I've talked to over 10,000 women about sex & from those conversations, I created a stage show called “Stand Up Comedy Sex Ed” and a motivational keynote called “Let’s Talk About Sex: The Value of Open, Honest Discussions about Women’s Sexual Health.” Over the past 2 years, I've begun supporting entrepreneurs like myself to stay rooted and grounded in their own version of success with two new talks called "Zooming Through 2020" and "Blooming In Your Own Season."

MARY JANE MILICI

Mary Jane Milici is a vibrant, 22-year old who grew up in Portsmouth, RI, going to school, modeling, painting, and performing classical ballet with the Newport Academy of Dance. In 2019, she was diagnosed with MELAS disease after suffering a massive stroke which took her vision and mobility. She has spent three years recovering with setbacks from recurrent strokes which, at times, make life seem hopeless.

Mary Jane had always loved to paint. When her grandmother brought over paints and canvases to the house, MJ began to paint. Painting helped build her strength and gave her a new vision. With the help of her family, who all joined in and painted with her, she has started a greeting card company called HappyLittleCardStore.com. In creating, she finds purpose and meaning in her dramatically changed life. She gives back to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF) with her card proceeds to help find a cure for mitochondrial disease for others struggling like her.

Dina Khorchid

Dina Khorchid’s interest in a process-driven exploration of materials and mark making of repetitive forms and voids translates into formations and obstructions of visual and emotional patterns, portrayed as works on paper and textiles. Weaving and reconstructing fragments of heritage, landscapes and personal encounters into altered narratives to address loss, the passing of time and persistence of memories.

Dina recently completed the Salama bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship (SEAF, 2017); a highly selective year-long, studio-based programme in partnership with the Rhode Island School of Design. She earned her BSc in Visual Communication from the American University of Sharjah (2009) and has had her work showcased in group shows in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Dina’s work is in a group show called ‘A Moment That Lasts Beyond Now’ and is open from Sept 7 - Oct 2 at the Sol Koffler gallery in Downtown Providence.

Lindsay Guarino

Lindsay Guarino (she/her) is a jazz dance artist, educator and scholar.  As Associate Professor and Chair of Music, Theatre and Dance at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI she has grown the dance program from a minor to a B.A. focused in jazz and justice.  Her passion for jazz dance led her to co-edit the volumes Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches (2014) and Rooted Jazz Dance: Africanist Aesthetics and Equity in the Twenty-First Century (2022). 

As an educator and a leader, Lindsay prioritizes community at the heart of her practice and seeks to cultivate spaces where individuality is celebrated and recognized as vital to personal and collective growth. 

Lindsay’s co-authored book: Rooted Jazz Dance

PATRICIA CHADWICK

Patricia’s unorthodox upbringing – in an excommunicated Catholic commune – is the subject of her first book, a memoir entitled, LITTLE SISTER. From her infancy in 1948 until the age of 17, she, and the nearly 100 members of the community, including her parents and four siblings, lived a life shielded from the outside world – without television, radio, newspapers or any exposure to the events of the day.

At the age of 17, she was kicked out and faced the world without family, money, advice or the opportunity to attend college.

She has since been very successful in the banking world, raised two children with her husband, served on boards, mentored inner city girls and is the founder of Anchor Health Initiative, which provides primary care to the LGBTQ community in Connecticut.

Patricia’s book: Little Sister

Mel

Is a singer-songwriter steeped with soul and rock ’n roll who is taking the world by storm.

With vocals reminiscent of Miranda Lambert, Bonnie Raitt, Jewel and Stevie Nicks, Mel frequently receives praise from listeners for her healing voice & poetic lyrical work. All the while, her live performers simultaneously set the scene for letting loose and getting lost in her rock ’n roll spirit.

Additionally, Mel’s internationally-acclaimed collaborations with electronic producers have been likened to the stylings of Alina Baraz, Mazzy Star and Maggie Rogers.

Hailing from Newport, Rhode Island, Mel began her professional career performing at venues around her home-cities of Newport, Rhode Island and Boston, MA & has since shared stages with Matt Hartke (Recording Artist & Billboard Top 40 Platinum-Selling Songwriter), Troy Ramey (The Voice Top 12 & Breaking Singer/Songwriter, Apple Music) and more.

All the while, Mel has racked up more than 250K streams on streaming services. With her debut solo EP coming later this year, there’s a lot to be on the lookout for with this songstress!

MUSICBYMEL.COM

Socials: @musicbymelxo

 Live Show Trailer—

https://youtu.be/eS1tF4HBsW