Vera Mabson is Singer-Songwriter, Poet, Choir Director, Praise Dancer, DancerMother, Psychology educator, Paraeducator for Fayette County Public Schools and Seamstress from Lexington Kentucky

Join The Ricochet Effect to discuss developing new and innovative leaders through New Leaders Council Kentucky - Using the #BetterArguments framework from the Aspen Institute. Civic Suppers encourage participants to have vulnerable and productive conversations about partisan local elections.

Gareth Evans from The Tahlsound Music Festival joins the Ricochet Effect to discuss Tahlsound as a family friendly concert series that exists to celebrate, elevate, and recognize Central Kentucky’s musical and artistic vibrancy through an inclusive festival with emphasis on artists from surrounding communities. For more information about Tahlsound visit tahlsound.com.

Abeer Sikder, JD and Dexter Horne, MPA join The Ricochet Effect to discuss developing new and innovative leaders through New Leaders Council Kentucky and Equal Access Public Media.

Amanda Aday joins The Ricochet Effect to discuss women in the media, her various television and film roles, and her new podcast.

Joey Truax (Yusef) made his mark in Hip Hop and Islamic culture, starting in 1986 in Lexington Kentucky. Joey also serves as a member of the WUKY Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging Community Advisory Board (WUKY DEIB CAB). Over the years, Joey has produced many different artists locally and nationally and has also worked with Platinum Producer 7 Aurelius (also from Lex KY). Joey is a local radio personality with RADIOLEX WLXU 93.9 FM. Joey proudly carries the torch for Hip Hop culture and diversity and inclusion.

Jennifer Reynolds loves meeting new people and working with diverse populations. She was elected to the 11th District’s Urban County Council in November 2018. She was the outreach director with Bluegrass Youth Ballet after starting a bilingual outreach program in the 11th District’s Valley Park in 2013. Jennifer is also fluent in Spanish and a qualified medical interpreter.

Karyn Czar is an award-winning news reporter for WUKY. Karyn Czar received a bone marrow transplant as part of her treatment for multiple myeloma. Karyn has openly shared details of her story. She has talked about how the mental and emotional challenges too often obscured by the physical recovery process. She shares her story in hopes of ending the stigma associated with talking openly about physical and mental health issues related to healing.

Angela C. Evans made history in 2022 when she was sworn in as the first African American county attorney in Kentucky. A native of Lexington, Evans is the Fayette County Attorney. With a heart for service and justice, Angela works to ensure political candidates, businesses and individuals abide by the same rules and are treated fairly by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Claudia Love Mair is the author of 13 books, including the upcoming, Mourning Pages, from Broadleaf Books (2025). She holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University and is the Coordinator for the Carnegie Center's Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative (KBWC). Claudia Love is also the co-host of the Abbey of the Arts Lift Every Voice Book Club, which features books in the Christian contemplative tradition by BIPOC authors.