2018 FunTimes Magazine 30 Under 30
Nahla Bee
Bee has shared stages with artists such as Wale, Nick Cannon and others. She was a headline performer for Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative: College Signing Day at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, to uplift and encourage high school students to pursue higher education. Read More
David D. Simons
As the CEO of Kingdom Social Media, an agency specializing in helping influential leaders dominate their market online through social media marketing, Simons has helped more than 20 Fortune 500 companies establish digital marketing campaigns. Read More
Sofiya Ballin
Ballin’s work led her to being named the 2017 National Black Journalists Association (NABJ) Journalist of the Year (online) and a Caribbean American Thirty Under 30 Emerging Leader. She netted the NABJ Award for Best Features Series in 2017 for her project exploring the importance of a comprehensive Black history education, through a collection of essays. Read More
Gabrielle Gibson
Instead of pursing the studentathlete path, she had grown to know throughout her younger life, Gibson continued her education without basketball to aid her studies in Business Informatics (Analytics) at Widener University in Chester, Pa. She was honored in two academic fraternities, Phi Eta Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi. Read More
Oba Sankofa
Oba Sankofa is an educator who strives to change the lives of people in his community. He is the creator of the University of Rap, a hip-hop and math program for youth which currently runs at Simon Gratz Prep. Read More
Octavius Blount
Blount is the founder of the “The Urban Thinker”, which symbolizes the connection between Black consciousness, Black philosophies and generating questions. He is the vice president of I.M.P.A.C.T (Intelligent Men of Color Purposefully Accomplishing College Together), a member of the Black Alumni Association of Arcadia University and the Association of Black Social Workers. Read More
Tempest Carter
Tempest Carter Jan 09, 2018 08:00AM Tempest Carter is passionate about eradicating poverty and improving the quality of life for communities through education, community building, youth empowerment, economic development, and art. She is looking for positions that will use her skills to support the creation and maintaining of opportunity rich and culturally vibrant communities. Read More
Kala J. West
Kala Juanita West, a producer for WURD Radio and a multimedia journalist, manages the on-air studios during mid-day shows, books guests and oversees production elements. She previously worked as a live events producer for Penn Sports Network. Read More
MarjoLagah Bona
MarjoLagah Bona is the founder and CEO of Cocorobics Workshop, an international traveling dance and fitness program which features a mixture of dance from different part of the world, mostly African, and is fused with Aerobics. Read More
Hazim Hardeman
Hazim Hardeman made history as the first Rhodes scholar to graduate from Temple University. He was one of 32 students and recent graduates selected from more than 850 applicants to receive a 2018 Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest and most prestigious international award available to Americans. Read More
Christopher Norris
Christopher Flood the Drummer Norris is a social justice journalist and activist, a freelance journalist for Philly.com, a content writer for Comcast, a writer and podcast personality for Philadelphia Magazine, and a WURD radio host and on-air personality. Norris currently serves as the CEO of Techbook Online Corporation, a news and event company that published original content across channels and platforms. Read More
Chinazo Enigwe
Chinazo Enigwe isthe founder of KAMSI Magazine, an African digital fashion magazine for the young Black millennial woman, aspiring to build the self-esteem of Black females through the magazine. Read More
Ifeanyi Chukwueze
Ifeanyi Chukwueze serves as the vice president of the Nigerian American Young Adults Association (NAYA), which encourages Nigerian youth in the Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Delaware region to network with those aspirating to become successful in their careers. Read More
Adedoyin Otolorin
As the production manager of FunTImes Magazine, Adedoyin Otolorin is involved in the overall production of the magazine from the inception of ideas to the selection of articles and working with the contributors and graphic designers for each edition. Read More
Samuel Cole
Samuel Cole is regarded as a young, emerging leader as the founder of the Sierra Leone Youth Association (SYLA), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization. Read More
Anthony Phillips
Phillips has extensive experience working with various educational and youth development non profits, including City Year Philadelphia, Summer Search Philadelphia, Breakthrough Philadelphia, Student Bridges in Massachusetts, W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars Institute at Princeton University, Spark the Wave, Afro American Cultural Center at Yale, the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, Northeast Center for Youth and Families, Scholar Academies, Africare, WorkReady Philadelphia, The Institute for Responsible Citizenship and UrbEd. Read More
Jemiriye Adeniji
The Nigerian-born singer’s awards include the Afro Pop Queen at the All African Heritage Awards in Atlanta, Custodian of Yoruba Heritage Award in Dallas, and the Recognition Award for Community Building and Services at the African Caribbean Business Council Awards Dinner in Philadelphia. Adeniji was nominated for the Pittsburgh Emerging Artists of the Year in 2015. She is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and holds a professional diploma in advertising and promotions from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Read More
Savannah Britt
At the age of 22, she spearheaded the lifestyle and influencer content for Pelle Pelle – an urban apparel line — gathering big names around the brand including Fetty Wap, Lil Bibby, G Herbo, Remy Boy Monty, Kranium, and Smoke DZA. Read More
Rahel Solomon
The West Philadelphia native came back to Philadelphia from KCNC TV, the CBS-owned station in Denver, where she had been a reporter and fill-in anchor since January 2014. While in Denver, she distinguished herself with her coverage of the trial of the Aurora Theater Shooter, James Holmes, and Colorado flooding in 2014 for CBS This Morning. Read More
Ben Tshiribi
Ben Tshribi was born and raised in Ghana. He moved to the U.S. to pursue tertiary education and studied Finance and Accounting at Temple University's Fox School of Business. Tshribi is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded PHIDAS, a Washington-DC based non-profit creating liveable communities globally. He co-founded TRIPLE S Sensational Smart Stick, a premium inhalable aroma diffuser, a non-nicotine product designed to be a better smoking alternative for discerning smokers. Read More
Mamady Kaba
Mamady Kaba is Guinean born. He studied International Business and Entrepreneurship at Temple University's Fox School of Business. Kaba is a savvy businessman who co-founded TRIPLE S: Sensational Smart Stick, a premium inhalable aroma diffuser, a non-nicotine product designed to be a better smoking alternative for discerning smokers. Read More
Evon Burton
As a public relations (PR) professional, Evon Burton enjoys working behind the scenes and telling stories. He serves as the marketing and outreach supervisor at Philadelphia FIGHT, where he helps manage their PR communication, and community outreach programs of this comprehensive AIDS service organization. Read More
Mafei James
"Outside of my regular 9-5 as a Safety Professional, I have a passion to promote the importance of protecting healthy hair growth. I have an equal passion for the promotion of African culture to foster a deeper understanding of different Diasporic cultures within our communities. This past year on a trip to Sierra Leone, I started an initiative called FemAfric with a mission to empower women by collaborating creatively with talented hair stylists in Sierra Leone to create hand crafted wigs and crochet braid styles. Look at the hair these women braided and twisted on the website, femafric.com" Read More
Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards recently launched the Black Label Cigar the first Black-owned cigar line in England. Although he's a newcomer at the cigar industry. Edwards launched his successful male grooming brand, the UK-based Aireyys Ltd. in 2015. Read More
Ramata Mansaray
"I’m a part of a nonprofit organization called the Sierra Leone Youth Association in Philadelphia, PA, which helps youth paint a better path in life, educating them on their parents’ country and culture. I have also been networking through a group called Salone Spice 101, which allows us Sierra Leoneans to interact, do charity work, and help those who don’t have enough funds to go to the hospital when they’re sick. Every time I go to Sierra Leone, I give back. In 2016, I sent two barrels filled with school supplies, clothes, soccer balls, and soccer cleats. Just to see the smiles on everyone’s face fills my soul with joy." Read More
Shanice Solomon
A millennial living in West Philadelphia while working in Southern NJ. In her role as Health Educator at Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, she connects women to programs and resources before, during, and after their pregnancies to ensure high quality comprehensive care. Born in Newark NJ, raised in Strousberg PA, with strong roots from Guyana South America, her background is quite striking. Read More
Sammed Okyne
Owner of Kings & Queens African Cuisine, Sammed Okyne, a young entrepreneur in our community, has had extraordinary success in the restaurant industry. With his degree from Penn State University in business management and marketing and a minor in international studies, he has achieved as much growth in the past few years as he is putting a unique stamp on his venture, one step at a time. One of his biggest accomplishments was being nominated as the Best African Restaurant by Philly Magazine in 2017. Read More
Onyinyechukwu Okorji
Onyinyechukuwu Okorji, D.O. is a future surgeon whose tenacity and philanthropic mindset has been highly recognized. She is an alumna of Temple University and a graduate of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Okorji has served as president of the Nigerian Ameican Young Adults Association. Read More
Jabari Jones
As the president of West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative, Jabari Jones is strivingto help West Philly's existing businesses become more profitable, so they can grow and hire, reducing poverty and unemployment. Read More
