ball culture
Dana Davis
Dana Davis is a leadership expert, professional development coach, and multi-award winning speaker, producer, and TV host of The Refresh with Dana Show available on ZondraTV. Dana’s show brings a “refreshing” approach to the talk show arena that features entrepreneurs and experts whose services or products are impactful and transformational. Dana Davis, affectionately known as “Your girl” Dana Davis, is a ray of sunshine who brings electrifying energy and personality to television. Dana uses her expertise and talent to lead conversations around pop culture, business strategies, contemporary...Bernard McAllister
Bernard "Bernie Jourdan Ebony" McAllister was born and raised in the city of Newark. He is the second of two children born to a single mother. He was raised by an extended family of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and many others who helped mold him into the man he would later become. He came out to his family at the age of fourteen. He was embraced by his family yet prepared by them for what the world had in store for an openly gay black man. Having come from a background where no one was ever turned away for being different, he easily gravitated towards the ballroom scene which welcomed young...Aaron Frazier
38 years living with the virus, a poet and writer, self-published two chap books, write for La Raine Magazine and several other local and nationally. I have a BS From Saint Peters College in Jersey City Urban Studies Public Policies, an Associate in Liberal Arts Social Science from Essex County College, The Mother of the House of Divine of Greater Newark, a volunteer for the LBGTQ Center, previous Coordinator of Project Fire II of El Club Del Barrio, currently an active member of Hyacinth Cab and Thrive Role Model Story, a long term non progressor study participant with the National...
Czezre Adams
Czezre Tyrell Adams known to many as "Porkchop" was born on August 8, 1989 to Angenette Ellis-Harper and Alvin Adams. Raised on High Street, Czezre attended community schools such as Sherman Preschool, Quitman St, and Louise A. Spencer where he was in the Gifted and Talented program before moving to Franklin, NJ.After graduating high school, Czezre attended Virginia Union University and then Essex County College obtaining a degree in Social Sciences. While at Virgin Union University, Czezre was apart of the Constitution Committee, President of his dorm, and served as the 1st...
Aminah Washington
Aminah Washington is an African American Trans woman, b.1986, born and raised in Newark, NJ. She attended Malcolm X Shabazz High School and Peshine Ave Prep. She has been through more than most and is blessed to have the chance to learn and grow from her life experiences. She knows that regardless of her trials and tribulations she has come out on the other side strong and is still striving to make the best of her life.Pucci Revlon
The Queer Newark Oral History Project mourns the passing of Miss Pucci Revlon, even as we celebrate and honor her life, which she lived fully and proudly as much-loved member of the LGBTQ Newark community. A true transgender pioneer who lived her truth with courage, Pucci participated in the legendary ballroom scene of the 1980s, worked as a nurse, and served as caretaker for generations of Newark youth, among numerous other accomplishments. While struggling with pancreatic cancer, she generously took the time to record several rounds of an oral history that provides invaluable...
Tracey Africa Norman
In 2017 the name Tracey Africa Norman has become synonymous with terms like “full circle and comeback kid”. Tracey's modeling career got started, all because she was in the wrong place, at the right time. She'd accidencely wandered into a model casting for the European designer Basile, as luck would have it, Tracey got the booking. Along with several other NYC top models, such as Peggy Dillard, Jennifer Price, Pita Greene and Romney Russo each were featured in this Basile fashion layout, photographed by Mr. Irving Penn, for Italian Vogue.No doubt we've all heard of the "IT"...