Gboea Flumo

Inspirational Speaker

Gboea (Bway) Flumo is a Powerful Spoken Word Artist. Her ability to connect with any audience and paint vivid imagery with her words, has allowed her to travel to many different places and perform her art. In 2018 Bway won the Bus Boys & Poets "Beltway Poetry Slam" and was granted the opportunity to participate in the World National Poetry Slam, held in Chicago. She has also been a feature poet for BusBoys & Poets, Union Oyster Bar, Trap Poetry and many more. Gboea is well known for her custom poems and has been blessed to perform at several weddings, galas, and a multitude of different private events. Gboea has successfully released two spoken word EP albums, two poetry books and has featured on songs for several local musical artists. In addition to being a Spoken Word Artist she is also a phenomenal inspiration speaker, former Miss Africa USA/ Miss Liberia US and the founder of SpoQUEEN, a mentoring organization that empowers young girls through the art of spoken word.

Yeve Chitiga

Attorney & Children's Book Author

Yeve Chitiga (she/her) is a fintech attorney, dynamic public speaker, published children’s book author and founder of Philisa Creatives, a media company that celebrates and amplifies African heritage. Yeve has been hailed as a trailblazer, cultural curator, and leading strategic thinker on issues related to the modern African diaspora, bi/multi-cultural identities, assimilation, cultural appreciation versus appropriation, and native/indigenous language preservation. She started college at the age of 16 at Claflin University and was enrolled in the Honors Program during her matriculation. When she began working in corporate America at age 20, she was often the youngest, only woman and only person of color in meetings. This was especially true when she relocated to her company’s overseas office. Once she returned to the US and completed her legal education, she joined the unique ranks of Black associates at top tier international law firms. Currently, an in-house lawyer at a fintech startup, she is the co-founder and leader of the Black Employee Resource Group. A native of Zimbabwe, she has spent more than half of her life living in the diaspora both in the United Kingdom and in the United States. Having lived on three different continents, Yeve is uniquely positioned to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion through the lens of culture, ethnicity and the preservation of native/Indigenous African languages. Moreover, Yeve is a mom to a first generation American daughter and is an advocate for diverse representation in all facets of parenthood. In this regard, she’s a frequent speaker on children’s literature and raising culturally aware children.

Yeve obtained her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and a B.S. in Business Administration from Claflin University. She is the recipient of numerous leadership awards and accolades. She resides in Maryland with her supportive husband and young daughter.

Josephine Garnem

Community Advocate

Josephine Garnem is a leader, manager, advocate and public speaker with extensive international and domestic experience, working with diverse cultural and socio-economic communities. She is experienced in diplomacy and team building in multicultural settings, and her work domestically has taught her the importance and influence of diaspora communities, innovative strategies to promote accountability and raise awareness around the issues of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and social justice. She has excellent leadership, relationship management, project management, communication and interpersonal skills.

Josephine is an advocate, and grassroots community mobilizer with over 25 years of extensive international and domestic experience. She is passionate about global health, education, racial equity, justice and social change. Josephine was born in Sierra Leone and has lived and worked in the Middle East, Sweden, Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, Haiti, Pakistan and Afghanistan before moving to the USA. Josephine organizes and leads diaspora-led free surgical training, social change, medical and capacity building missions to Sierra Leone and Cameroon.

She holds a degree in Education and Sociology (Suma Cum Laude), and member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda-Tau honor Society. She holds a Project Leadership Certificate from Cornell University, a Non-profit Management Certificate, Montgomery College, and 2020 cohort of Weaver Learning Lab on Racial Equity & Justice.

She is also a 2020 Cohort of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s Living School (Theology and Social Justice). Josephine is the founder and Executive Director of the Khalil Garnem Foundation, co-founder of Immigrant Community Services, and she serves on the boards of Healey International Relief Foundation, Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, the Michael and Mauritia Patcha Foundation.

Josephine is also on the National Council of Pax Christi USA and is a trained facilitator, at Contemplative Outreach, for Centering Prayer. Josephine loves spending time and traveling with her family.