Top 35 Millennial Influencers Honored by Global Non-Profit Social Movement

WASHINGTON DC— The largest generation in history isn’t just spending, they’re doing too. Doing more for their communities, more for their environment, more for their businesses, and more for society as a whole

In honor of those “Moving Ideas Forward” and “ Making Humanity Better”, millennial influencers from around the US working in technology, media, politics, education, finance, health, government, the arts, and in other industries— have been selected from thousands of nominees. Recipients were chosen based on their overall reach, influence, and purposeful engagement by a cohort of judges including Dolvett Quince, of The Biggest Loser; Ami Desai, of Wealth TV and the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN); and Liz Wahl, former correspondent on RT TV and featured on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, Bloomberg, and Politico Magazine.

The awardees are as follows:

• Judith Martinez , 24, founder and CEO of InHerShoes, and author of GOOD Worldwide in Los Angeles, CA
• C irilo Manego III, 30, campaign associate at The Hub Project in Washington, DC
• Christopher Fisher, 32, program coordinator for the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation in Dallas, TX
• T ristan Walker, 32, founder and CEO of Walker & Company Brands in Palo Alto, CA;
• Amir Windom , 31, record executive in Atlanta, GA
• Ashley Powdar , 28, founder of Ruby Sampson Fashion in Washington, DC
• Zim Ugochukwu, 27, founder and CEO of Travel Noire in Chicago, IL
• Jeremy K. Balkin, 33, head of innovation at HSBC Bank USA in New York, NY
• C ortni M. Grange, 31, founder of Future Leaders & Young Entrepreneurs (FLYE), and Grange Enterprises in Washington, DC
• Merdochey T. LaFrance, 34, director of government relations & public affairs for City Year Miami in Miami, FL
• Tonya Rapley, 32, certified financial education instructor, and founder My Fab Finance in Brooklyn, NY
• John Queen, 29, co-founder of Successful Black Entrepreneur, and host of “The Rebuttal Show” Podcast in Atlanta, GA
• Yvette Holmes, PhD, 34, professor at Alabama State University and entrepreneur in Tallahassee, FL
• Luke Lawal, Jr, 26, founder of HBCU Buzz, and CEO and founder of L & Company in Washington, DC; J esse
  Mills, 31, men’s lifestyle blogger in Atlanta, GA
• Brandon Miller, 26, consultant (IT), entrepreneur, graphic designer, and blogger in Dallas, TX
• Jonathan Quarles, 34, visionary entrepreneur and public policy influencer in Detroit, MI
• Anthony Johnson, 29, founder of Male Enterprise Network, and owner of Magnepels in Baltimore, MD
• Brad Jenkins, 34, executive producer for Funny or Die DC in Washington, DC;
• Nehemiah Davis, 29, author, and founder and CEO of Nehemiah Davis Foundation in Philadelphia, PA
• Heidi Nel , 35, social impact strategist, principal of The Raben Group, and partner at the Truman Project in Washington, DC
• Kezia M. Williams, 34, founder of The Black Upstart in Washington, DC
• Issa Rae, 31, American actress, writer, director, producer, and web series creator in Los Angeles, CA
• Antwain Donte’ Hill, 31, retail manager and human resource specialist in Silver Springs, MD
• Eddie Connor, Jr, PhD, 33, author, motivational speaker, and survivor of stage 4 cancer in Detroit, MI
• Glorie Chiza, 25, Immediate past associate director for the Office of Public Engagement at The White House in Washington, DC
• Justise Winslow, 20, professional basketball player for the Miami Heat in Miami, FL Deray McKesson, 31, civil rights activist, educator, and co-founder of Campaign Zero in Baltimore, MD
• Kerline K. Jules, 32, multi-media branding and communications specialist in Miami,FL
• MorganDeBaun, 25,CEOandfounder of Blavity in Los Angeles, CA
• Shawn Blanchard, 34, author, motivational speaker, and mentor in Detroit, MI
• John Henry , 23, entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Harlem, NY
• Luvvie Ajayi, 30, New York Times best-selling author in Chicago, IL
• Jewell Jones, 21, elected official and Michigan state representative in Inkster, MI
• Gregory E. Hill, 26, motivational speaker, blogger, and podcaster in Durham, NC

Next Big Thing Movement (NBTM), a Global Non-Profit Social Movement platform for creative millennial. NBTM connects over 20,000 creative millennials; linking young professionals across the US, and globally in the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, and Hong Kong.

For more information on the Next Big Thing Movement, please contact Richard Merritt (operations@nbtmovement.org)