Devon Beck, Juneteenth’s MC, is a leader, builder, and connector who has held leadership roles in education, community development, and the music business. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Devon began working in the school system, mentoring and leading young students with those very lessons. Currently, he is the Facilitator of Recruitment, Retention & Equity for the Talbot County Board of Education and guides leaders and organizations to remove barriers to inclusion. As the owner of Beck Excellence LLC, Beck continues to make strides to leave a positive impact on the community.

Ruby Fisher is a senior at St. Michaels High School with nine years of voice training and four years of choir experience. She has performed in numerous musicals, including Shrek and Frozen at SMMHS, and Willy Wonka and The Sound of Music at the Avalon Theatre. Ruby also sang with the Allegro Academy Choir for two years. In addition to her performance work, she is a teen intern with the Academy Art Museum’s Teen Intern Program, where she continues to grow as a young artist and performer.

Jayla Elise is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Cambridge, Maryland, whose soulful blend of R&B and soul reflects her journey through love, loss, and self-discovery. Originally from Prince George’s County, she honed her craft through state choirs and formal arts training. As an independent artist, Jayla’s music is rooted in authenticity, offering emotionally rich songs that connect deeply with listeners.

Omeaka Jackson of Cambridge, MD, is an author and the founder of Harvesting Hope Youth and Family Wellness, Inc., a behavioral health and youth development agency. A dedicated advocate for families and young people, she leads events like the Black History Month Health, Wealth, Wellness, and Education Series, the Youth Expo, and the Black Excellence Gala. Jackson also co-founded the Underground Railroad Freedom Regatta, all held in Dorchester County.

Darlene R. Taylor is a mixed-media collage artist and writer based in Washington, DC, and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Her work blends personal narrative, historical memory, and archival materials to explore identity, place, and legacy. Her art has been exhibited nationally, with recent shows including The Beauty She Gave Us (2025) and Kin: Rooted in Hope (2025). She has held residencies at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and the Columbus Museum of Art, and her work is supported by fellowships from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the American Antiquarian Society. Taylor’s work is held in the permanent collections of the Academy Art Museum and the Columbus Museum of Art.

Jeffery Boston Weatherford is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and a performance poet. He has lectured, performed, and led art and writing workshops in the US, the Middle East, and West Africa. Jeffery was a Romare Bearden Scholar at Howard University, where he earned an MFA in painting and studied under members of the Black Arts Movement collective AfriCobra. A North Carolina native and resident, Jeffery has exhibited his art in North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Visit him at CBWeatherford.com.