Lauren Williams is a 17-year-old theatre student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts from Accokeek, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. Lauren says during the COVID-19 Pandemic, “myself and many of my peers have felt a shift in more mental health and emotional well-being.” She was encouraged to create an independent youth collaborative magazine titled Rainy Daze. As editor and chief, Lauren promotes activism and individuality through art-based expression. Rainy Daze Magazine provides a space for young artists to find their voice through **“a wide range of topics from art, to activism. Submissions are always open”.
In March 2021, Lauren found the Miss Gorgeous Prince George’s County Pageant. She trained for three months to compete in their teen pageant program, and on June 13, she was crowned the 3rd Miss Gorgeous Prince George’s County. With her title, she advocates for arts integration in schools. Lauren now works with Showtime Productions, LLC to promote the importance of confidence and finding inner beauty to young girls across Prince George’s County while stressing the importance of prioritizing school. As 2021 Miss Gorgeous Prince George’s County, Lauren was allowed to represent Prince George’s County at the Miss Earth USA Dc, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania preliminary competition. The Miss Earth USA organization “commit themselves year-round to bring awareness to and make an impact on environmental causes.” On August 14th, she became Teen Miss Maryland Earth 2021.
As someone who struggles with anxiety, Lauren has a passion for sharing the importance of preserving your mental health and uses her title to show young girls the importance of confidence.
Entertainment: Robert Wyllie Mitchell Band
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises." – Hebrews 2:12 Robert Wyllie Mitchell is an ordained minister and musical artist based in Maryland. Since 2010, Robert has acted as the Minister of Music at Mount Joy...
Panelist: Het-Here Ra Amen
Hello, my name is Het-Heru Ra Amen. I am 18-years-old currently attending Prince George’s Community College. I am currently majoring in biology to follow my life dream of becoming a pediatrician. I am presently employed as a swim instructor, where I enjoy teaching...
Speaker: Luz Francois
Luz Francois pronounced (Loose Fran-swa) is a native Washingtonian! She attended Virginia Union University where she earned her B.A in Psychology. She earned her Master’s degree from Central Michigan University in Professional Counseling. She has been a Licensed...
Entertainment: DJ Akademiks
Dj Akademiks The well-Known energetic DJ who was once just a local Baltimore city kid with big dreams began building a name for himself in the local Baltimore high school/college party scene who then started as a unpaid intern at WPGC 2009 working 20 hours a week...
Speaker: Dr. Billina Shaw
Dr. Billina Shaw is the Medical Director for the Behavioral Health Division of the Prince George’s County Health Department. She is a triple board certified physician in the specialties of general adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and addiction...
Panellist: Carlton Mays
“We all have the need to feel special, this need can bring out the best in us yet the worst in us. This need created The Velvet Rope”. This quote is one that I live by every day. It symbolizes being self-aware but conscious and empathetic to the struggles we all face...
Speaker: Dr. Beth Lee Crawford
Dr. Beth Lee Crawford has been licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in the State of MD since November 2004 and in Washington, DC. since September 2007. Dr. Crawford earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Virginia Union University in 1993 and her Master of...
Speaker: Sheryl A. Neverson, Ph.D., LCSW-C, LICSW
Sheryl Neverson, Ph.D., LICSW, LCSW-Cis a licensed clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience in the behavioral health. Dr. Neverson earned her Ph.D. in Social Work from Howard University, Masters of Social Work from the University of North...
Speaker: Russell Snyder
I am currently the President and CEO of Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas, which serves more than 11,000 vulnerable men, women and children in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and North and South Carolina with our over 850 employees. Since...
Panelist: DJ Poet
Poet Taylor is a lover of God, bacon, listening twice as much as you speak and the village. A proud product of the DC/Maryland foster care system who strongly believes that no matter the obstacle, there’s always a workable solution. When Poet’s not on the air the...