Vikki Tobak

Vikki Tobak is the author of “CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History Of Hip-Hop” (Clarkson Potter/Random House, 2018) and curator of the exhibition of the same name at the Annenberg Space for Photography (Spring 2019). She is an author and journalist whose writing has appeared in VIBE, COMPLEX, Mass Appeal, The FADER, PAPER, i-D, The Detroit News, and more.

She is a former producer and columnist for CBS, CNN, Bloomberg News, TechTV, and other leading media organizations. Vikki got her start as a culture editor for PAPER magazine before going on to work at Payday Records/Empire Management, working with groups including Gang Starr, Mos Def, Show and A.G., Jeru, and other hip-hop legends of the Golden Era.

Vikki is the founding curator of FotoDC’s film program, and served as the art commissioner/curator for the Palo Alto Public Art Commission in Silicon Valley. She has lectured about music photography at American University, the Schomburg Center, The Kennedy Center, SXSW, VOLTA NY, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

April Walker

April Walker is an agile entrepreneur, author, health and wellness enthusiast, and a fashion designer who inspired a multi-billion dollar streetwear and lifestyle industry. Her brand, Walker Wear was one of the first streetwear fashion brands to dominate in menswear, garnering millions in sales and opening global distribution doors for streetwear, and key product placement implementation.

Walker Wear has been featured in countless publications, films, and videos. Her clients have included Tupac, and B.I.G., Queen Latifah, and Mike Tyson, to name a few. April has been featured in Fresh Dressed and The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion, two films that highlight the marriage of fashion and hip-hop. As a creative, her collaborations extend from Brooklyn to Berlin. Her work is currently featured in the Street Dreams exhibit at the Kunsthal Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Today, April remains at the helm of Walker Wear. She serves on a local arts advisory board, and on a public service advisory council. April also serves as a virtual mentor for entrepreneurs and youth, implementing a customized curriculum to help them own their own magic.

As a wellness influencer, April has dropped a Walker Wear athleisure line, and penned her first five-star book, Walkergems, Get You’re A$% Off The Couch. She spreads her Walkergems by giving people the tools they need to design the lives they imagine while she is uplifting her community in the process!

United Photo Industries (UPI)

United Photo Industries (UPI) is a New York based nonprofit organization that works to promote a wider understanding of, and increased access to, the art of photography.

Since its founding in 2011, UPI has rapidly solidified its position in the public art landscape by continuing to showcase thought-provoking, challenging, and exceptional photography from across the globe. In its first seven years, UPI has presented the work of more than 2,500 visual artists in gallery exhibitions and public art installations worldwide.

Walker Wear

Walker Wear is a global fashion brand. As fashion architects and storytellers, the brand shares its rich history through the content and threads. Walker Wear is one of the first streetwear fashion-lifestyle brands to dominate menswear, garnering millions in sales, opening global distribution doors for streetwear, and key product placement implementation. The brand has been featured in countless publications, films, and videos. Clients have included Tupac, B.I.G., Queen Latifah, and Mike Tyson, to name a few. Encapsulating timeless silhouettes and serving premium quality with style, the mission is to inspire and uplift a global community on the canvas of fashion.