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- Episode #002: AI, the Future of Learning, and the Diaspora
Episode #002: AI, the Future of Learning, and the Diaspora
Explore the intersections of global affairs, business, culture, design, and much more through the visionary lens of futurism and the African Diaspora. From the legacy of Thomas Edison and Lewis Latimer to cutting-edge innovations and cultural insights, Illuminate connects a diverse, globally minded audience hungry to learn, discover, and engage with stories and ideas shaping our world.
Illuminate Newsletter
May 23, 2025
Table of Contents
The Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program
For over 30 years, the Edison Awards (April 2-3, 2025) have served as a global stage for celebrating groundbreaking ideas and innovators. Inspired by the legacy of Thomas Edison and his brilliant collaborator, Lewis Latimer, the program has grown to honor the intersection of innovation and social impact.
Building on this tradition, the Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program, founded in 2020, is a transformative, year-long talent development initiative designed to accelerate the success of Black Social Impact innovators. Dubbed a “Unicorn Ranch” and supported by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the Fellowship selects an elite cohort of multidisciplinary visionaries tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Fellows benefit from a rich network and resources, including bi-weekly mentor masterclasses, personalized corporate and investor connections, and three immersive innovation field trips annually. From NASA-grade food technology and affordable housing solutions to breakthroughs in AI, biotech, sustainable energy, and space sciences, Latimer Fellows are at the forefront of pioneering change across industries.
The Fellowship embodies the spirit of its namesake, propelling forward bold ideas that shape the future.
The Edison Pioneers in 1920. Latimer is in the first row, second from the left (standing in front of the risers) and Edison is standing in the center of the first row, holding a walking stick. The photo is from The Latimer-Norman Family Collection.
Meet the 2025 Latimer Fellows
 Randy AllenA triple-threat with a Ph.D. from Stanford, a chemical engineering degree from Princeton, and an MBA from Dartmouth, Dr. Randy Allen is the pioneering CEO of Still Bright—a company reshaping the future of sustainable mining. A serial deep-tech entrepreneur and mentor, he’s on a mission to power the energy transition through clean copper refinement, driven by innovation and impact. |  Aaron FitzgeraldAaron Fitzgerald is a climate warrior and CEO of Mars Materials, driving innovation in carbon removal and industrial sustainability. A three-time founder and former Senate staffer, he’s building a greener future while mentoring underrepresented entrepreneurs blazing their own bold paths. |
 Demetrius D. HarrisDemetrius D. Harris is the fearless President and Co-Founder of Fly Compton Foundation, a nonprofit revolutionizing access to aviation for underserved youth. A contract pilot flying elite private jets, Harris transformed a moment of inspiration into a mission—empowering Black and Brown communities to take flight in an industry where representation has long lagged. |  Alexandria J. MaloneyAlexandria J. Maloney is a global changemaker and President of Black Professionals in International Affairs, championing equity, diplomacy, and leadership on the world stage. With advanced degrees from Cornell, Morgan State, and John Cabot University, she’s a Forbes 50 Champion reshaping international policy ecosystems for the next generation of foreign affairs leaders. |
 Lauren RuffinLauren Ruffin is a visionary strategist, scholar, and futurist shaping the intersection of technology, art, and justice. As Director of the Arts Program at Michigan Central and Associate Professor at ASU, she champions inclusive design, immersive storytelling, and liberated systems that empower Black, Indigenous, disabled, and queer communities in the digital age. |  Jason TeetersJason Teeters is a visionary founder and emergent strategist behind Jet Set State (JSS), transforming leadership and organizational design through people-first innovation. A trusted guide to global institutions like the UN, Rockefeller Foundation, and CDC, he equips today’s leaders to navigate complexity, break silos, and unlock bold, scalable impact. |
 Titus WalkerTitus Walker is the trailblazing Founder and CEO of UEL, the world’s largest multi-game esports league championing diversity, inclusion, and competitive excellence. With over a million viewers per season and groundbreaking partnerships, he’s redefining what it means to win in gaming—and building a future where everyone can play. |  Courtney WoodtuffCortney Woodruff is a boundary-breaking tech entrepreneur and CEO of Assemble.FYI, dedicated to democratizing education and unlocking opportunity worldwide. A Division I athlete turned global visionary, he blends experiences across ten cities and continents with leadership in finance, tech, and social innovation to normalize success in underserved communities. |
Latimer News
Highlights from the 2025 Edison Awards
Two time per year, the Latimer Fellows participate in immersive, innovation-focused field trips. This month, the cohort attended the 2025 Edison Awards, recognized as the “Oscars of Corporate Innovation”.
During the visit, the Fellows explored cutting-edge advancements in art, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, the future of education, and mixed-media technologies. They also had the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and iconic thought leaders like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Arizona State University President Michael Crow.
 The group posed outside of the 2025 Edison Awards Gala |  The Fellows, after sharing their projects at the Meet the Innovators forum |
 The full Latimer team during an on-site at The Collaboratory |  Enjoying keynote speeches at the Meet the Innovators forum |
 Learning at The Collaboratory |  Workshop led by Andrea Kates covering her book “From Stuck to Scale” |
 The Fellows were introduced at a welcome event at STEMCAT |  The Fellows were introduced at a welcome event at STEMCAT |
 Learning at The Collaboratory |  Welcome Cocktail Party on the roof of Hotel Illuminary |
Book Club
CO-FOUNDER.AI
Clarence Wooten's Co-Founder.AI is a practical guide for entrepreneurs to harness AI as a transformative "cofounder," enabling startups to achieve 10x more with 10x fewer resources. The book outlines five stages of startup success―Conceptualize, Launch, Iterate, Scale, and Exit―and provides actionable strategies, tools, and insights tailored to each phase. Wooten shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of cofounder dynamics, fundability criteria, and building a "minimal lovable product" that delights customers. |  |
He advocates a "shareholder first" mindset and highlights AI's evolving role in enhancing customer service, marketing, and product development. By leveraging AI, entrepreneurs can streamline operations, innovate faster, and gain a competitive edge. The companion CoFounder.AI platform ensures entrepreneurs stay updated with the latest AI tools and workflows, keeping the content relevant in the rapidly changing landscape.
CoFounder.AI is a practical guide for entrepreneurs to harness AI as a transformative "cofounder," enabling startups to achieve 10x more with 10x fewer resources. The book outlines five stages of startup success―Conceptualize, Launch, Iterate, Scale, and Exit―and provides actionable strategies, tools, and insights tailored to each phase. Wooten shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of cofounder dynamics, fundability criteria, and building a "minimal lovable product" that delights customers.
BILL STRICKLAND
A dear friend of the Latimer, William Strickland, director emeritus, leads the Strickland Global Leadership Institute, a nonprofit he founded that focuses on developing vocational training & arts education centers across the U.S. He has created 14 learning centers for disadvantaged youth to date.
He is the former president, CEO and executive chairman of Manchester Bidwell Corporation and its subsidiaries, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG) and Bidwell Training Center BTC), both founded in 1968. Under his leadership, the organization has completed the development of a new medical technology complex and a facility as a mortgage-free asset for MCG and BTC. The facilities include a 350-seat music/lecture hall, library, arts studios and labs, dining and meeting rooms and state-of-the-art, award-winning audio and video recording studios.
A native of Pittsburgh, Strickland earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Pittsburgh and in 1996, he was awarded the MacArthur Genius Award for leadership and ingenuity in the arts.
A true renaissance man: 26 honorary doctorates. A Grammy Award as a Jazz artist. Bontanist. Acclaimed Ceramics Sculptor. 727 pilot. Enough said.
We are sure you have never seen a TED Talk with an iconic musician “improvisational scoring” a live TED Talk (Herbie Hancock).
Macro Insight
AI and AFRICA
AI is a transformation technology that has the potential to impact he world, with the same impact and importance of electrification. However, what most people don't know is that there is an entire underclass of exploited people in less developed countries who power and inform artificial intelligence. This is an important conversation that needs to be understood.
By 2035, more young people from Africa will be entering the workforce each year than from the rest of the world's countries combined. Such a demographic surge presents the opportunity to drive increased productivity and foster inclusive economic growth across the continent.
In particular, Africa's vibrant, youthful workforce uniquely positions the continent to influence artificial intelligence (AI) development and governance. And as this booming industry continues to grow, young Africans should have a say in how it develops and the standards that govern its future.
This post from the World Economic Forum, Why young people will shape Africa's AI future, is a must read.
These Times Require Honorable Juris Prudence
Thurgood
In this utterly breathtaking tour-de-force performance, Lawrence Fishburne elegantly portrays the legendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Given the constitutional crisis and complexities the US faces regarding the Supreme Court today, this is a reminded of how honorable, unimpeachable, and dignified this man was. Settle in for 2 hours and prepare to be inspired.
Cultural Inspiration: AI Transformation
WILL.IAM AND MICHAEL CROW - PRESIDENT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ON THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
Iconic pop star Will.i.am and Arizona State University announced a very unique collaboration to explore how artificial intelligence, pop culture, and education can combine to reimagine the way that people learn.
WORLD’S FIRST CEO ROUNDTABLE MODERATOR BY AN AI
Cultural Inspiration: The Making of Vogue’s Met Gala Issue
Over the course of 9 months, Vogue brought together a visionary cast of collaborators to create a one-of-a-kind issue. The May 2025 Issue celebrates Black identity, history, and the joyful act of dressing. Columbia professor Monica Miller, curator of the “Superfine:Tailoring Black Style” exhibition, sits down to talk about Black dandyism and the history that forged the museum’s exhibit.
Featuring the talents of Lewis Hamilton, Adut Akech, LaKeith Stanfield, Jon Batiste, Coleman Domingo, Law Roach, Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Noah Lyles, Janelle Monáe, Dapper Dan, Ayo Edebiri, Janicza Bravo, Danielle Deadwyler, Ib Kamara, Myha’la Herrold, Keith Powers, Teyana Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Yara Shahidi, Tyson Beckford, Justin Jefferson, Grace Wales Bonner, Jerry Lorenzo, Henry Taylor, Iké Udé, Jeremy Pope and many more.
Thank you for engaging with the inaugural issue of Illuminate. We’ve embraced the newsletter format for its ability to distill thought-provoking perspectives on innovation, culture, and art into an accessible and convenient medium delivered directly to your inbox. As we journey deeper into these themes in future editions, we’d appreciate your thoughts and ideas to help shape the conversation. If you haven’t yet subscribed, we encourage you to join our growing community via the links below.
If you’d like to contribute to the newsletter, share inspiration, or provide feedback, we’d love to hear from you—email us at [email protected].
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