As a young child, Carl Ferrell, believed in setting himself apart from those who wanted to follow the crowd. At a very young age he knew deep inside that he would have an impact on the lives of others.

More widely known as Versatile, Carl used his gifts as an artist to create a solid foundation for an entertainment empire that has all the ingredients of longevity.

Why the name Versatile? Because his vision, his way of thinking and his approach to business has produced extraordinary results on various levels.

Versatile’s innovative spirit and ability to think outside the box have allowed him to create a amazing platform for other entrepreneurs and artists of various genres to showcase their products and talents. His brand attracts people of all ethnicities.

In the quiet town of Pine Bluff, Arkansas is where Dante’ Wesley grew up. Raised in a single family home, he and his brother had a strong woman for a mother who taught them how to become self-sufficient and to always live their lives from positive perspective.

Dante’ is a professional football athlete playing for the Chicago Bears. He graduated with the highest of honors from Arkansas Pine Bluff College. He believes that education is very important and his message to youth who dream of playing professional football is, “Football is not forever, you are going to always have to have a strong education behind you because that’s what people are looking for. They don’t care what kind of athlete you are but they want to know what you can do for their business.

When it comes to achieving goals, college life has taught him some very important lessons which he shares with all of us and applies to his life. “Never give up on what you want to do. Going through school and college here in Arkansas has really taught me to work hard and do my best”, says Wesley.

Wesley is an active supporter of his community and he is dedicated to giving back to other communities as well. He often speaks to youth about reaching their goals and maintaining a good academic standing.

Susie Kay has been scoring three-pointer baskets with inner-city students of the Washington, D.C., area since 1996 and hundreds of students have benefited. As founder of the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Foundation, Ms. Kay has formed a lasting partnership between community, businesses and students by matching students with mentors. What once seemed like a faded dream for many students in Washington, D.C. has now become a reality. Many of them are the first in their families to attend college. These young minds are living testimonials to the power of intervention.

The mission of Hoop Dreams is to empower and to give hope to many of the inner-city youth of the Washington, D.C., offering opportunities to build a solid foundation for life. Skills development, resources, and mentorships are all part of the foundation that supports academic achievements, healthy development and success. However, Hoop Dreams is about much more than scholarships. It’s about family. The volunteers, mentors and staff have all formed a tight bond with the students.

“As a community, it’s our responsibility to engage in the life of these students,” says Susie, and the students come to her for inspiration.

There are many obstacles and setbacks to overcome in life. Many of these young adults have experienced those challenges. Hoop Dreams has supported them through everything.

Susie Kay’s life and her gift of love to others is a manifestation of what she learned from her parents. Although they came from different backgrounds and cultures, her parents built a life of love and respect for each other and the people around them. These traits are what Susie has consistently passed on to her students. www.hoopdreams.org.

Since childhood, athletics has been a part of John Register’s life. From swimming to baseball to football, track and field, John exuded great talent. After graduating from the University of Arkansas as a three-time All-American in 1988, John enlisted in the U. S. Army where he served from 1988 to 1994. A Desert Shield and Desert Storm Veteran, John continued to pursue athletic excellence in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. He won nine Gold Medals in the Armed Services Competition. He set his sights on the 1996 Olympics but two years earlier his dream was shattered by an accident that resulted in the loss of his left leg and confined him to a wheelchair.

John states, “Here you are, a world class athlete, you have your sights on the Olympic Games which are the pinnacle of amateur sports of track and field. You’re doing something that you love doing and you’re doing it correctly. You’re in a fast training phase then something goes wrong. For me, that was miss-stepping the third hurdle in a training session and landing wrong, hyper-extending my left knee and severing the popliteal artery. As I fell forward, it dislodged out of the socket.”

John would walk again and eventually run and compete to make history. He turned his loss into victory. As a motivational speaker, John uses his experiences to inspire others to pursue their dreams and reach new heights.   

Linda Jacobsen is the Founder and President Global Visions Strategies which focuses on global relocation and cross-cultural training as it affects individuals and families who travel and work abroad. Her true passion and commitment lies within teaching and helping others. Linda believes in giving back and has used her gifts to inspire and create opportunities for individuals and organizations.

From China to India, West Africa to Eastern Europe, she has spread kindness and a deep passion for excellence.

As a recipient of the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award for Social Responsibility, Linda is a true champion and testimonial to being committed to global peace through business, education and empowerment.

As a business owner, Linda has contributed countless hours to enhancing the lives of many people, especially women. “The majority of people in poverty in the world and in this country are women,” she says. “That is why I am constantly drawn to the focus of women.”

Using her business savvy and academic background Linda reaches out to people all over the world, while working towards world peace.