Activism

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Activism

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Pakistani-American Award-Winning Writer

A well-respected author and lecturer, Asma Gull Hasan has established herself as a highly sought expert on the American Muslim community. Her two published books, American Muslims: The New Generation…

World-Famous Animal Scientist, Autism Self-Advocate, Author of "Thinking in Pictures: My Life With Autism"

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is one of the most accomplished and well-known adults with autism in the world. Her life, with all its challenges and successes, was brought to the screen…

Brown v. Board of Education Originators/Civil Rights Activists

Cheryl Brown is one of three daughters of the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, who, along with 12 other parents led by the NAACP, filed suit against the local Board…

Prominent Voice of Civil Rights, Social Justice, and Feminism

Tamika D. Mallory, an esteemed social justice leader, advocate and activist. A New York City native, this fiery, outspoken advocate for human rights and liberty has remained a consistent fixture…

AIDS Activist, Project Runway Competitor, Fashion Designer & Model

Jack Mackenroth rose to fame as a designer on the hit reality show, Project Runway. Since that time he has used his visibility to draw attention and awareness to HIV…

Community Organizer, Journalist & Political Activist

Rosa Clemente, a native of the South Bronx, is one of the most raw, honest, political, social, and cultural voices in the country. From Harvard to prisons, Rosa has spent…

Critically Acclaimed Author and World Renowned Speaker, Motivator and Educator

Eric Thomas, PhD. or “ET”, as he is better known, has taken the world by storm,with his bold & creative, high intensity, positive life changing messages!  

Co-Founder, Def Jam Records

Acknowledged as the Godfather of Hip-Hop, Russell Simmons is the visionary behind Def Jam, the legendary label that launched the careers of such artists as Run DMC, the Beastie Boys,…

Public Historian and Founder/Executive Director of The HistoryMakers

Julieanna L. Richardson followed a unique path in heading up the largest national collection effort of African American video oral histories on record.

Diversity Advocate, Writer, Motivational Speaker, Entertainer, Former Miss America and Amazing Racer

Ericka Dunlap first rose to national acclaim when she was crowned Miss America 2004 on the iconic runway in Atlantic City. However, that was not the first time she excited…

Known as Black Thought, MC of the Philadelphia-based Hip-Hop group The Roots, as well as an occasional actor

Tariq Trotter has been rapping for 19 years, ten of which have been shared with his legendary crew

Ernest G. Green | PDA Speakers

Member of the "Little Rock Nine"

Ernest G. Green currently works at Matrix Advisory, an institutional asset manager.

Change Agent and Activist; Founder of Project Footprints

Andre Norman's mission is simple – to motivate others to make a change. Through sharing his life experiences, Andre’s goal is to empower those with a desire to make a…

Mother of Trayvon Martin and Social Change Agent

Sybrina Fulton is dedicating her life to transforming family tragedy into social change. Since the death of her 17 year old son, Trayvon Martin, during the violent confrontation in 2012,…

Father of Trayvon Martin

Since the 2012 death of his son, Trayvon, in a violent confrontation, Tracy Martin has committed his life to transforming tragedy into change. Despite his devastating loss, Martin was able…

Actor, Musician & Activist; Known for Fox's "Empire"

The multi-talented Terrence Howard is best known for his Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated work in Hustle & Flow, as well as for his supporting role in Crash, for…

Professor, Africana Studies, English and Comparative Literature, Cornell University

Dr. Carole Boyce-Davies is a student-first, Caribbean-American radically intellectual committed to social justice.  Currently, Professor of Africana Studies and English at Cornell University, from the mid1980’s and throughout the 1990’s,…

Award-Winning Author, Poet, Musician and Native American Cultural Educator is a member of the Nipmuc Tribal Nation

Larry Spotted Crow Mann, is a internationally acclaimed writer, poet, cultural educator, Traditional Story Teller, tribal drummer/dancer and motivational speaker involving youth sobriety, cultural and environmental awareness. Mann is also…

President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore

Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, has served as President of UMBC (The University of Maryland, Baltimore County) since 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special…

Public Relations Expert & Activist

Terrie M. Williams, one of Ebony magazine’s “Power 150” for Activism and Woman’s Day magazine “50 Women On A Mission To Change The World,” is an advocate for change and…

Renowned Award-Winning Top Motivational Speaker Known For Motivating People at Business, Schools and other events. Founder of Headbands of Hope

During the summer of 2011, Jess Ekstrom participated in an internship at a wish-granting organization for kids with life-threatening illnesses. During this incredible experience, she quickly discovered that there were…

Actress, Most Well Known for her Role as Becky in "Glee"; In November 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Potter to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

An inspiration to all, Lauren Potter has proven herself a young woman of strength and character. She's overcome bullying and the challenges of living with a disability, and is currently…

Cultural Activist, Award-Winning Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker and Author of the book, “ Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina”

Born in Harlem to Dominican parents, award-winning journalist, cultural activist, podcaster, and documentary filmmaker Raquel Cepeda is the author of Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina. Equal parts memoir…

Lost Boys of Sudan

Bol Aweng, one of the 35,000 so-called Lost Boys who fled southern Sudan during the second Sudanese Civil War. Aweng will detail his life then and now. As a six…

Grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi, Acclaimed Human Rights Advocate

Dr. Arun Gandhi is proof that one can change his ways. Although he is the grandson of the legendary Mohandas Gandhi, he overcame tremendous prejudice and anger in order to…

#BlackLivesMatter Movement, Cultural Theorist, Co-founder of the Hip-Hop Infused Blog Crunk Feminist Collective and Rutgers Professor

Brittney Cooper is Assistant Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University. She is a Black feminist theorist who specializes in the study of Black women’s…

Youngest-Ever Nobel Prize Winner; Advocate for Girls' Education & Women's Equality; Author of the International Bestseller "I Am Malala"

Malala Yousafzai made headlines when she was shot by the Taliban in 2012 at the age of 15 while traveling home from school on the bus with her friends in…

Tuskegee University 7th President (2014-2017); W.E.B. Du Bois Scholar & Higher Education Administrator

Dr. Brian L. Johnson was the seventh President of Tuskegee University where he was appointed on April 28, 2014. He has held administrative and academic posts in the following capacities:…

Reality Television Star; LGBT Activist; Author of the Memoir "Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen"

Jazz Jennings is your typical young girl, learning to balance school, her friends, her family and everything in between. But in addition to dealing with the chaos of being a…

Documentation and LGBT Advocate

Shane Bitney Crone is an activist, speaker, writer and filmmaker.  

Civil Rights Activist & Politician

The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, president and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, is one of America's foremost political figures. Called the "conscience of the nation" and "the great unifier," he…

Media Personality, Actress, Author, and Host of "The Wendy Williams Show"

Mother, wife, media mogul, entrepreneur, performer and bestselling author, Wendy Williams is best-known for her long-running talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. Named one of the ’35 Most Powerful People…

Linda Villarosa runs the journalism program at CCNY. A former editor and contributing reporter for the New York Times, she also served as the executive editor of Essence Magazine

Linda Villarosa is a professor, freelance writer and editor. Professor Villarosa runs the journalism program at CCNY.

Duchess of York, Philanthropist, Author and Advocate

An international personality, successful career woman and single working mother, Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, is an inspiring role model whose extraordinary life is a testament to the powers…

"The Sean Hannity Show" on iHeartRadio, Fox News Channel's "Hannity," and New York Times Best-Selling Author

Sean Hannity currently serves as host of FOX News Channel's (FNC) Hannity. He joined the network in 1996 and is based in New York. As one of the most prominent…

Noted Afrocentric Author & Psychologist

Dr. Na'im Akbar has been acclaimed by Essence Magazine as "one of the world's preeminent Psychologists and a pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach in modern psychology." Akbar…

Activist, Lawyer & Educator

Kathleen Neal Cleaver has spent most of her life advocating for human rights. Since 2000, she has served as the co-director of the Atlanta-based Human Rights Research Fund, part of…

Influential Hispanic Leader

Raul Yzaguirre is one of the most widely recognized leaders in the Hispanic community. His involvement in many of the most critical legislative and public policy issues of the last…

Global Thinker, Columnist & CNN Host

Host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, contributing editor at The Atlantic, and Washington Post columnist Fareed Zakaria is widely respected for his thoughtful analysis and ability to spot economic and…

FOX News Senior Judicial Analyst and New Jersey Superior Court Judge

Andrew P. Napolitano joined Fox News Channel (FNC) in January 1998 and currently serves as the senior judicial analyst. He provides legal analysis on both FNC and Fox Business Network.…

Conservative Media Personality

Called “one of the most recognizable conservative voices in America” by The Washington Post, Armstrong Williams is a pugnacious, provocative, and principled voice for conservatives and Christian values in America’s…

Most recognizable for having played “Aunt Viv” to Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” on NBC from 1993 to 1996

Daphne Maxwell Reid, an actress, producer, entrepreneur and author, People remember Daphne as “Aunt Vivian” from “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Throughout her years of work on television, she…

Former U.S. Secretary of Education

On January 21, 2001, the United States Senate confi rmed Dr. Rod Paige as the 7th U.S. Secretary of Education. For Paige, the son of a principal and a librarian…

Civil Rights Activist/Television Personality

Judge Greg Mathis is a national figure known for his advocacy campaigns for equal justice. His inspirational life story as a street youth who rose from jail to judge has…

Anti-Racism Activist and Writer. Since 1995, he has given speeches at over 600 college campuses across the U.S.

Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. Named one of “25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World,” by Utne Reader, Wise has…

Alfre Woodard | PDA Speakers

Emmy Award-Winning Actress, Activist for Human Rights

Known for the challenging roles she's played on film and in television, critically acclaimed actress Alfre Woodard's work has earned her an Oscar nomination, four Emmy Award wins and 16…

Actor Known for his NAACP Image Award-Winning Role in "New York Undercover" ABC's Hit Show 'Designated Survivor'

Malik Yoba is an award-winning actor, a playwright and a published author. He composes and performs original music and is a gifted singer, lyricist and poet. He’s a sex symbol.…

Human Rights Activist

Adeeb Yousif was born in the village of Guldo in Darfur, Sudan. For 14 years, he worked with grass roots and social justice movements throughout Sudan. In April 2001, Adeeb…

Grammy Nominated Singer and Actress, Known for "Soul Food" and "Ugly Betty"

Throughout her performing career, Vanessa Williams has maintained a reputation as one of the most respected and multi-faceted entertainers in the world, amassing one accomplishment after another. She has conquered…

Award-Winning Spoken Word Artist, Actor, Singer and Musician

Saul Williams, rapper, singer-songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in the 1998 film…