Distinguished Speakers
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Distinguished Speakers
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Novelist, Essayist and Poet. Named one the most important writers of the 20th Century by Writers Digest
Barbara Kingsolver was born in 1955, and grew up in rural Kentucky. She earned degrees in biology from DePauw University and the University of Arizona, and has worked as a…
Comedian and Actor Known for his Wry Wit and Unique Brand of Humor
For more than forty years, Robert Klein has entertained audiences, and he continues to have an acclaimed career in comedy, on Broadway, on television, and in film. Born in the…
Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union
William Kennard, is the former chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. He currently is chairman and co-founder of Velocitas Partners…
Lawyer, Business Executive and Civil Rights Activist
Vernon Jordan, a prominent attorney, political advisor to President Bill Clinton and the former president of the National Urban League. Vernon Jordan has devoted the major part of his life…
New York Times Best-Selling Author
Eric Jerome Dickey was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Memphis (the former Memphis State), where he earned his degree in Computer System Technology. In 1983, he…
Branding Visionary & Founder of FUBU; Investor on ABC's "Shark Tank"
From his wildly successful role on ABC’s smash hit, Shark Tank, to his distinguished status as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, Daymond John has become globally recognized for his…
President of Basketball Operations for the L.A. Lakers; Two-Time Basketball Hall of Famer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist & Motivational Speaker
Earvin “Magic” Johnson has become the most powerful African-American businessman in the world.
Fox News Host & Journalist
Laura Ingraham is the most listened-to woman in political talk radio in the United States. "The Laura Ingraham Show" is heard on hundreds of stations nationwide and has been addicting…
Comedian, Actor & Producer
Kevin James is the producer, co-writer and star of the hit comedies, Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009), Zookeeper (2011) and the recently released Mall Cop 2. James also starred in…
Former President & Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group & New York Times Bestselling Author of Thrive
Arianna Huffington is the former chair, president, and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of fourteen books. In May 2005, she launched The…
Politician, Author and Former Governor of Arkansas
Mike Huckabee was the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 until 2007, becoming one of the longest serving Governors in his state’s history, and was only the fourth Republican elected…
Actor, Activist, Producer and Speaker
Ernie Hudson is one of the most sought-after actors of our time with an impressive list of credits and awards. His body of work has diverse range, including Ghostbusters 1…
Seven-time NBA All-Star, Film Producer & Philanthropist
The Grant Hill story is one of faith, guts, family, friends, commitment and the incredible will to play basketball. He was born with a competitive spirit that sent him to…
Singer and Tony Award-Winning Actress
Jennifer Holliday is a “singer’s singer,” a diva with a voice that can leave an audience absolutely breathless. Whether punctuating a presidential ecumenical service at the White House with a…
Award Winning TV & Film Actor, NY Times Bestselling Author, Youth and Education Advocate
Hill Harper is an award-winning actor, best-selling author, and philanthropist. Harper starred on the CBS TV drama CSI: NY from 2004 to 2013. As of March 2013, he joined the…
Actor and Television Host; "Steve Harvey Show" and "Family Feud"
Steve Harvey is an Emmy Award winning TV personality, talk show host, actor and comedian. He currently serves as host of two popular TV shows for which he won Emmy…
Emmy-Award Winning Journalist
Bryant Gumbel joined CBS News in 1997, having previously worked for NBC for nearly 25 years, serving as anchor of The Today Show for an unprecedented tenure of 15 years.…
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent; Neurosurgeon; Award-Winning Journalist
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the multiple Emmy award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN.
Arsenio Hall is most famous for his stand-up comedy and for his talk show
If you ask different people where they first saw Arsenio Hall, you'd probably get a number of different answers. But, it was the success of his Emmy Award-winning late-night talk…
Bestselling Author, Leadership Expert and CEO, S. Graham & Associates
Stedman Graham is chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates, a management and marketing consulting firm that specializes in the corporate and educational markets. Stedman delivers his leadership message…
Relationship and Health Advice. Author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, shares free relationship advice, dating tips and health solutions for common ailments
John Gray is the leading relationship expert in the world. His relationship and health books have sold over 50 million copies in 50 different languages. His groundbreaking book, Men Are…
Bestselling Author, "What the Dog Saw," "Outliers," "Blink," and "The Tipping Point"
Malcolm Gladwell is the author of five New York Times bestsellers — The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, and now, his latest, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits…
Acclaimed Actor, Humanitarian & Leading Social Activist
Actor, director, producer, and political activist Danny Glover has also become known for his community activism and philanthropic work. A San Francisco native, Glover trained at the Black Actors’ Workshop…
Award-Winning Actress, Comedian and Co-host of ABC's "The View"
Whoopi Goldberg became one of a very elite group of artists who have won the Grammy (Whoopi Goldberg, 1985), the Academy Award (Ghost, 1991), the Golden Globe (The Color Purple,…
Academy Award-Winning Actor Known for his Roles in "Jerry Maguire," "American Gangster," "The Butler" & "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson"
Cuba Gooding Jr. is best known for his Oscar winning portrayal of the charmingly arrogant professional football player, Rod Tidwell, in Jerry Maguire. Starring opposite Tom Cruise in the Cameron…
Nobel Laureate & Former President of the Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev has been one of the 20th century’s most pivotal leaders. As President of the Soviet Union, he ended the 50 years of nuclear brinkmanship known as the Cold…
Poet, Educator & Best-Selling Author
Nikki Giovanni is a world - renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Over the past 30 years, the outspoken nature of her writing and speaking has br ought the…
Best-Selling Author, Novelist and Memoirist
Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir Eat, Pray, Love has been called “a generation's instruction manual” (Toronto Sun). Exploding onto the scene in 2006, the bestseller famously chronicled the year Gilbert spent traveling…
Award-Winning Actor and Musician, Known for "Django Unchained" and "Ray"
Despite being in the entertainment business for only a short time, Jamie Foxx has already proven himself an accomplished performer in film, television and music.
Actor and Humanitarian
Morgan Freeman earned his first Academy Award nomination for his chilling performance as a homicidal pimp in the drama Street Smart, which also brought him the LA, N.Y., and National…
Award-Winning Actor Known for his roles of “Morpheus” in the Matrix trilogy
Laurence Fishburne has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in Film, Television and Theatre having worked in over 70 projects in all performance mediums. He is not only an actor,…
Actress, Motivational Speaker & Activist
Jane Fonda was born in New York City, the daughter of Henry Fonda and Frances Seymour Fonda. She attended the Emma Willard School in Troy, New York, and Vassar College.…
New York Times Best-Selling Author, a James Beard Award-Winning Chef, and the Nutritionist for The Biggest Loser
Cheryl Forberg, RD, is a James Beard award-winning chef and a New York Times bestselling author. In 2011 she was named as one of America’s 100 Most Influential People in…
Award-Winning Actor, Author, Producer and Advocacy
Michael Fox loved hockey and dreamed of a career in the National Hockey League.
Actress, Author & Television Producer; Best Known For Her Roles in "Independence Day" & "Kill Bill Volume 1"
Vivica A. Fox keeps busy! She is set to shoot the sequel Independence Day in May of this year. with You can catch Fox in the film Chocolate City releasing…
Host of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, SNL Alumnus & Author of "Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada"
Long a renowned comic talent, Jimmy Fallon’s ability to deliver versatile, standout performances on the screen has allowed him to join the exclusive ranks as one of the Saturday Night…
The Daughter of Fidel Castro
In her illuminating talk, Alina Fernandez, the daughter of Fidel Castro, shares her first-person, intimate account of growing up in Cuba. Through her insight as one of the Cuban elite,…
Emmy Award-Winning Actress & Activist
America Ferrera is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award-winning portrayal of "Betty Suarez" on the ABC hit comedy Ugly Betty, but she is also a devoted humanitarian who dedicates…
Award-Winning Actress, Comedian, Writer, Producer; Known for "30 Rock," "Mean Girls," "SNL"
Tina Fey is an Award-Winning Television and Film Actress. She completed a seven-season run as the executive producer, head writer, and star of three-time Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock.…
Grammy Award Winning Hip Hop Artist, Record Producer and Entrepreneur
Lupe Fiasco, Hip-hop music, once a platform for creative expression and friendly competition, has, sadly, become a popularity contest. With record sales down and ringtone dollars up, rookies searching for…
Grammy Award-Winning Latin Musician
Long before Ricky Martin or Jennifer Lopez topped the charts, Gloria Estefan was infusing Latin American rhythms into pop music with over 50 platinum-selling albums and the support of worldwide…
Officer Frank "Ponch" Poncherello, "Chips"
Erik Estrada has captured the hearts of millions of fans world-wide as a result of his six year run starring as highway patrol officer Frank Poncherello in the highly successful…
Emmy Award-Winning Actor and Philanthropist
Award-Winning actor Hector Elizondo has a successful career spanning 40 years that includes film, television, theater and radio. In 1997, Elizondo won the prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor…
Captain of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team and Subject of the Hit Film, "Miracle"
Mike Eruzione served as the enthusiastic captain that led the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team to its gold medal victory. He scored the winning goal against the Russians in…
Actor/Director
A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Charles S. Dutton has a career spanning theater, television, and film, and is one of the few actors to earn Tony, Emmy,…
Journalist, Author, Businesswoman, Investor, Commentator and Philanthropist
Esther Dyson is an active angel investor in a variety of start-ups, for-profit and otherwise, around the world. She also operates as the Internet’s court jester, a person of no…
Georgetown University Sociology Professor, a New York Times Contributing Opinion Writer, and a Contributing Editor of The New Republic, and of ESPN's The Undefeated Website
Named by Essence magazine as one of the 50 most inspiring African Americans in the U.S., Michael Eric Dyson is also a best-selling author, one of the nation's most renowned…
Activist For The Rights of Children. She Has Been an Advocate For Disadvantaged Americans for Her Entire Professional Life
Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans for her entire professional life. Under her leadership, CDF has become…