Activists Speakers

Ralph Nader

Former Green Party candidate for president and one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential Americans of the 20th Century," Ralph Nader has always been a voice fighting for the people on the issues that matter most: healthcare, safety, environment, ethics, education, economic and social equality. As a keynote speake ...

Naomi Klein

Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist, and author of the international bestseller, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Exploring the flaws of neoliberal economics and globalization, her stunning revelations and well-researched insight provides a backdrop to the connections betwee ...

Joe Pantoliano

Emmy-winning actor Pantoliano from The Matrix, is best known as "Ralphie Cifaretto" on The Sopranos. What you don’t know is that he’s a mental health advocate who has dealt with clinical depression and his mother’s bipolar disorder. He stars in the film Canvas, a poignant story about a family's st ...

Muhammad Yunus

Founder and Managing Director of Grameen Bank, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner for his pioneering work in establishing microcredit initiatives throughout developing nations, Yunus continues to work tirelessly to fulfill his vision of eradicating poverty through efforts empowering the poor. He authored Creating a World wi ...

Angela Davis

Co-founder of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. Internationally known for her contributions to the movement for racial equality, women's rights and world peace.

Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof, best known for organizing the mammoth Live Aid extravaganza and political activism on behalf of Africa, was the founder of the widely acclaimed pop group The Boom Town Rats and has had an illustrious singing/song writing career spanning some 25 years.

Kathy Najimy

Rarely do we encounter an actress with such a remarkable range of talents and scope of emotion than that of Najimy. Seen in over 20 films such as Sister Act and The Wedding Planner, she is an AIDS activist and enthusiastic supporter of women and animal rights, and choice.

Peter & Bethany Yarrow

Peter Yarrow, of the legendary folk trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, is joined by his daughter Bethany in a presentation combining music and storytelling that is both entertaining and relevant. Intergenerational message of family, humanity and community.

Mary Frances Berry

Former Chairperson of the US Civil Rights Commission, law professor, and esteemed civil rights historian, Berry continually defends the rights of all people with her actions and dedication to equality. From fair housing to equal opportunity to voter's rights, she has been a strong advocate for the disempowered and continue ...

John Passacantando

Former Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, Passacantando is a sought after environmental speaker who leads the fight for clean air, clean water, and the survival of our planet. Offering a shockingly honest “State of the Planet” address, he proposes solutions and actions necessary to protect our planet and save it fro ...

Mary Robinson

As first female President of Ireland, Robinson increased the status of the nation. Formerly the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she now advises businesses worldwide on ethical practices and management. In addition to her role as Executive Director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative, she is one of five members ...

Geoffrey Canada

Profiled on 60 Minutes, Canada has achieved great success as President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, an agency that fuses community building with academic achievement to improve the futures of inner city youth. Recently, President Obama launched an initiative to create “Promise Neighborhoods” around t ...

Anthony Romero

The first Latino and openly gay Executive Director of the ACLU, Romero has greatly increased and energized members, transforming the ACLU into an organizational powerhouse championing civil liberties. In his new book, In Defense of America, he takes a critical look at civil liberties in this country at a time when c ...

Gloria Feldt

Feldt is a women's rights activist and the leading author, speaker, and media commentator on reproductive rights and health from that point of view where the personal meets the political. A teen mom who rose to be the leader of the world's largest reproductive health provider and advocacy organization, she was dubbed "the v ...

Kevin Powell

As a talented political activist, poet, journalist, essayist, hip-hop historian, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Powell is widely considered one of America's most important voices in these early years of the 21st Century. An astute and enlightening observer, he comments on race, gender, class, and American pop culture and ...

Susan Sarandon

Known as an Academy Award-winning actress and an activist, she has shared with the world her dramatic talents and personal convictions.

Victoria Rowell

Emmy-nominated Rowell has been honored with 12 NAACP Image Awards and is a staunch advocate for foster children. Her memoir, The Women Who Raised Me, reveals the transformational power of mentoring, love, art, and womanhood that inspires and empowers women and families. Her newest book, Secrets of a Soap Opera D ...

Jonah Edelman

One of the most inspiring leaders of his generation and one of the country’s leading education reformers and voices for children, Edelman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Stand for Children. In his inspirational presentation, he teaches advocacy skills to child serving professionals, students, and civic leaders and shares a p ...

Common

Grammy Award-winning artist Common holds an extensive acting career starring opposite such stars as Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. Hailed as one of hip-hop’s most poetic and respected lyricists, Common delivers messages of self respect, love, and activism in speeches that inspire all audiences.

Jeremy Scahill

An award-winning investigative journalist and frequent contributor to The Nation magazine, Scahill is widely viewed as one of the world's leading experts on privatized warfare. His first book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army is a New York Times bestseller.