Colleges & Universities

Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans throughout Texas learned that they were free—news that took approximately two months after the Confederate surrender of the Civil War and two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation to reach them.  As our nation recognizes the legacy of Juneteenth during a time of heightened consciousness over pervasive racism and persecution in our nation, we urge everyone to continue to do their part in igniting change.

Russian journalist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dmitry Muratov has been named to Time magazine’s TIME100 Most Influential People List for 2022. Muratov was recognized in the Icons category.

In the wake of the recent mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, members of March for Our Lives, a youth-led organization dedicated to eliminating the epidemic of gun violence, are urging people to join them in a protest on Saturday in Washington D.C. and across the nation. The group’s aim is to implore Congress to pass universal background checks.

June marks the beginning of LGBTQ+ Pride Month! As we honor this month, and celebrate diversity and individuality, we invite you to check out some of our leading voices from the LGBTQ+ community:

We all want to experience life satisfaction and emotional health. But getting to that place is another matter. From lockdowns to isolation, ongoing racial injustice to political turmoil, lost lives and lost jobs, these past couple of years have tested our minds and bodies in profound ways. In what has quickly become an incredibly popular podcast, "Addy Hour," hosted by APB exclusive speaker Dr. Nii Addy, explores topics at the intersection of brain science, mental health, faith, culture and social justice.

Imagine having lived two lives: 1) A highly successful Black corporate executive 2) A former gang member who served multiple prison sentences. Larry G. Miller seemed like he had it all. With hard work, leadership skills and lots of smarts, he climbed the corporate ladder and had risen to the pinnacle of success: leading Nike’s Jordan Brand from a $150 million sneaker company to a $4 billion global apparel juggernaut. And yet for the past five-plus decades, he has also been haunted by a violent act he committed at just 16-years-old and the subsequent years he spent in prison—a fact that he kept secret after being turned down for a job because of his record.

Best-selling author and APB speaker Wil Haygood’s biography of Sammy Davis, Jr. will be turned into a limited television series on Hulu. Eight episodes have been ordered by the network based on the book In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr. Elijah Kelley is set to play the lead role. Filmmaker Lee Daniels will write the series with frequent collaborator Thomas Westfall. Daniels and Haygood will produce. 

For Cleve Jones, author and longtime renowned LGBTQ activist, the first time he realized his life’s purpose was the day he saw Harvey Milk’s corpse lying on the floor of San Francisco’s City Hall. Milk, a gay rights pioneer and city supervisor, was shot and killed in the City by the Bay in 1978. Since then, Jones has given a voice to the voiceless, organized the struggling and disenfranchised and inspired activists through his amazing work. 

In considering a professional development program for this summer, several of our clients are prioritizing the topics of mental health and diversity, equity and inclusion. As you emerge from what was likely another challenging year for your campus, a professional development program will not only provide knowledge and tools needed to come back stronger and better equipped, but will also inspire, entertain and renew passion for teaching and learning. Consider one of these sought-after speakers for your event:

Study after study has shown that stress and burnout are at an all-time high and morale is hitting record lows as colleges and universities across the country continue to deal with the havoc the pandemic has wreaked. Nearly everyone’s physical and mental health is being affected. Feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin and exhausted with a lack of motivation and engagement should not be part of a job description or college experience. The good news? We can help.