Michael A. Davis
New York Times Bestselling Author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street and Street Fight: Sesame Workshop’s Audacious, Persistent, Subversive Counter-assault on Mean America, Emmy-Winning Producer, Educator, and Storyteller
Michael A. Davis
New York Times Bestselling Author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street and Street Fight: Sesame Workshop’s Audacious, Persistent, Subversive Counter-assault on Mean America, Emmy-Winning Producer, Educator, and Storyteller
Biography
Michael A. Davis is a former educator turned New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning producer whose work is grounded in a deep belief in the power of education and the potential of young people. He began his career teaching preschool students through Head Start in rural New York, an experience that shaped his understanding of how early learning can transform lives and fueled a lifelong commitment to storytelling that highlights education, access, and opportunity.
Davis is the author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, a New York Times nonfiction bestseller widely regarded as the definitive account of one of the most influential educational initiatives in modern history. Based on years of research and hundreds of interviews, the book captures how Sesame Street revolutionized learning by blending entertainment with intentional educational design. It received widespread national media attention and critical acclaim for its depth, storytelling, and cultural significance.
He later served as co-executive producer of the documentary adaptation, Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win a News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary. The film further expanded the reach of his work, bringing the story and impact of Sesame Street to a global audience.
Davis’s forthcoming book, Street Fight: Sesame Workshop’s Audacious, Persistent, Subversive Counter-assault on Mean America (Rutgers University Press, Fall 2026), offers a clear-eyed, independent examination of the organization’s ongoing fight to serve children in an increasingly complex cultural and political landscape. Developed with the cooperation and encouragement of Sesame Workshop leadership, including co-founder Joan Ganz Cooney, the book draws on a solutions journalism approach to explore both the impact and limitations of Sesame Street, revealing the behind-the-scenes challenges, pressures, and debates that have shaped its evolution and what that means for the future of educational media.
In addition to his work as an author and producer, Davis has built a distinguished career in journalism and education. He is a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and earned his master’s degree in journalism with highest honors from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he later served as an adjunct professor. His writing has appeared in major national publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Parents magazine, and his work has been recognized in leading anthologies of American journalism.
As a compelling and insightful speaker, Davis engages schools, universities, organizations, and corporations on the intersection of education, media, and culture, connecting the legacy of Sesame Street to today’s most pressing conversations around learning, equity, and opportunity. Michael A. Davis works in partnership with APB Speakers for speaking engagements worldwide.
Speaker Videos
TEDx: How Sesame Street Has Changed the World
Street Gang
Speech Topics
Street Fight: Education, Media & the Battle for the Next Generation
Who gets to shape what the next generation learns—and what happens when that responsibility is threatened? Michael A. Davis explores the urgent, modern-day “fight” over education, media, and access to information. Building on the legacy of Sesame Street and drawing from his forthcoming work Street Fight, Davis examines the growing challenges facing public education and trusted media—from funding cuts and book bans to increasing polarization around what young people should learn. He invites audiences to think critically about whose voices are amplified, whose stories are excluded, and what is at stake if we fail to protect access to knowledge. Timely and thought-provoking, this keynote is both a wake-up call and a call to action for anyone invested in the future of learning.
Audiences will learn:
Why access to education and information is more critical than ever
How media and storytelling shape how young people understand the world
What individuals and institutions can do to protect and expand opportunity
Street Gang: How Sesame Street Reimagined Learning & Changed the World
What if education could be both rigorous and irresistible? Michael A. Davis takes audiences inside the groundbreaking creation of Sesame Street, revealing how a bold idea became one of the most influential educational movements in modern history. Drawing from his New York Times bestselling book Street Gang, Davis brings to life the unlikely collaboration between educators, researchers, and creative visionaries who set out to transform how children learn. He explores how intentional design, cultural relevance, and storytelling came together to meet young learners where they are—and why that approach continues to shape education today. Through compelling stories and behind-the-scenes insight, this keynote offers a powerful reminder of what’s possible when purpose and creativity align.
Audiences will learn:
How innovation emerges when education and creativity work together
Why meeting learners where they are leads to deeper engagement and impact
How mission-driven work can create lasting, global change
The Power of Education & Mentorship: Seeing Potential, Changing Lives
The right person, at the right moment, can change the course of a life. Michael A. Davis reflects on the educators, mentors, and early experiences that shaped his journey—from teaching in Head Start classrooms to becoming a bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning producer. Drawing connections between his personal story and the broader impact of Sesame Street and other educational initiatives, Davis highlights the often unseen but deeply meaningful work happening every day in classrooms and communities. He reminds audiences that learning is not just about content—it’s about connection, belief, and the ability to see potential in others before they see it in themselves. This inspiring and heartfelt program underscores how small, intentional moments of support can create ripple effects that last a lifetime.
Audiences will learn:
The lasting impact of educators, mentors, and early support systems
Why relationships are at the center of meaningful learning
How small moments of encouragement can lead to lifelong change
Street Gang Live: A Conversation with Sesame Street Icons & Visionaries
Few shows have shaped generations quite like Sesame Street—and the people behind it helped redefine what education could be. Michael A. Davis brings audiences a one-of-a-kind live experience, gathering beloved cast members alongside key leaders who helped build and sustain the show’s mission. Featuring iconic voices such as Sonia Manzano (Maria), Alan Muraoka (Alan), Roscoe Orman (Gordon), and leaders from Sesame Workshop—including co-founder Joan Ganz Cooney—this dynamic panel offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at both the creative and strategic forces behind the program. Together, they reflect on the show’s origins, its groundbreaking approach to learning, and its enduring cultural impact. Blending storytelling, humor, and insight, this conversation highlights not just what audiences saw on screen, but the vision and leadership that made it all possible—and why that mission still matters today.
Audiences will learn:
The human and leadership stories behind one of the most influential shows in history
How innovation, representation, and purpose shaped generations of learners
Why the mission of Sesame Street continues to matter in today’s educational landscape
)
)
)
)