Social, Community & Cultural Issues
Homelessness & Poverty
Homelessness & Poverty:
Abuse & Homelessness Survivor, Author of CinderGirl
Empowering others with her inspiring life story, Christina Meredith survived sexual, mental and emotional abuse, incest, trauma, aging out of foster care, poverty and homelessness to forge a life committed to helping others.
Entrepreneur, Author & Philanthropist
Chris Gardner is an entrepreneur whose autobiography, the Pursuit of Happyness, became a best seller and the inspiration for the movie of the same name. His talks aim to help others achieve their full potential.
Inner-City Youth & Education Advocate
Founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Canada addresses inner city poverty and violence. His model was featured in Waiting for Superman and has been replicated across the U.S.
CEO of Global Citizen/Global Poverty Project
Hugh Evans’ breakthrough brand of action-oriented humanitarianism has mobilized millions to end extreme poverty, climate change and gender inequality around the world.
Author & Motivational Speaker
She's the mother of one of the greatest athletes ever, but Lucille O'Neal is much more than just "Shaq's mom." A powerful motivator & moving speaker, she wrote Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go.
Founder, President & CEO of Raising Change
Kathy LeMay is the founder, president, and CEO of Raising Change, which helps organizations raise capital to advance social change agendas and individuals create Generosity Plans to help change the world.
Best-Selling Author & Community Activist
Author of the New York Times best-seller All Souls, Michael Patrick MacDonald shares his remarkable story of survival and redemption while examining the relationship between poverty and class he witnessed growing up in South Boston.
US Army Lieutenant Colonel / Education Advocate
Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch is the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Combat Support Field in the US Army. She is recognized for her work on teen pregnancy, gang violence and parenting education.