Social, Community & Cultural Issues
Homelessness & Poverty
Homelessness & Poverty:
Filmmaker & Former CEO, the Black Family Channel
Raised by a single mom on the West Side of Chicago, Townsend transcended his environment to become an actor, writer, director, comedian, producer and ultimately, the President and CEO of the Black Family Channel.
Subject of the Film Hoop Dream
Arthur G Agee Jr is featured in the award-winning, internationally acclaimed motion picture, Hoop Dreams. He tells audiences his story of resilience and the importance of community role models.
GRAMMY-Nominated Poet; Human & Civil Rights Activist; Filmmaker; Author of 16 Books
Kevin Powell is one of the most celebrated political, cultural, literary, and hip-hop voices in America today. Kevin has gone on to author 14 books, including When We Free The World, his new short essay collection about freedom in America.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer Scholly
Raised in poverty and determined to help others go to college, Gray sparked the biggest fight in Shark Tank history with Scholly, his breakthrough app that helps students find scholarships.
Illusionist & Magician
From his astounding “Cage Levitation” and “Walking Through a Brick Wall” to his cutting edge “Teleportation” and “Plasma” illusions, Bishop features stunning & original state of the art magic.
Founder and CEO, Room to Read
Speaker John Wood left a career at Microsoft to form Room to Read, a nonprofit helping children in the developing world escape poverty through education.
Gracie Award-Winning Media Personality, Motivational Speaker & Boy's Prep Basketball Coach
For nearly two decades, Gracie Award-Winning media personality and basketball coach, MalaniKai has dedicated her life to training and mentoring youth and daring to speak her mind on radio and television.
Co-Executive Director of the CPD
Ana María emigrated to the U.S. from Colombia at the age of 17 and has become a leading voice for racial justice, economic justice and immigrant rights in New York and nationally as co-Executive Director of the CPD.