Black Heritage & History Month

Celebrated in February, Black History Month is an opportunity to honor the legacies, achievements, and ongoing activism of African Americans who have shaped the nation’s past, present, and future. Here at HWA, we are proud to represent Black History Month speakers who impact the world as human rights leaders, trailblazing executives, tech visionaries, sports icons, esteemed politicians, award-winning artists, and beyond.

If you’re looking to create a profound, motivational, and uplifting program that will resonate with your audience, please reach out. We look forward to partnering with you on your next event.

We can help you find the perfect speaker for your event. Get in touch with us to get started!

CALL TO INQUIRE

HWA Exclusive

Jane Coaston

  • On-Air Commentator, CNN; Contributing Opinion Writer, NYT; Podcast Host: 'What a Day'
HWA Exclusive

Ciara

  • Grammy Award-Winning Musician & NAACP Image Award-Winning Actress; Co-Founder, Why Not You Foundation; Founder: Beauty Marks Entertainment, Ten to One, & OAM
HWA Exclusive

Mara Brock Akil

  • Trailblazing Screenwriter and TV Producer of 'Girlfriends, 'The Game', & More
HWA Exclusive

Tressie McMillan Cottom

  • Renowned Cultural Critic, Sociologist, NYT Opinion Columnist, Award-Winning Author of 'Thick' and 'Lower Ed', and MacArthur Fellow
HWA Exclusive

Eddie Ndopu

  • Disability Rights Advocate; UN Sustainability Advocate; Author of 'Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw'
HWA Exclusive

Denise Woodard

  • Founder & CEO of Partake Foods, Founder-in-Residence with Target, and One of Inc.'s "100 Female Founders"
HWA Exclusive

Fawn Weaver

  • CEO & Founder, Grant Sidney, Inc. & Uncle Nearest, Inc.; NYT Bestselling Author, 'Love & Whiskey,' 'The Argument-Free Marriage,' & More
HWA Exclusive

Dr. Jessica B. Harris

  • Leading Authority on Food of the African Diaspora, Culinary Historian, NYT Bestselling Author, James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
HWA Exclusive

Renee Montgomery

  • Co-Owner & Vice President of the Atlanta Dream, First WNBA Player to Become an Owner and Executive of a WNBA Team
HWA Exclusive

Jenna Wortham

  • NYT Culture Columnist; Co-Host of 'Still Processing' Podcast; Editor of 'Black Futures'
HWA Exclusive

Eugene Daniels

  • President, White House Correspondents Association; MSNBC's Senior White House Correspondent & Co-Host of 'The Weekend', Sr. Contributor MSNBC's 'Morning Joe'
HWA Exclusive

Nigel Sylvester

  • Professional BMX Athlete, Producer, Entrepreneur, & Creative
HWA Exclusive

Gabriella Karefa-Johnson

  • 1st Black Woman Vogue Cover Stylist; Vogue Global Fashion Editor at Large
HWA Exclusive

Val Demings

  • Former U.S. Representative (D-FL, 2017-2023) and First Female Police Chief for Orlando
HWA Exclusive

Allen Hughes

  • Emmy Nominated & Peabody Award-Winning Filmmaker: 'Dead Presidents,' 'The Book of Eli,' 'American Pimp,' & more
HWA Exclusive

Christine Simmons

  • Fmr. COO of the Academy of Motion Picture (First Woman & Black Person in the Role); Fmr. President & COO of WMBA LA Sparks
HWA Exclusive

Catherine Coleman Flowers

  • Founder, Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice; Author of 'Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret'; Board Member: Center for Earth Ethics, Climate Reality Project, & National Resources Defense Council
HWA Exclusive

Zozibini Tunzi

  • Former Miss Universe, Advocate for Gender Equality, Inclusion, and Diversity, Activist and Impact Ambassador for UN Women SA
HWA Exclusive

Hannah Beachler

  • Production Designer for 'Black Panther'; Curator for Beyonce's 'Lemonade' & 'Black is King'; 1st African-American to Win an Academy Award for Production Design
HWA Exclusive

Elizabeth Nyamayaro

  • Fmr. UN Sr. Advisor on Gender Equality; Founder: HeForShe Movement; Author: 'I Am a Girl From Africa'
HWA Exclusive

Robin Thede

  • Comedian, Writer, Producer, Actor, and Emmy-Nominated Creator of 'A Black Lady Sketch Show'
HWA Exclusive

Akala

  • BAFTA and MOBO Award-Winning Hip-Hop Artist, Author, and Social Entrepreneur
HWA Exclusive

Michael 'Killer Mike' Render

  • Grammy Award-Winning Rapper, Entrepreneur, Activist, and Advocate
HWA Exclusive

LeVar Burton

  • Actor, Writer, Director, & Producer Best Known for 'Reading Rainbow,' 'Roots,' & 'Star Trek'; Podcast Host: 'LeVar Burton Reads'; Author of 'Aftermath', 'The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm', & 'A Kids Book About Imagination'
HWA Exclusive

Michael Strahan

  • Legendary Super Bowl Champion, Co-Host of ABC's 'Good Morning America', Entrepreneur, NYT Bestselling Author, and Celebrity Astronaut
HWA Exclusive

Kevin Hart

  • Superstar Comedian and Actor, Entertainment Mogul, and NYT Bestselling Author of 'I Can't Make This Up'
HWA Exclusive

Stephen A. Smith

  • Legendary Sportscaster; Host, ESPN's 'First Take' &'SportsCenter; Podcaster, 'Know Mercy'; Author of NYT Bestselling Memoir: 'Straight Shooter'
HWA Exclusive

Wanda Sykes

  • Award-Winning Comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer, and Author
HWA Exclusive

Curt Menefee

  • Award-Winning Reporter, Veteran Sports Anchor, Broadcaster, and TV and Radio Personality
HWA Exclusive

Ayọ Tometi

  • Civil Rights Leader; Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter
HWA Exclusive

Michael Nutter

  • Former Mayor of Philadelphia, Senior Fellow with Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Urban Policy Innovation Advocate
HWA Exclusive

Allyson Felix

  • Olympic Gold Medalist in Track & Field; Founder of Lifestyle Brand Saysh; Leader in Workplace Equity for Moms
HWA Exclusive

Bozoma Saint John

  • Forbes' "#1 Most Influential CMO"; Author of Motivational Memoir: 'The Urgent Life'
HWA Exclusive

Judge Victoria Pratt

  • Internationally Recognized Criminal Justice Reformer, Municipal Court Chief Judge, and Author
HWA Exclusive

Helene Cooper

  • Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist and New York Times Bestselling Author
HWA Exclusive

Dr. Mae Jemison

  • First African American Woman in Space; Founder: The Jemison Group & BioSentient Corp; Stem Equity Advocate
HWA Exclusive

Questlove

  • Musical Director, 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'; Acclaimed Drummer, Record Producer, DJ, and Filmmaker
HWA Exclusive

Michael S. Regan

  • 16th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; The 1st Black Man to Lead the U.S. EPA
HWA Exclusive

LL COOL J

  • Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee; Host, 'Rock the Bells Radio'; Founder, Jump & Ball Community Camp
HWA Exclusive

Jemele Hill

  • Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, Co-Founder of Lodge Freeway Media, Contributing Writer for The Atlantic
HWA Exclusive

Suzanne Malveaux

  • Award-Winning Journalist, CEO and President of Malveaux Global Media
HWA Exclusive

Ziwe

  • Acclaimed Comedian, Actress, Author, and One of TIME's 100 Next Gen Leaders
HWA Exclusive

Joel Bervell

  • Award-Winning Science Communicator; Doctor; 2024 TED Fellow
HWA Exclusive

Sharon Malone

  • Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, Author of NYT Bestseller 'Grown Woman Talk,' Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist
HWA Exclusive

Antonia Hylton

  • Correspondent: NBC News & MSNBC; NYT Bestselling Author: 'Madness'
HWA Exclusive

Thai Randolph

  • Co-Founder of Sugaberry, Former CEO of HARTBEAT, Award-Winning Marketer, and Business Leader
HWA Exclusive

Merryl Tengesdal

  • 1st & Only USAF U2 Pilot; STEM Equity Advocate; Author of 'Shatter the Sky,' a Motivational Memoir
HWA Exclusive

Victoria Eady Butler

  • Award-Winning Master Blender of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
HWA Exclusive

Dr. Marcia Chatelain

  • Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author of 'Franchise', Professor of History & African American Studies, and Creator of the #FergusonSyllabus
HWA Exclusive

Enuma Okoro

  • Nigerian-American Author & Lecturer, Columnist, 'Financial Times'
HWA Exclusive

Taylor Cassidy

  • Viral Content Creator on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
HWA Exclusive

MJ Acosta-Ruiz

  • Emmy Award-Winning Sportscaster, ESPN Network Host & Anchor, First-Ever Afro-Latina Reporter and Host for NFL Network
HWA Exclusive

Daniel Cormier

  • UFC World Champion in Two Divisions, Olympic Wrestler, and UFC Broadcast Analyst
HWA Exclusive

Will Hurd

  • Cybersecurity Executive, Former CIA Officer and U.S. Representative (R-TX), and Author of ‘American Reboot’
HWA Exclusive

Amanda Gorman

  • First-Ever U.S.A. Youth Poet Laureate; #1 NYT Bestselling Author: 'Change Signs' & more
HWA Exclusive

Harold Ford, Jr.

  • Fmr. 5-Term Congressman (D-TN); EVP & VC of PNC; Co-Host of FOX's 'The Five'
HWA Exclusive

Afua Hirsch

  • Award-Winning Writer, Broadcaster and Film Maker on Issues of Race and Equality
HWA Exclusive

Alexis McGill Johnson

  • President and CEO of Planned Parenthood, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Perception Institute, and Champion for Social and Racial Justice
HWA Exclusive

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

  • Renowned Wildlife Ecologist, Conservationist, and Host of NBC's 'Wild Kingdom'
HWA Exclusive

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

  • Harvard University Director of African-American Research; Host, PBS's 'Finding Your Roots'; NYT Bestselling Author of 30+ Books, including 'Stony the Road' & 'The Black Church'
HWA Exclusive

Candace Parker

  • 3x WNBA Champion, MVP, and Olympic Gold Medalist; Sports Broadcaster, Podcaster, Wife, and Mother
HWA Exclusive

Kahlil Greene

  • NYT Featured Social Media Influencer, "The Gen-Z Historian," and Advocate for Racial Justice
HWA Exclusive

Gina Belafonte

  • Activist; Creator of Women's March; Producer: 'Sing Your Song,' 'A Survivor's Guide To Prison,' and 'The March'
HWA Exclusive

Michael B. Jordan

  • Critically-Acclaimed Actor, Director, and Producer; Founder of Outlier Society Productions, Philanthropist, Activist, and Advocate for Justice and Inclusion
HWA Exclusive

Masai Ujiri

  • First African Team President in Pro Sports; Vice-Chairman & President, Toronto Raptors; Founder, Giants of Africa
HWA Exclusive

Janelle Monáe

  • Musician & Actor; Founder, Wondaland Pictures & Wondaland Records; NYT Bestselling Author, 'The Memory Librarian'
HWA Exclusive

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

  • Gold Medal Olympic Track & Field Athlete, Entrepreneur, NCAA and World Record Holder, and Gatorade's "Athlete of the Year"
HWA Exclusive

Brandon Marshall

  • 13 Year NFL Veteran, Founder and CEO of House of Athlete, Host of the I AM Athlete Podcast, and Mental Health Advocate
HWA Exclusive

Taylor Rooks

  • Sports Journalist, Anchor & Interviewer; Primary Host of Amazon Prime's NBA Coverage
HWA Exclusive

Charles Blow

  • NYT Op-Ed Columnist & MSNBC Analyst; NYT Bestselling Author: 'Fire Shut Up in My Bones' & 'The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto'
HWA Exclusive

Desiree Rogers

  • CEO & Co-Owner: Black Opal Beauty; Fmr. White House Social Secretary
HWA Exclusive

Venus Williams

  • Legendary Tennis Champion ; Philanthropist & Founder (V Starr, Happy Viking); NYT Bestselling Author of 'Strive' & 'Come to Win'
HWA Exclusive

W. Kamau Bell

  • Sociopolitical Comedian, Host of CNN's 'United Shades', Podcaster, and NYT Bestselling Author
HWA Exclusive

Stacey Abrams

  • Political and Nonprofit Leader, NYT Bestselling Author, & Serial Entrepreneur
HWA Exclusive

Sarah Broom

  • National Book Award Winner and New York Times Bestselling Author of 'The Yellow House'
HWA Exclusive

Tiffany D. Cross

  • Journalist and Former Host of MSNBC's 'The Cross Connection', Bestselling Author of 'Say it Louder', and Resident Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics
HWA Exclusive

Alonzo Mourning

  • NBA Hall of Famer; Philanthropist & Founder of the Mourning Family Foundation
HWA Exclusive

Tracy McGrady

  • Legendary NBA Player and Hall of Famer; 7x NBA All Star
HWA Exclusive

Abby Phillip

  • CNN Anchor of 'NewsNight with Abby Phillip'
HWA Exclusive

Brandon Kyle Goodman

  • Writer and Actor, Netflix's 'Big Mouth' and 'Human Resources', Podcaster and Host, "Tell Me Something Messy", "RE!CAP", Author, "You Gotta Be You", "Messy Mondays" on Substack, Advocate for Mental Health Awareness, Relationship Health, Identity, and Sexual Wellness
HWA Exclusive

Angie Thomas

  • #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of 'The Hate U Give,' 'Concrete Rose', and more
HWA Exclusive

Cari Champion

  • TV Personality & Sports Anchor: CNN, Amazon, NFL Network & ESPN; Podcast Host: 'Naked with Cari Champion'; Philanthropist & Founder, Brown Girls Dream
HWA Exclusive

Ryan Coogler

  • Award-Winning Filmmaker: 'Creed' & 'The Black Panther'; Founding Member of the Blackout for Human Rights Campaign
HWA Exclusive

Carl Lewis

  • 9x Olympic Gold Medalist, Voted Sportsman of the Century by the International Olympic Committee, Philanthropist
HWA Exclusive

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

  • Women's Rights Advocate, Co-Founder of Archewell, Host of 'Archetypes' Podcast, and Author of NYT Bestselling Children's Book 'The Bench'
HWA Exclusive

Rev Run

  • RUN DMC Front Man; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee; TV Personality: 'The Hip Hop Nutcracker,' 'All About the Washingtons,' & More
HWA Exclusive

Keechant Sewell

  • SVP of Security & Guest Experience for The Mets and 45th NYPD Police Commissioner
HWA Exclusive

Shaquille O'Neal

  • NBA All Star & High-Energy Motivational Speaker
HWA Exclusive

Sekou Kaalund

  • U.S. Bank EVP, Leader Behind Advancing Black Pathways, and Expert on Strategic Leadership and Sustainable Impact
HWA Exclusive

Michael Smith

  • Sports Journalist, Co-Host of Peacock's 'Brother From Another', and Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Inflection Point Entertainment
HWA Exclusive

Lena Waithe

  • Award-Winning Actor, Writer, Creator, & Producer; Founder of Hillman Grad Productions; Partner, Rising Voices Initiative
HWA Exclusive

Joy-Ann Reid

  • MSNBC Political Analyst; Podcast Host: 'Reid This, Reid That' & 'What to Reid'; NYT Bestselling Author of 'The Man Who Sold America' & More
HWA Exclusive

Serena Williams

  • 23-time Grand Slam Champion, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Serena Ventures
HWA Exclusive

Dapper Dan

  • Legendary Fashion Entrepreneur; Tailor; NYT Bestselling Author: 'Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem'
HWA Exclusive

Marcus Samuelsson

  • James Beard Award-Winning Chef and Restaurateur, Host of 'No Passport Required', Entrepreneur, and NYT Bestselling Author
HWA Exclusive

LaTosha Brown

  • Contributor to MSNBC, NYT, & More; Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter; Principle: TruthSpeaks Consulting, Inc.
HWA Exclusive

Jemar Tisby

  • Historian of Race & Religion; Founder, The Witness, Inc; NYT Bestselling Author, 'How to Fight Racism' & 'The Color of Compromise'
HWA Exclusive

Kwame Onwuachi

  • James Beard Award-Winning Chef, Restauranteur and Author of 'Notes from a Young Black Chef'
HWA Exclusive

Tracee Ellis Ross

  • Golden Globe Award-Winning Actress and Producer (Girlfriends, Black-ish, & more); CEO/Founder of PATTERN Beauty
HWA Exclusive

Quinta Brunson

  • Emmy Award-Winning Actress & Writer, Star & Creator of ABC's 'Abbot Elementary'
HWA Exclusive

Linsey Davis

  • Host & Radio Correspondent, ‘World News Tonight Sunday’ & ‘ABC News Live Prime’
HWA Exclusive

Naomi Osaka

  • Tennis Champion, Olympian, Entrepreneur, and Activist
HWA Exclusive

Symone Sanders Townsend

  • Host & Anchor, MSNBC's 'The Weekend'; Author, Political Strategist, Former Senior Advisor for Vice President Kamala Harris
HWA Exclusive

Deval Patrick

  • Governor of Massachusetts (2007-2015), Political Contributor to CBS News, and Leader in Social Impact Investing
HWA Exclusive

Dr. Myron Rolle

  • Fmr. NFL Player Turned Neurosurgeon; Chairman, Caribbean Neurosurgery Foundation; NYT Bestselling Author: The 2% Way'
HWA Exclusive

Victor Cruz

  • Super Bowl Champion and Analyst for ESPN, Co-Host of E!'s 'Pop of the Morning', Philanthropist, and Advocate for Mental Health and STEM
HWA Exclusive

Marcus Hutchins

  • Globally Recognized Security Researcher Known for Stopping the 2017 WannaCry Ransomware Attack
HWA Exclusive

Yaba Blay

  • Viral Civil Rights Campaigner: 'Locs of Love,' '#PrettyPeriod,' '#ProfessionalBlackGirl'; Inspiration & Consulting Producer for CNN's 'Who is Black in America?'; Author: 'One Drop'
HWA Exclusive

Mike Muse

  • Music Executive, Politics and Pop Culture Expert, and Tech Founder
HWA Exclusive

Jimmy Butler

  • Five-Time NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medal Basketball Player
HWA Exclusive

Nicole Byer

  • Actress, Comedian, and Writer; Host of Netflix's Emmy Award-Nominated 'Nailed It', Podcaster, and Author
HWA Exclusive

Tika Sumpter

  • Actor; Lifestyle Entrepreneur: Sugaberry; Podcaster: 'The Suga' on Celebrating Motherhood & Sisterhood
HWA Exclusive

Ursula Burns

  • Former CEO and Chairman of Xerox, Groundbreaking CEO, and STEM Advocate
HWA Exclusive

Matt James

  • First Black Male Lead on ABC's 'The Bachelor'; Food Insecurity Activist; Crypto Founder, Encrypted Energy
HWA Exclusive

Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire

  • Assistant Professor, Harvard School of Public Health; Fmr. Scientist Lead at the NIH; Lead Scientist in COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Development
HWA Exclusive

Andrew Young

  • Civil Rights Activist, Former Ambassador to the UN, Congressman, Mayor of Atlanta, and Author of 'An Easy Burden'
HWA Exclusive

Caroline Randall Williams

  • Host, Disney+'s 'Hungry for Answers'; Author: 'Soul Food Love,' 'The Diary of B.B. Bright, Possible Prince,' & More
HWA Exclusive

Dusty Baker

  • MLB Legend & Future Hall of Famer; Cancer Survivor; Founder, Baker Family Wines; Popularized the High Five
HWA Exclusive

Whoopi Goldberg

  • EGOT Award-Winning Actress & Comedian; Moderator, ABC's 'The View'; U.N. Goodwill Ambassador
HWA Exclusive

Clarence Page

  • Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author, and Member of the Chicago Tribune's Editorial Board
HWA Exclusive

Sunny Hostin

  • 5x Emmy Award-Winning Co-Host of ABC’s “The View,” and  NYT  Best-Selling Author
HWA Exclusive

Deshauna Barber

  • Fmr. Miss USA; Fmr. Captain in the Army Reserve; Fmr. President of Service Women's Action Network; Author: 'Pretty Ugly Lessons'
HWA Exclusive

Austin Channing Brown

  • Cultural Commentator; NYT Bestselling Author of 'I'm Still Here' on Black Dignity
HWA Exclusive

Tyler Perry

  • Famed Actor, Producer, Writer, and Director; Entrepreneur and Founder of Tyler Perry Studios, Two-Time New York Times Bestselling Author, and Philanthropist

Dr. Edda Fields-Black

  • Specialist in the Trans-National History of West African Rice Farmers, Acclaimed Author, Associate Professor at the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University

Tamika Tremaglio

  • Managing Director of Secretariat, Former Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association, Former CEO and Chairman of the Board at Think 450

Merline Saintil

  • Co-founder of Black Women on Boards; Lead Director of Rocket Lab; Fortune 500 Board Director

James Brown

  • Emmy Award-Winning Sportscaster and CBS News Special Correspondent, Ordained Minister, and Author

Michael R. Jackson

  • Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright of Hit Broadway Musical, 'A Strange Loop'

TJ Adeshola

  • Former VP of Global Partnerships for Twitter and World-Renowned Media Executive

Folake Olowofoyeku

  • Actress and Musician

Tony Gonzalez

  • NFL Hall of Famer, Analyst for Amazon's 'Thursday Night Football', Podcaster, and Entrepreneur

Aminatou Sow

  • Co-host, Call Your Girlfriend Podcast

Cheryl Shavers

  • Silicon Valley Success Story

Janet Stovall

  • Diversity & Inclusion Pragmatist, TED Speaker, and Fortune 500 Speechwriter

Angela Davis

  • Legendary Human Rights Activist

Jaime Harrison

  • Former Chair of the Democratic National Committee

Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah

  • The "Crown Act" Champion, Racial and Gender Equity Czar, Social Impact Strategist & Global Leadership Guru

Chad Sanders

  • Creator, Screenwriter, Author, and Entrepreneur

Donna Brazile

  • Veteran Democratic Political Strategist

David Paterson

  • New York's 55th Governor

Bryan Terrell Clark

  • Famed Actor, Singer, and Songwriter

Lauren Simmons

  • Youngest-Ever Full Time Trader for the New York Stock Exchange, Podcast Host, Women and Youth Personal Finance Expert, and Author

Vernice Armour

  • America's First African-American Female Combat Pilot; Former Marine & Cop; Author 'Zero To Breakthrough'

Daryl Davis

  • Musician, Author, Internationally Acclaimed Conflict Navigator, Compelling Unifier, and Klan Whisperer

Brandon P. Fleming

  • Renowned Author, Entrepreneur, and International Speaker

LeVelle Moton

  • Head Coach of NC Central University Men's Basketball Team, and CEO & Founder of The Velle Cares Foundation

Mike Jackson

  • Emmy® and Tony® Award-Winning Film, Theater, and Television Producer

Cliff Albright

  • Co-Founder and Executive Director, Black Voters Matter Fund

Torrey Smith

  • 2x Super Bowl Champion, Philanthropist and Founder of Level82, Host of 'The Opening Drive'

Dr. Sian Proctor

  • Astronaut - First Woman Commercial Spaceship Pilot, Space Poet - First Artist Selected to be Astronaut, U.S. Department of State Science Envoy for Space - Space Policy and Leadership, College Professor - STEM Workforce Development Specialist

Sara Sidner

  • Award-Winning Investigative Journalist, CNN Senior Correspondent and Host of 'The Big Picture'

Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee

  • Olympic Gold Medalist

Marshall Shepherd

  • Leading International Expert on Weather, Climate and Atmospheric Related Sciences

Van Jones

  • Political Contributor for CNN, 3X NYT Bestselling Author, Social Entrepreneur & President of Dream Corps

Daymond John

  • Visionary Entrepreneur

Ertharin Cousin

  • Executive Director, World Food Programme (2009-2017)

Hill Harper

  • Award-Winning Actor

Cedric Jennings

  • New York Times Bestselling Author of Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League

Tru Pettigrew

  • Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Minnesota Timberwolves

Delano Lewis

  • Former Ambassador to South Africa and Former President and CEO at NPR

Bakari Sellers

  • CNN Political Analyst & Former Representative from South Carolina

John Hope Bryant

  • Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE

Michael Steele

  • Former Chair of the Republican National Committee

Yamiche Alcindor

  • PBS NewsHour White House Correspondent & Award-Winning Journalist

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson

  • Founder, CEO, and General Partner/VC at BrainTrust and Author of 'The Beauty of Success'

Attica Locke

  • NYT Bestselling Author of 'Blackwater Rising' and More, Screenwriter, and Executive Producer of Netflix Blockbuster 'From Scratch'

Marra B. Gad

  • Award-Winning Author of 'The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl', and Advocate for Mental Health, Racial Equity, and Adopted Children and Families

Justin Forsett

  • Retired NFL Pro Bowl Running Back; Ranked 65 in NFL's Top 100 of 2015

Eric Boles

  • President of The Game Changers; Former NFL Player

Star Parker

  • Founder and President of CURE

Kenny "The Jet" Smith

  • NBA World Champion, Sports Analyst & Commentator, Author of 'Talk of Champions: Stories of the People Who Made Me'

Elliot Williams

  • CNN Legal Analyst, Former Senior Justice Department Leader, and Federal Prosecutor

Christopher Jackson

  • The original George Washington in the Tony and Grammy Award-Winning Broadway Musical, Hamilton

Al Sharpton

  • Renowned Civil-Rights Leader

Julianne Malveaux

  • Renowned Economist

Rachel Cargle

  • Public Academic, Author, Entrepreneur, Philanthropic Innovator and Founder of The Loveland Foundation

Lisa Wardell

  • Chairman and Former CEO of Adtalem Global Education, and Advocate for Diversity, Inclusion, and Access to Education

Andre Iguodala

  • NBA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Entrepreneur, Tech Investor, and Crypto Economy Advocate

Dominique Dawes

  • Three-Time Olympic Medalist

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson

  • NBA Hall of Famer, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist

Martin Luther King, III

  • Civil Rights Activist & Global Humanitarian