Author and child advocate, Regina Louise calls foster kids nobodys children, for she was once one of them. Discarded by her birth parents, tossed around throughout over thirty foster homes, Regina didnt experience much of a childhood while suffering at the hands of the families in the foster care system. Today, she has risen above her adversities and recreated the... read full bio
Adam J. Foss is a strong advocate for criminal justice reform and the importance of the role of the prosecutor in ending mass incarceration. His philosophy is that the profession of prosecution is ripe for reinvention requiring better incentives and more measurable metrics for success beyond, simply, cases won. As a sought after speaker on criminal justice reform, he highlights... read full bio
Mary Curran Hackett is the author of two best-selling novels PROOF OF HEAVEN and PROOF OF ANGELS (HarperCollins, NY) and the forthcoming memoir ALL THE THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED that chronicles a tumultuous year in her twenties when she survived a violent rape and began life as a single mother. Ultimately, she came away with a newfound strength, faith, and... read full bio
In her book, Prosecuted But Not Silenced, Maralee Mclean shares her difficult legal battle to protect her daughter from her ex-husbands sexual abuse. A dedicated child advocate, she organized a National Rally of Mothers at the Capitol and is involved in legislative work on the task force for the Colorado Childrens Code appointed by the Governor. Maralee has testified before... read full bio
As the founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad, an organization dedicated to liberating children who have been kidnapped, trafficked, or exploited, Tim Ballard is deeply passionate about human rights and keeping children safe across the globe. Ballard worked for 12 years as a special agent and undercover operator for the Department of Homeland Security. During his career, he went... read full bio
Dawn Schiller is an expert survivor-leader in the anti-trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault movements. Abused and trafficked on the streets of Hollywood in her teens by the infamous porn actor, John Holmes, she survived the gruesome Wonderland Avenue murders in 1981 and ultimately turned him into the police. Her subsequent years of struggle to survivorship, education and service offer... read full bio
Colin Stokes, who identifies mainly as a proud father, is also an non-profit advocate and artist. With experience as an actor (starring in Law & Order and Broadway musical I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change) and graphic designer in New York City, Stokes has a diverse background. His experiences as an artist, father, and involvement in the non-profit, Citizen... read full bio
Jackie Aina is a makeup artist and YouTube star. Her confidence allows her to convey passion with ease, speaking as an advocate for women and women of color to educate people worldwide. Jackie Aina uses her YouTube channel to teach and inspire women with tips on glam, fashion, and messages about social issues. Jackie Aina has won the Shorty Award... read full bio
Alice Vachss is an attorney, author, consultant, and lecturer. She is known as one of Americas toughest prosecutors, titled by Parade. Vachss began her noteworthy career as the Chief of the Special Victims Bureau of the Queens District Attorneys Office. During her time as the chief at the Special Victims Bureau, she tried more than one hundred felony cases regarding... read full bio
Ally Acker is an American filmmaker, poet, author, and herstorian. She is best known for her book Reel Women: Pioneers of the Cinema which turned into a documentary, Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women which she was the cinematographer, interviewee, director, editor, producer, and writer for. She also released Reel Women Archive Film Series: The Producer/Director Relationship which... read full bio
Argus Hamilton is known as one of the funniest comedians in America. Once called the Will Rogers of the Baby Boom by Robin Williams, Argus Hamilton is a writer of a daily joke column. This column is utilized in over one hundred newspapers across the United States, along with read and heard by millions via Internet and radio. Apart from... read full bio
Ben Atherton-Zeman is a spokesperson for the National Organization for Men Against Sexism. Ben is an advocate for violence prevention, and is a regular speaker on public issues surrounding the topic. For over seventeen years, Ben has worked as a prevention educator, speaking to employees and audiences at rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, and state coalitions. In addition, Ben... read full bio
Gabby Rivera is an author, storyteller, and activist. Rivera authored AMERICA, Marvel’s first queer, Latina superhero series. In addition, Rivera wrote the critically-acclaimed novel titled Juliet Takes a Breath. This book was given positive review by Roxane Gay, an American writer and social activist. Rivera authors short stories and titles for Boom! Studios. In addition to her career as a... read full bio
Sarah Lewis is an expert in cultural studies. From African American Studies to Art History, Lewis is a notable voice on topics of race, contemporary art, and culture. Lewis has authored best-selling book, The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery, which has been translated into various languages for consumption internationally. She is a keynote speaker... read full bio
Matthew Vines is an author, LGBTQ advocate, and identifies as a Christian. Vines is the founder and director of The Reformation Project, a non-profit ally and Christian organization working to reform church ideologies on sexual orientation and gender identity. This advocate has done extensive research on the Bible and same-sex relationships, working on the incorporation of LGBTQ groups into the... read full bio
David Fleischer is the Director of the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Leadership LAB. Fleischer focuses on the present issue of prejudice and how to reduce it. This LGBT rights advocate has been featured on speaking platforms like TED Talks. During his keynote speeches, Fleischer discusses canvassing, leadership principles that abolish prejudice, and more. Prior to his work with Leadership LAB,... read full bio
Anthony Jack is a professor at Harvard University. As a child, Jack attended school in Coconut Grove, Florida, where the system was under stress. As Jack continued his education, he was accepted into Harvard, where he ultimately completed a doctorate in sociology. With a socially diverse background, Jack decided to author a book titled The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges... read full bio
Vanessa Grigoriadis is an award-winning investigative journalist. Her work covers topics like pop culture, youth, and other investigatory topics. Grigoriadis is well-known for her book, Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus, which shines light on questions regarding sexual consent in the United States. Grigoriadis is a contributing writer of publications such as The New York Times and... read full bio
Patrick Sharkey is a sociologist, author, and professor. His work takes a deeper look into violence in America. Currently, Sharkey is a Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University. He is a Harvard graduate and former Chair of Sociology at New York University. Sharkey has authored the engaging book titled Uneasy Peace, which shines light onto major urban... read full bio
Wanuri Kahiu is, at heart, a storyteller. Born in Nairobi, Wanuri showcases her African roots through stories and films. Many of her productions have received international acclaim, screening at film festivals around the world. Wanuri’s film and other work is centered around African culture. She calls her genre, AfroBubbleGum, which is likened to Marvel’s Black Panther and a dreamlike candy... read full bio
