$10,000 and Below

<p>Dr. Mario Livio is an internationally known astrophysicist, a best-selling author, and a popular speaker.</p><p>He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, who worked for 24 years with the Hubble Space Telescope. Livio has published more than 400 scientific papers on topics ranging from Dark Energy and cosmology to black holes and extrasolar planets. </p><p>Dr.

<p>Sandra Fluke inspired a nation when she boldly testified before Congress on the need for access to contraception—now, in the heightened era of the “me too” movement, she inspires you to take action in the name of causes important to you and your community.</p>

<p>If the word “believe” resonates with you, chances are you’re a fan of the hit series Ted Lasso—the Emmy Award–winning show that proved optimism, values, and leadership still matter.

<p>Robert Genetski's experience in the world of economics and finance involves a unique combination of business and academic expertise.  He has headed asset management, investment research departments and served as chief economist for several financial institutions. He has also taught economics at NYU and the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.</p>

<p>A third-generation educator whose work centers on authenticity, belonging, and meaningful social change, Victoria Alexander invites audiences into an honest and interactive journey toward progress—not perfection.</p><p>With over half a million followers across social media platforms, Victoria is known for blending storytelling, scholarship, and cultural commentary to create “edu-taining” experiences that are as insightful as they are impactful.

<p>The youngest woman and the only South Asian-American ever to earn the title of Master Sommelier, Alpana Singh shares stories and insights from her trailblazing career.</p><p>From her humble beginnings as the daughter of Fijian-Indian immigrant parents to becoming a Master Sommelier, restauranteur, and host of a multi-Emmy Award-winning TV show, Alpana Singh has had an extraordinary career. Born and raised in Monterey, California, Alpana’s strong work ethic and ease with people of all ages stemmed from a youth spent working in her family’s ethnic grocery store.

<p>Amber Briggle (she/they) is a self-described “mamabear” of a transgender teen in Texas.</p><p>Amber and her family were investigated by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services for “child abuse” in 2022 after TX Gov. Greg Abbott directed the agency to open such cases against families like theirs.

<p>Acclaimed journalist Alissa Quart speaks on topics like poverty, economic inequality, and the myth of the “American Dream.” </p><p>Alissa Quart is the author of five acclaimed books of nonfiction, including <em>Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream </em>(Ecco, 2023). The others are <em>Squeezed</em>,<em> Republic of Outsiders</em>,<em> Hothouse Kids</em>, and <em>Branded</em>.

<p>An award-winning journalist constantly in demand for her comprehensive coverage of Trump and the future of democracy, Andrea Bernstein is the<strong style="font-size: 12pt;"> </strong><em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of<strong style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><em> </em></strong><em>American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power.</em></p><p>Bernstein most recently reported and co-hosted with Ilya Marritz the acclaimed podca

<p>As the grandson of both the legendary civil rights activist César Chávez and the Cuban revolutionary Max Lesnik, Eduardo Chavez is the scion of two revolutionary families.</p><p>Eduardo's political and activist background influenced his feature documentary, <i>Hailing Cesar,</i> released April 2018. </p><p>Since its debut, Eduardo has screened <i>Hailing Cesar</i> and spoken at 50+ universities in 3 different countries.