Social Activism (U)

<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>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>A trailblazing champion of inclusive innovation, Haben Girma shows organizations that accessibility isn’t just a legal or ethical responsibility—it’s a strategic advantage for expanding customer reach and outperforming competitors.</p><p>A powerful voice for inclusion and equity, Haben Girma’s keynotes challenge assumptions and inspire action, inspiring organizations to reframe disability as a catalyst for innovation.

<p>Selected by the Obama Foundation as a 2025–26 USA Leader, Halim Flowers draws on his 22-year journey of wrongful incarceration and powerful transformation to inspire audiences to rise above obstacles and discover their true purpose.</p><p> In 1997, Halim Flowers was arrested at the age of 16 and given two life sentences. His experiences were filmed in the Emmy Award-winning documentary <em>Thug Life in DC</em>. During his incarceration, Halim discovered a love for literature and the arts, and began writing, painting, and freestyle-rapping.

<p>Sharing his remarkable story of battling addiction and depression through finding his purpose, Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren helps audiences overcome challenges, improve performance, and create lasting impact—in business and in life.</p>

<p>The very personification of courage, optimism, and resilience, former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords shares her remarkable story on stage, joined by her renowned speech pathologist, Dr. Fabi Hirsch Kruse. </p><p>Gabby Giffords’ story of perseverance and hope is unparalleled. The youngest woman ever to serve in the Arizona State Senate and a trailblazer in other offices, Gabby became a rising star on the national stage after being elected to the U.S. Congress in 2006.

<p>Sherrilyn Ifill is a civil rights lawyer and scholar. From 2013-2022, she served as the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the nation’s premier civil rights law organization fighting for racial justice and equality. She recently served as a Ford Foundation Fellow and as the Klinsky Visiting Professor for Leadership & Progress at Howard Law School.

<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.

<p>Justin Hansford is a Howard University School of Law Professor of Law and Executive Director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center. </p><p>Professor Hansford was previously a Democracy Project Fellow at Harvard University, a Visiting Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, and an Associate Professor of Law at Saint Louis University. He has a B.A. from Howard University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a founder of the Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives.

<p>In today’s ever-changing political landscape, Yamiche Alcindor has become a go-to voice in analyzing the most critical issues of our time for Democrats and Republicans alike.</p><p>Since early 2022, she has been the Washington correspondent for NBC News covering the Biden administration, the impact of federal policies on communities and issues at the intersection of race, culture and politics.