Volunteerism & Service Learning (U - Social Activism)

<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>American film actor, director, voice artist and producer, Sean Astin is best known for his film roles as Samwise Gamgee in the <em>Lord of the Rings</em> trilogy, Mikey Walsh in <em>The Goonies</em>, the title character of Rudy, and Bob Newby in Netflix’s hit series,<em> Stranger Things 2</em>.

<p>Scott Harrison spent a decade entertaining his darkest vices as a nightclub promoter until he finally realized he was creating a meaningless legacy. Spiritually and emotionally bankrupt, Scott volunteered as a photojournalist on a hospital ship off the coast of West Africa. There, he saw the devastating health impact dirty water has on communities. </p>

<p>Cameron Kasky is an American activist and advocate against gun violence who co-founded the student-led gun control advocacy group Never Again MSD.</p>

<p>He is also the co-founder of March for Our Lives nationwide student protest in March 2018. Kasky is a survivor of the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He’s been featured in <i>Time Magazine</i>, and has appeared in dozens of talk shows, podcasts and news station throughout the U.S.</p>

<p>Susan D. Bro honors the legacy of her daughter and civil rights activist Heather Heyer by empowering others to make a difference in the world by fighting for equal rights for all.</p><p>Susan is the mother of Heather Heyer and the co-founder of the Heather Heyer Foundation (HHF). Susan launched the foundation to carry on the legacy of her daughter, Heather, a young a paralegal for the Miller Law Group who had a love for all individuals regardless of race, religion or creed.

<p>A leader in criminal justice reform, Susan Burton shares her courageous odyssey in overcoming tragedy, addiction, and incarceration to help others like her find a new way of life.</p>

<p>For two decades, Susan has been a leading figure in the criminal justice reform movement. Her award-winning civil and human rights work has been instrumental in raising the visibility of the struggles and barriers faced by formerly incarcerated people, and in changing the narrative of mass incarcerated women.</p>

<p>Alex Sheen inspires audiences to make a positive impact on the world, simply by keeping their promises and honoring their commitments.</p><p>Alex is the founder of because I said I would, a global social movement and nonprofit dedicated to bettering humanity through promises made and kept, created in memory of his father, whose word was his bond. To help others remember the importance of their goals and commitments, Alex and his organization send “promise cards” to anyone anywhere in the world at no cost.</p><p>Alex embodies the meaning of commitment.

<p>Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning documentarian, journalist, speaker, author, philanthropist, and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions, a media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories on a range of social issues. She anchors and produces "Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien," a <em>Hearst political magazine </em>program seen in 95% of the country.

<p>Jennifer Thompson is the Founder and President of Healing Justice, which aims to address the collateral human damage of wrongful convictions to all involved. Jennifer founded Healing Justice based on her experience with a failed criminal justice process that sent an innocent person to prison and left the true perpetrator free to commit additional crimes. </p><p>Jennifer’s ordeal with the criminal justice system began in 1984, when she survived a brutal attack as a college student in North Carolina.

<p>Bob Zellner brings to life the victories, struggles and heartbreaks of the Civil Rights era in a way that empowers and instructs audiences and the modern-day movement. </p><p>Bob is one of the most influential leaders in the Civil Rights Movement, from the 1960s to today. The son and grandson of Ku Klux Klan members, he risked his life – and nearly lost it – many times in the fight to achieve The Second Emancipation.