Alexis M. Herman Speaking Fee: $20,000 to $30,000

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Captain Ron Johnson, Retired

Best Known for Settling the 2014 Race Riots in Ferguson, Missouri

On August 14, 2014, five days after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown ignited protests throughout the city of Ferguson, Missouri, the nation found an unlikely hero in Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol. Charged with the task of restoring peace between a grieving Black community and the local police, the 30-year Black law enforcement veteran, did the unthinkable; he took off his bullet-proof vest and joined the protesters. Captain Johnson’s leadership was on display while the whole world was watching. Using his moral compass of empathy and selflessness, he served as the calming, unifying force amidst a tense situation.

Valerie Jarrett

Chief Executive Officer, The Barack Obama Foundation

Valerie Jarrett is CEO and Board Member for the Obama Foundation and a Senior Distinguished Fellow at The University of Chicago Law School. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, published in April 2019. She serves as Board Chairman of Civic Nation, Co-Chair of The United State of Women, senior advisor to Attn, and is a One Million Black Women Advisory Board member.

Killer Mike

Hip-Hop Artist & Activist

Killer Mike gets recognized as many things--a rapper, an advocate for the disenfranchised, an entrepreneur, a Bernie Sanders whisperer, and for his advocacy work on political and social causes--which yielded him Billboard’s inaugural 2020 Change Maker Award. Most recently his 2023 album MICHAEL earned him three Grammy Awards (Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song & Performance for “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS”) for its complex portrait of Black southern masculinity. The honors marked his first awards from the Academy since taking home the Grammy for Best Rap Performance Duo or Group for his 2001 collaboration with Outkast, “The Whole World.”

Dr Freeman A. Hrabowski III

Advocate for Science and Technology Education for African Americans and President of University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, President Emeritus of UMBC (The University of Maryland, Baltimore County) served as president from 1992 to 2022. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. He chaired the National Academies’ committee that produced the 2011 report, Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads. He was named in 2012 by President Obama to chair the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

Kara Brown

Pop-Culture Writer & Podcaster

Kara is a writer and former cohost of Crooked Media's pop culture podcast, "Keep It". Television credits include In the Dark and Freeform's grown-ish. Previously she was a senior writer at Jezebel, covering pop culture, race, television and more. She has also contributed to Glamour, Time Magazine, Nylon, Billboard and The Fader. In 2018, she was featured on Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 in Hollywood and Entertainment. She is currently developing a new culture podcast with Crooked Media and directing a pilot for NBC with Rashida Jones and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Ruth E. Carter

Two-time Oscar Winning Costume Designer

Ruth Carter is a Hollywood veteran, having outfitted some of the culture’s most iconic films from Malcolm X to Five Heartbeats. The multiple Oscar and Emmy-nominated costume designer took on afrofuturism fashions in the mega-blockbusters, Black Panther and in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She just became the first black woman to win two Oscars at the 2023 awards, making Ruth one of the most renowned costume designers and inspirations today. With an unparalleled ability to develop an authentic story through costume and character, Ruth has become one of the most sought-after, renowned, and award-winning costume designers of today.

Richard Fowler

Contributor, FOX News Media; Adjunct Professor of Journalism, Georgetown University

Richard A. Fowler is a television talent, radio host, and millennial messaging expert host who currently serves as a progressive contributor at FOX News Channel. Fowler has been providing political and cultural analysis across the cable network’s highly rated slate of programming since September 2016. Fowler hosts the nationally syndicated Fowler Show, a weekly radio program which can be heard in more than 9.1 million homes. Richard is also a contributing writer for Forbes Magazine.

Judge Greg Mathis

TV Personality & Activist

Judge Mathis is a national figure known for his advocacy campaigns for urban youth, and equal justice. His inspirational life story of a street youth who rose from jail to Judge has provided hope to millions who watch him on the Emmy® nominated, award-winning television court show Judge Mathis each day.

Keke Palmer

Emmy-Winning Actress, Host, Producer & Founder of KeyTV Digital Network

Believing in everyone’s ability to “live their best life,” Keke Palmer encourages individuals to break the chains of limiting ideas that are placed on them. Palmer’s dramatically unique rise to fame is a testament to her creative problem-solving mentality. Keke is the founder of her own digital network, KeyTV, dedicated to spotlighting a new generation of diverse creators and democratizing the entertainment industry. She's also recently published her third book, Master of Me. With unflinching honesty, she shares the lessons she learned from overcoming childhood trauma to reclaiming her self-worth and establishing her voice.

Fatima Robinson

Dancer, Music Video Director & Choreographer

Noted by the New York Times as “one of the most sought-after hip-hop and popular music choreographers in the world," Fatima Robinson is a highly acclaimed Choreographer/Director working with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J Blige, Halsey, Major Lazer, and many more. Renowned for her ability to blend classic dance styles with her distinct hip-hop flavor, Fatima has choreographed notable spots including Chanel, Target, H&M, Gap, Burberry, Pepsi, and iPod. She has directed music videos for Megan Trainor, Fifth Harmony, and others.

Dawn Dickson

SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR & INVENTOR, Automated retail & WEB3 Pioneer

Dawn Dickson is a serial entrepreneur and inventor with over 20 years of experience in technology and business development. She has founded six successful cash flow positive companies since 2001, including Flat Out of Heels (2011) and PopCom (2017) and has successfully exited one company (Lifestyle Cafe, 2021). Dawn is the first female founder globally to raise over $1M secure token offering under a Reg CF of the JOBS Act. She is considered to be a pioneer in Web3 and equity crowdfunding and her company PopCom leverages AI, facial recognition, and blockchain technology to revolutionize retail.

Chester Elton

#1 Bestselling Business Author, Organizational Culture, Employee Engagement, and Teamwork Expert

Chester Elton provides insights into motivating today’s multigenerational workforce. A globally renowned employee engagement consultant, speaker and author, he gives leaders an eye-opening look at what it takes to bring the best out of individuals, teams and organizations. His work is directed to introduce motivational tools and management strategies that prove effective at unleashing the potential and productivity of an organization and the people within it.