Erin Gruwell Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000

Erin Gruwell is a teacher, author, and activist who has championed social justice for over two decades. She first gained national recognition in 1998 when she and her 150 students, known as the Freedom Writers, appeared on the ABC special PrimeTime Live with Connie Chung. The Freedom Writers came from challenging backgrounds marked by poverty, gangs, and violence, and many were at risk of dropping out due to systemic barriers like the school-to-prison pipeline. Under Erin’s guidance, all 150 Freedom Writers graduated from high school and pursued higher education. In 1999, Erin and the Freedom Writers published The Freedom Writers Diary, chronicling their journey from hardship to hope. The book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and inspired the major motion picture Freedom Writers, starring Hilary Swank as Erin. The film broadened Erin’s impact, allowing her to further advocate for equity and inclusion through her nonprofit, the Freedom Writers Foundation. Erin’s contributions have been recognized with numerous humanitarian honors, including the Spirit of Anne Frank Award. She and the Freedom Writers have appeared on platforms like Oprah, The View, Good Morning America, and NBC’s TODAY. They’ve also been featured on National Public Radio and in publications such as People magazine. In 2019, Erin and her students were the focus of the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart. Erin also hosts The Freedom Writers Podcast, featuring authors, activists, and civil rights leaders. In 2022, Erin and the Freedom Writers Foundation published Dear Freedom Writer, an acclaimed book pairing heartfelt letters from the next generation of student authors with deeply personal responses from the original Freedom Writers. Whether in the classroom or beyond, Erin’s inspiring message of hope and resilience encourages audiences to “stand up, speak up, and speak out.”