Highlighted Speakers

Zainab Salbi
“One of the 25 Women Changing the World” — People. One of the “100 leading global thinkers” — Foreign Policy Magazine. The Iraqi-American humanitarian, bestselling author, TV Host, and media commentator, is a co-founder of Daughters for Earth. The organization supports women around the world who are most impacted by climate change and are very often the frontline warriors fighting to protect our future. She founded Women for Women International at the age of 23. Since 1993, the organization has helped over 500,000 marginalized women rebuild their lives in 8 conflict areas. She is the author of several books including, Freedom is an Inside Job: Owning Our Darkness And Our Light To Heal Ourselves And The World.

Loung Ung
Loung Ung is a bestselling author three books, activist and co-screenplay writer of the Netflix Original Movie directed by Angelina Jolie based on her memoir, First They Killed My Father, now streaming in 190 countries. Loung provides an eyewitness account of the Cambodian genocide, her survival, and life as a refugee in the U.S. from the age of ten. An eloquent speaker, she interweaves themes of leadership, activism, healing and resiliency. In these challenging times, she inspires hope as she delivers an empowering message of our ability to overcome adversity to create change in our lives and in the world.

Temple Grandin
The most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. The bestselling author, innovator & animal scientist was subject of the HBO feature film “Temple Grandin,” starring Claire Danes. Her TED Talk "The World Needs All Kinds Of Minds," has been viewed almost 5 million times. Dr. Grandin is sought after globally to speak about her experiences with autism, cattle handling and the humane treatment of animals. She has been featured widely in the global media. Time Magazine named her one of the world's 100 most influential people.

Enrique Morones
In the American Southwest and its borderlands, no other social justice advocate has made a greater impact on the lives of undocumented workers than internationally acclaimed Enrique Morones. He is founder and Executive Director of GENTE UNIDA, a human rights border coalition addressing challenges of immigrants along the US and Mexican border. Morenes, also founder of Border Angels and The House of Mexico, is saving lives and making a difference. His organizations have given a human face to countless migrants, while offering them compassion in the form of food, water, clothing, education, advocacy and hope. Morones is recognized as one of the 100 most influential Latinos in the USA by Hispanic Business Magazine and author of The Power of One: The Border Angels Story. He has appeared widely in the national media.

Rev. Steve Pieters
With televangelist Tammy Faye’s historic 1985 interview with Rev. Steve Pieters, a gay man with AIDS, she wrapped her arms around marginalized LGBTQ people throughout America. The interview, a pivotal scene recreated in the new feature film THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE starring Jessica Chastain, was a turning point in the culture wars between the powerful televangelists of the time and the marginalized LGBTQ community. In his talk, My Journey Through AIDS, the long term AIDS survivor, activist and hospice chaplain shares A Living History of AIDS. His remarkable story of recovery serves as an inspiring example of healing and hope. He has appeared on CNN, "CBS This Morning," and "Real Life with Jane Pauley," among others, and is also featured in the 2000 documentary, The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

Brigadier General Peter Zwack
Brigadier General Peter B. Zwack {Ret.} has been featured widely in the national media (CNN, MSNBC, NPR, BBC International, London Times and others) providing analysis on Russia's attack on Ukraine and the challenges faced by the US, NATO and the European Union. He served in Moscow as the Senior U.S. Defense Attaché to Russia during the pivotal years of 2012 – 2014 that included the Russian invasion of Ukraine and is one of our nation's leading experts on Russia. A Woodrow Wilson Center Global Fellow at The Kennan Institute, General Zwack traveled extensively, and lived (Moscow 2012-2014) in the former Soviet Union and Russia for 33 years. His books include: Swimming the Volga: A U.S. Army Officer's Experiences in Pre-Putin Russia; and, Afghanistan Kabul Kurier, a memoir about serving in Afghanistan. He presents a lively, in-depth, illustrated talk "Understanding Putin’s War on Ukraine, Russia & the Challenges Faced by US & the West."
Featured Videos
Produced and directed by Angelina Jolie, the film is based on the bestselling memoir by Loung Ung.
View SpeakerAuthor, TV Commentator & Founder of Women for Women International
View SpeakerAt TED with "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds"
View SpeakerLoung's keynote speech for the 2019 annual benefit for The Refugee Response
View SpeakerJamie Metzl Speaks on Engineering Immunity to Pathogens Like Coronavirus
View SpeakerRichard Branson in conversation with Jaha Dukureh and Uzo Iweala about fighting inequality and injustice, exploring how rising global leaders are cha
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