Community & Nonprofit

Virginia governor Ralph Northam’s blackface yearbook photo is just the latest “in a long and troubled cultural legacy of racist stereotypes being used to entertain,” says best-selling author, cultural historian and acclaimed biographer Wil Haygood.

From record-breaking Olympic gold medalist to today's most famous transgender woman, Caitlyn Jenner has always captured the world’s attention. Her post transition life and rise to LGBTQ+ champion was documented in E!’s landmark series, I am Cait.

Calling the inspiring new movie based on his life “powerful,” The Today Show’s Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin welcomed childhood abuse survivor and pioneering human resources executive Steve Pemberton to the show. Against a backdrop of clips from the film, which is based on his best-selling memoir of the same name, Pemberton shared highlights of his life story growing up in foster care, overcoming adversity and turning tragedy into triumph. 

We’re honored that two of our most inspiring APB exclusive speakers have been invited to appear on the Main Stage at PCMA Convening Leaders. Steve Pemberton and Nadya Okamoto share their inspiring stories of grit and resilience, proving that life experiences can uniquely position all of us to change the world for the better. The pair will be interviewed by Main Stage facilitator Holly Ransom.

Nic Sheff’s heartbreaking and inspiring struggle with substance use disorder is the story of Beautiful Boy, now a major motion picture starring Timothée Chalamet as Nic and Steve Carell as his father, David. Chalamet, an up and coming actor, has been nominated for a Golden Globe for his genuine performance of Sheff. The film chronicles the heartbreaking and hopeful experience of survival, relapse and recovery in a family over many years.  

December 1st kicks off AIDS Awareness Month with World AIDS Day. APB’s wide array of speakers can help you and your audience get educated on the topic, destigmatize HIV/AIDS and create an open dialogue. Here are some of our most sought-after voices on the subject: 

Founder of Comfort Cases, APB speaker Rob Scheer recently released the new book A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time about his difficult childhood in the foster care system and how he created his forever family.

APB speakers Wes Moore and Geoffrey Canada have been named some of the most influential people in New York’s nonprofit sector by City & State New York.

Nic Sheff’s heartbreaking and inspiring struggle with substance use disorder is the story of Beautiful Boy, now a major motion picture starring Timothée Chalamet as Nic and Steve Carell as his father, David. Sharing an unglamorized, authentic and heart-touching story of relapse and recovery that is deeply rooted in mental illness, Nic has been recognized as “a life-changing speaker.” 

If you haven't already begun, now is the time to start planning for your Mental Health Awareness Month event. Dedicated to fighting stigma, educating the public and offering support to those struggling, these sought-after speakers engage audiences with discussions on recovery, mental health, and substance use disorders.