Community & Nonprofit

Imagine having lived two lives: 1) A highly successful Black corporate executive 2) A former gang member who served multiple prison sentences. Larry G. Miller seemed like he had it all. With hard work, leadership skills and lots of smarts, he climbed the corporate ladder and had risen to the pinnacle of success: leading Nike’s Jordan Brand from a $150 million sneaker company to a $4 billion global apparel juggernaut. And yet for the past five-plus decades, he has also been haunted by a violent act he committed at just 16-years-old and the subsequent years he spent in prison—a fact that he kept secret after being turned down for a job because of his record.

Experts in their fields, these voices lead the charge in supporting environmental protection. 

APB is honored to exclusively represent Reverend William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach, co-chair of Poor People’s Campaign, and a New York Times bestselling author. “Barber is the closest person we have to Martin Luther King Jr. in our midst," said renowned public intellectual and author Dr. Cornel West.

Russian journalist and APB exclusive speaker Dmitry Muratov has announced he will auction his Nobel Peace Prize Medal and donate the funds to help Ukrainian refugees. Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta—an independent Russian newspaper known for its reporting on governmental corruption and human rights violations—won the prize last year, along with Filipino American journalist Maria Ressa. The pair were honored for their “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.” 

We are excited to share with you the release of Mickey Rowe's distinct and important new memoir, Fearlessly Different: An Autistic Actor’s Journey to Broadway's Biggest Stage. Rowe, founder and artistic director of the National Disability Theatre, was the epicenter of significant publicity when he became the first autistic actor to play Christopher Boone, the lead role in the Tony Award-winning play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

Ten years ago, on February 26th, a young Black man—17-year-old Trayvon Martin—was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida while innocently walking back to his dad’s girlfriend’s home. During that walk, he was spotted by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Zimmerman believed Martin was acting suspiciously. The two got into an altercation and Trayvon—who was unarmed—was killed. He was 17. (Zimmerman was eventually acquitted of second-degree murder in 2013.) It was a shot heard around the world—sparking the Black Lives Matter movement and igniting a new era in civil rights that continues to grow today. 

Many of our speakers attribute their opportunities, successes and passion for change to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Founded during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement in 1965, APB is honored to have worked with Dr. King during his lifetime, as well as many other civil rights leaders who shared his vision. Devoted to spreading positive messages about love and equality, our speakers continue to honor Dr. King's legacy. Read their reflections below.

With the recent outbreak of tornadoes and severe storms, many Midwestern and Southern cities are facing a grim reality—loss of life and homes and businesses flattened. Soon, utilities will be repaired, debris will be collected and taken away and leadership will have to ask the question, “Now what?” Can the residents of these decimated areas deal with the emotional burden? Is it possible for these communities to physically rebuild in a new or smarter way? For former Mayor of Oklahoma City Mick Cornett, the answer is “absolutely yes” because he’s seen his own city rebound from several disasters. 

It's hard to believe we find ourselves kicking off another year. Many of our clients align their speaker needs with important dates throughout the year and have found it helpful to have a listing of such commemorative occurrences. Below please find some of the dates for which speakers get booked the most. It's never too early to begin your event planning and our experienced and talented agents are ready to offer speaker recommendations to fit your needs. Working on something last minute? We can help with that too, as several of our speakers are available to do virtual events.

With deep sadness and great respect, we mourn the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu who has been a member of the APB family for decades. An iconic Nobel Laureate and human rights activist, Archbishop Tutu was known for tirelessly spreading peace, justice and democracy. A world leader and beacon of hope for all, he was once described by longtime friend Nelson Mandela as “Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humor.” APB will forever feel grateful for having known and worked with such an incredible human being.