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Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans throughout Texas learned that they were free—news that took approximately two months after the Confederate surrender of the Civil War and two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation to reach them.  As our nation recognizes the legacy of Juneteenth during a time of heightened consciousness over pervasive racism and persecution in our nation, we urge everyone to continue to do their part in igniting change.

APB is proud to announce that two of our speakers were just honored for their work to help save the planet and to make science cool. Climate Activist Wawa Gatheru and Stem Advocate Justin Shaifer were named as AFROTECH Future 50 Changemakers. Each year, AFROTECH Future 50 honors dynamic investors, future makers, corporate catalysts, changemakers and visionary founders who are actively shaping the future. AFROTECH is a top tech, investing and wealth-building platform for the Black community.

Each May on Memorial Day, we pause to recognize and bring awareness to those who died defending our country. APB proudly honors them, as well as the veterans below who we work with each day. We thank them for their bravery and patriotism.

APB mourns the loss of longtime speaker and CNN political commentator Alice Stewart. Stewart passed away on Saturday in Virginia. She was 58.

Reminding society of the importance of love, dignity and human rights for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, these sought-after speakers are perfect for LGTBQ+ programs. Consider one them for your next event!

Emmy-Winning TV Host and Breast Cancer Survivor Samantha Harris launched a new podcast on May 13. Your Healthiest Healthy is available on all platforms. Ten episodes will drop consecutively to honor Harris’ 10 years of being cancer free. Blindsided by breast cancer at age 40 ignited something so powerful in Harris that it compelled her to search for the answers we all need to successfully mitigate the risk of chronic disease and live more vibrantly and healthier than ever. Harris is fiercely dedicated to giving you the tools needed—with alternating episodes of solo, science-backed coaching sessions and renowned, in-demand guest wellness and medical expert interviews.

New York Times columnist, Pulitzer Prize Winner and Bestselling Author Nicholas D. Kristof will release a new memoir on May 14. Chasing Hope: A Reporter's Life is available for preorder now and is an intimate and gripping portrait of Kristof’s life in journalism.

Award-winning journalist and APB speaker John Quiñones’ newest book—One Year in Uvalde: A Story of Hope and Resilience—releases May 7. Quiñones co-wrote the book with María Elena Salinas. It is a narrative that builds on year-long ABC News reporting from Uvalde, Texas, chronicling how the community is forging on through grief with hope and activism in the shadow of tragedy.

Called “the voice of a generation” by O Magazine, Kelly Corrigan is the author of four New York Times bestsellers and hosts the PBS primetime interview show Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan and the weekly podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders. On a recent episode of Tell Me More, Kelly sat down with Dr. Leanne Williams, founding director of the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness, to discuss mental health disorders and therapies. They are joined by hospice and palliative care physician Dr. BJ Miller, and comedian W. Kamau Bell to elaborate on depression, stigmas and misconceptions associated with mental illness and how we can move forward. Watch the episode here:

In his highly anticipated new book, We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For, Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. makes the case that the hard work of becoming a better person should be a critical feature of Black politics. Through virtuoso interpretations of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Ella Baker, Glaude shows how ordinary people have the capacity to be the heroes that our democracy so desperately requires, rather than outsourcing their needs to leaders who purportedly represent them.