Arts, Humanities & Lifestyle
Music & Performance
Music & Performance:
Rapper & Actor, Law & Order: SVU
Hip-hop pioneer Ice-T has risen from a disadvantaged childhood to become a successful entertainer and entrepreneur. A sobering, yet inspirational, role model, he discusses overcoming adversity with education.
Award-Winning Entertainer
Speaker Ben Vereen's credits include Broadway's "Wicked," Roots, and Law and Order. He addresses such topics as black history and overcoming adversity.
“One Hit Wanderer”
A peek behind the Rock & Roll curtains guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages! “One Hit Wanderer” is a one-man show written and performed by veteran singer, recording artist, actor and comedian Henry Gross.
Award-Winning Immersive Concert Event
Incorporated in 2002, Video Games Live™ is an award-winning immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time.
Storyteller, Author & Family Entertainer
Called “the Mark Twain of contemporary children’s music” by Entertainment Weekly, Bill Harley is one of the best storytellers by bringing commonality and humanity through comic songs and confessional spoken works.
Legendary Folk Singer & Activist
Following her son's suicide, iconic singer Judy Collins survived her grief through her passion for words and music. Today, she shares her moving experience with all audiences.
Tony Award Winning Actress
In an award-winning career that has encompassed TV, film, stage and concert work around the globe, Betty Buckley is probably best known as the quintessential musical theatre actress.
Poet & Actor
The subject of the acclaimed documentary Lemon, Lemon Andersen is taking the world of spoken word by storm with plays such as "ToasT" and "County of Kings."
Award-Winning Journalist & Commentator
Named "the best interviewer in the business" by Sports Illustrated, Roy Firestone is the former host of ESPN's Up Close Prime Time. Firestone is recognized for his gifts as a journalist, commentator and performer.
Musician & Reality TV Star
Born blind in his left eye due to congenital glaucoma, standout musician Blessing Offor of The Voice emigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria. With a love of people and energy, Offor is making his dreams come true.
Award-Winning Music Historian
Dr. John Edward Hasse helps audiences understand the power music has to move and inspire us to greater heights. He is a gifted pianist, author and editor of several books including Jazz: The First Century.
Concert Pianist & Psychiatrist
A concert pianist and psychiatrist, Richard Kogan is known for his work on the connections between music and healing and on the influence of medical and psychiatric illnesses on the creative output of composers.
Conductor / Symphonic Music Presenter
After a distinguished career at the helm of two American orchestras, Roger Nierenberg is now emerging as a creative force for innovation in the presentation of symphonic music.
CEO/Co-founder of WaveAI Inc.
Dr. Maya Ackerman, PhD., is a Computer Engineering Professor at Santa Clara University, author, and the CEO/Co-founder of WaveAI Inc., where she and her team created ALYSIA, an Artificial Intelligence that makes songwriting accessible to everyone.
Award-Winning Spoken Word Artist
The Tony, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning, six-time HBO Def Poet Black Ice is credited with being a major pioneer of this millennium in turning spoken word into a mainstream art form.
Award-Winning Musical
The award-winning musical “Witness Uganda” documents the true story of Griffin Matthews, a black American who is battling to find his place in a world full of injustice and inhumanity.
Hip-Hop Artist & Actor
LL COOL J is an entertainer crossing all mediums. A talented actor starring in NCIS: Los Angeles, two-time Grammy Award winner and NAACP Image Award winner, LL continues to display his wide range of talents.
Cross-Cultural Performance
In The Color Orange, long-time friends Mohammed Bilal and Josh "Boac" Goldstein challenge American notions by offering a vibrant new look at race, racism and how we get along.
Jewish A Cappella Group
Often travelling with little more than the shirts on their backs and the ties on their necks, the Maccabeats have entertained and inspired hundreds of audiences worldwide, from Alabama to (New) Zealand and everywhere in between.
Writer, Performer & Consultant
Whether ALOK is selling out an international performance tour, publishing essays and books advocating for LGBTQ equality, designing a new fashion collection, or speaking about a 21st century approach to gender rights – their distinctive mix of charisma, poetry, and intellect has made them one of the most dynamic artists of our times.
The Professors: Nationally Recognized Educators
This unusual duo of tuba and piano, present events containing musical performances as well as opportunities to discuss diversity in many of its forms – gender, race, cultural, ideological and textural.
Dancer, Musician & Choreographer
Dallas Arcand Jr. is an accomplished 20 year old second generation hoop dancer and aboriginal entertainer from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Starting from an early age, he's been in front of crowds of up to 40,000 people at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo.
Historian & Performing Artist
Jorge Arce is an actor, musician, writer, and cultural activist who presents his musical-theater educational show "The Afro-Caribbean Workshop: The Ultimate Diversity Experience" throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Grammy Award-Winning Singer
Born in Denver and later relocating to Atlanta as a teen, India.Arie went from “singing under a tree in the park” to the Grammy Awards stage in five years. She invites audiences to join her in a Songversation.
Broadcaster, Musician & Social Entrepreneur
Musician, actor, activist and speaker Derrick Ashong is host of "D.N.A." on FUSION, and former host of "The Derrick Ashong Experience" and Al Jazeera English's The Stream.
Empowering Organizations To Challenge What’s Possible
As a leading authority on adaptability, resilience & continuous improvement, Cameron has spent the past 15 years helping organizations, leaders, and teams break through limitations and unlock new levels of performance in the face of constant change.
Emmy® Winning Co-Host of The Real
Adrienne Bailon-Houghton is a Daytime Emmy® award-winning television host, acclaimed pop-vocalist, lifestyle personality, producer and founder of the faith-based jewelry brand, XIXI.
Rapper
With his dedication to lyrical craft, roaring tracks and b-boy stance, speaker David Banner is one of the most gifted rappers to emerge from below the Mason-Dixon line
Member of *NSYNC
Lance Bass is the quintessential illustration of a highly successful and driven jack-of-all-trades: singer, host, actor, producer, writer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and cosmonaut.
Award-Winning Multidisciplinary Artist, Writer & Cultural Worker
Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, writer, pedagogue, and cultural worker based in Philadelphia PA.
Inclusion & Belonging Specialist
A former cast member of MTV's Real World, Mohammed Bilal is a diversity consultant, musician and poet who has delivered diversity presentations and workshops worldwide to the likes of Lucent, Progressive and Boston College.
One-Man Jazz Show
St. Louis Missouri native, saxophonist and playwright, Jeff started the band the Jeff Robinson Trio in 1995 as a bridge between music and theatre. Jeff’s one-man show about jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker entitled “Live Bird” has appeared in NYC.
Illusionist & Magician
From his astounding “Cage Levitation” and “Walking Through a Brick Wall” to his cutting edge “Teleportation” and “Plasma” illusions, Bishop features stunning & original state of the art magic.
Queen of Hip-Hop Soul
Dubbed "the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul," six-time Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. She is also a songwriter, producer and actress.
Founder & CEO of Black Girls Rock!
A DJ and model, Beverly Bond is the Founder of Black Girls Rock!, which empowers inner-city girls through the arts. She was named one of Essence's "40 Fierce and Fabulous Women Who Are Changing the World.
Motivator & Singer-Songwriter
Made famous by The Glee Project, Mario Arnauz Bonds overcame a childhood marked by blindness, abuse, and abandonment to become a sought-after motivational speaker and singer-songwriter.
Actor on the Hit TV Show The Office
Mysterious, eccentric, good-hearted, and downright talented are all words that have been used to describe actor and musician Creed Bratton. Creed may be best known for starring as a fictional version of himself on nine seasons of The Office.
Country Music Singer & Anti-Bullying Advocate
Named one of Billboard’s Artists to Watch List in 2018, Jessie is a country music singer and anti-bullying advocate. She hopes her advocacy and music will encourage audiences to lift each other up, rather than knocking each other down.
CEO, Entrepreneur, Author & Speaker
One of the most innovative guitarists in the world, speaker Robin Crow is the founder of Dark Horse Recording, a gold standard for customer service and excellence in recording.
Award-Winning Conflict Navigator
With a TEDx talk at over 10 million views, Davis examines the truths about conflict, hate, intolerance, and communication. His extraordinary journey is chronicled in his first book, Klan-Destine Relationships.
Legendary Motown Producer
Executive producer of the series Sister, Sister and Smart Guy, Emmy Award winner Suzanne de Passe began her career bringing in The Jackson 5.
Transformative Dignity, Inclusion & Belonging Expert & Award-Winning Trilingual Poet & Rapper
Dr. Omékongo Dibinga is the UPstander. His life’s mission is to inspire all across the globe to take a stand when they witness an injustice, no matter how small or large.
Grammy Award-Winning Singer, NYT Best-Selling Author, Philanthropist & Humanitarian
One of the biggest new stars in the '80s, Gloria Estefan predated the Latin pop explosion by a decade, scoring dance hits rooted in rhythms of her native Cuba before shifting her focus to softer ballads.
Manley is the founder of Vertical Lessons, Inc. He is an award-winning international keynote speaker, business leader and best-selling author.
Writer, Attorney, Speaker & Survivor
Jackie Fox is a writer, speaker and Harvard-educated attorney whose piece on sexual assault has appeared in the Huffington Post among others. Fox is best known as the bass player for the rock band, The Runaways.
Filmmaker
The music video and commercial director-turned-feature-film visionary, Antoine Fuqua, has impressed moviegoers ever since bringing Hong Kong star Chow Yun-Fat to American audiences with The Replacement Killers.
World Renowned Singer
Gloria Gaynor’s legendary career spans the past 40 years never losing momentum. She has achieved global stardom and musical recognition with hit songs in the charts in all four decades.
Businessman, Political Activist, & Musician
Bob Geldof, known for organizing Live Aid to raise awareness for problems in Africa, was the founder of the widely acclaimed pop group The Boom Town Rats. His singing/songwriting career spans 25 years.
Singer/Songwriter
For more than 35 years, Debbie Gibson has been a true pioneer and force in the entertainment industry. A singer, songwriter, producer, musician, actor, and entrepreneur, she embodies what it truly means to be an icon.
Actor, Singer, Author, Producer & Model
Perhaps best known for his roles in The Fast and the Furious and Transformers, Tyrese Gibson is a multifaceted artist whose career boasts accomplishments as an R&B singer, actor and author.
Founder, Jazz Impact
Michael Gold has an extensive background in music, academia, and business. After performing as a bassist in New York for two years, he founded Jazz Impact to bring together the worlds of jazz and business.
Acclaimed Director of Straight Outta Compton
F Gary Gray is one of the industry’s most prolific directors as the mind behind Straight Outta Compton and The Italian Job. He is known for consistently pushing the envelope and spotting new trends and talent.
“Coach E" & Founder of The Miracle Project
Elaine Hall developed "The Seven Keys to Unlock Autism" and used these methods to train staff & create The Miracle Project, an arts program for children of all abilities, which was profiled in AUTISM: The Musical.
Jazz Vibraphonist
Stefon Harris' passionate artistry has propelled him to the forefront of the jazz scene. Harris is a thought leader whose presentations offer leadership development and team empowerment using jazz as a metaphor.
Broadway Star
One of the greatest voices of the new millennium, Jennifer Holliday gives concerts across the world. Having lived with depression for over ten years, she shares that there is a healing path out of the darkness.
Co-Founder, The Miracle Project
Diane Isaacs is a film and TV producer and is the co-founder and President of Green Moon Productions where she produced And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself. She is a co-author of The Seven Keys to Unlock Autism.
Award-Winning Singer & Media Personality
There are many motivational speakers, and then there is the one, the only, the incomparable Dr. Willie Jolley. He has been described simultaneously as a world-class, award-winning speaker and singer, best-selling author and media personality.
Playwright & Performer, Bridge & Tunnel
Sarah Jones is a Tony and Obie Award-winning playwright and performer known for her multi-character, one-person show Bridge & Tunnel. She is renowned for her humanitarian stories told through a multicultural lens.
Pianist, Composer & Performer
A pianist, composer and performer, William Joseph’s career began when he met David Foster, the 14-time Grammy Award-winner. Joseph’s goal is to take people on a musical journey to connect with them.
Broadway Star
Sandra Joseph is a legendary Broadway star who played the leading female role (Christine) in The Phantom of the Opera longer than any other actress in history — more than 1,500 shows in a record-breaking 10 years.
New York Times Architecture Critic
Michael Kimmelman is chief architecture critic of The New York Times and a contributor to The New York Review of Books. While his critiques assess art, they help people understand the bond between art and life.
Legendary R&B Vocalist / American Juniors Judge
Gladys Knight & The Pips transcended countless musical fads and made some of the most memorable records of our time. Following her success, Knight has become a fervent advocate for raising diabetes awareness.
Activist / Co-Owner of Blacksmith Music Label
Few hip-hop artists have made as profound an impact in as short a time as Talib Kweli. Recently, he has played a major part in bringing a sense of spirituality, social conscience and moral balance back to hip-hop.
Grammy-Winning Singer
A soulful maven, Patti Labelle has earned her place in Grammy-winning music royalty with her powerful high octave voice. She is also proactive in the fight against diabetes, which claimed her mother's life.
Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra
With over 25 years experience as Conductor of the Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart's tenure includes over 2,000 performances, 45 national tours to more than 150 cities, and four international tours.
Lead Singer of The Beach Boys
Member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as lead singer and a founding member of The Beach Boys, Mike Love is an advocate for living in harmony with the environment and continues to raise awareness for it.
Award-Winning Author & Cultural Educator
Larry Spotted Crow Mann is a nationally acclaimed author, and citizen of the Nipmuc Tribe of Massachusetts. He is an award winning writer, poet, cultural educator and Traditional Story Teller.
Emmy-Nominated Storyteller, Classically-Trained Opera Singer & On Tour with NPR's "The Moth"
Prepare to embark on a powerful and inspiring journey with Deonna Marie as she shares her incredible story of triumph over adversity.
Radio Personality
Angie Martinez is the reigning queen of radio. With nearly 20 years of on-air experience, Martinez is also an author, actress, television host, recording artist, activist, and brand spokesperson.
New York Times Best-Selling Author & Musician
McBride uses music and writing to share powerful stories such as The Color of Water, The Good Lord Bird and Miracle at St. Anna, which was adapted by Spike Lee.
Entrepreneurial Businessman, Philanthropist & Music Mogul
Percy Miller aka Master P is an entrepreneurial businessman, philanthropist, music mogul, producer and entertainer. He is the founder of P. Miller Enterprises and No Limit Records selling over 100 million units worldwide independently.
Grammy-Winning Country Legend
Milsap tells his story in a rich program, I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World, interspersing songs with the defining moments of his life. By sharing this, Milsap inspires others to follow their heart.
Award-Winning Actress, Dancer & Singer
Moreno is one of a select group of 8 living performers to have achieved entertainment's grand slam, having won all 4 of the most prestigious awards in show business: the Oscar, the Emmy, the Tony, and the Grammy.
Author, Emcee & Producer
Dubbed "the conscience of rap" by Rolling Stone, KRS-ONE's Temple of Hip-Hop Kulture, is a hip-hop preservation society that promotes hip-hop as a strategy toward health, love, awareness and wealth.
Legendary Keyboardist
Greg Phillinganes is one of the world’s most sought-after Keyboard artists. A Detroit native and music veteran for over 40 years, he began his career in 1975 with Stevie Wonder as part of his band, Wonderlove.
Cultural Ambassador, the Republic of Slovenia
Through his unique Resonance Platform, Miha Pogacnik taps the largely unexplored potential of art as a significant force for productivity, creativity and organizational renewal.
Entertainer & Mental Health Advocate
Pointer’s voice turned out to be missing when the Pointer Sisters went from a trio to a quartet. Pointer’s memoir, Still So Excited!: My Life as a Pointer Sister is about her rock, recovery, and redemption.
GRAMMY-Nominated Poet; Human & Civil Rights Activist; Filmmaker; Author of 16 Books
Kevin Powell is one of the most celebrated political, cultural, literary, and hip-hop voices in America today. Kevin has gone on to author 14 books, including When We Free The World, his new short essay collection about freedom in America.
Writer for The Simpsons
Mike Reiss has won four Emmys and a Peabody Award during his twenty eight years writing for The Simpsons. He ran the show in Season 4, which Entertainment Weekly called “the greatest season of the greatest show in history.”
Actress & Singer
Anika Noni Rose was the voice of "Princess Tiana" in Disney's animated hit movie, The Princess & The Frog. She also starred in the smash hit Dreamgirls, and stage shows like "Footloose" and "Caroline or Change."
Drummer for P!NK
Mark Schulman is the drummer for P!NK, performing for sold-out audiences all over the world. Get ready to be empowered, inspired and elevated to an evolved mindset and new level of peak performance.
Former Russian Minister of Culture
The former Russian Minister of Culture and a member of the Academy of Humanities, speaker Mikhail Shvydkoy speaks on politics, art and culture.
Entrepreneur, Music Icon & Spiritual Leader
Once a rapper with Run DMC, today Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons is the star of Run's House, a fashion mogul, and a minister.
Actress & Singer
Known for her roles in Eve's Bayou and Friday Night Lights, speaker Jurnee Smollett is also a member of ANSA, which combats HIV/AIDS and assists at-risk youth.
Rap Artist & Community Activist
Performer, author, and activist Sister Souljah organizes community youth events that encourage activism. Her best-selling books include No Disrespect.
Award-Winning Actor, Activist & Author
A breakout star of FX’s Golden Globe-nominated series, Pose, Ryan Jamaal Swain is a triple-threat actor, dancer, and singer who was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for his LGBTQIA+ activism.
Choreographer & Creativity Cultivator
Choreographer and speaker Twyla Tharp has created over 130 dances and choreographed several movies and Broadway shows. She penned the self-help book The Creative Habit.
Tariq Trotter from The Roots
Lauded for his complex lyrical content, instrumental prowess, and improvisational skill, Tariq Trotter, a.k.a. Black Thought, delivers an unforgettable performance.
Award Winning Actress, Singer, Dancer, Philanthropist & Social Media Activist
With almost 14 million combined followers, across her social media platforms, the majority being the Gen Z population, award winning actress, singer, dancer, philanthropist, and social media activist, Montana Tucker, empowers from every angle.
Aerosmith Lead Singer & Former AI Judge
The lead singer of Aerosmith and a former judge on American Idol, speaker Steven Tyler shares how he overcame substance abuse and a 10-year battle with Hepatitis C.
Actor & Producer
From the Boston suburbs of Dorchester to the big screens of Hollywood, speaker Donnie Wahlberg has forged a formidable career as a singer, actor, and film producer.
Spoken Word Artist
Star of the first hip-hop play on Broadway, “Holler If You Can Hear Me,” musician and slam poetry legend Williams wows with his one-man spoken word performance.
Actress & Recording Artist
A versatile performer, speaker Vanessa Williams has conquered Broadway, film, and TV. She has sold over 4 million albums worldwide and inspires others to seize opportunity.
Award-Winning Trumpeter, Composer, Teacher, Arranger
Dontae Winslow is one of the rising stars in the music industry. He is known as an A-List arranger, music producer, touring trumpeter, film composer, and educator in Hollywood.
Founder/CEO of Stupid Cancer & Cancer Survivor
Diagnosed with brain cancer at 21, concert pianist and recovering advertising agency veteran, Zachary is the Founder and CEO at Stupid Cancer, the largest charity comprehensively addressing young adult cancer.
Former Conductor, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra
Former conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, speaker Benjamin Zander addresses teamwork, creativity, leadership, and the transformational power of music.