Political Speakers
Donna Brazile
Political Commentator and Chair of the Voting Rights Institute
Veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile is an adjunct professor, author, syndicated columnist, television political commentator, Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation at the Democratic National Committee, and former chair of the DNC’s Voting Rights Institute. Last, but never least, she is a native of New Orleans. Aside from working for the full recovery of her beloved New Orleans, Ms. Brazile’s passion is encouragin...
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Sophia Nelson
Political Strategist and Author of Black Women Redefined
Sophia A. NelsonSophia A. Nelson is an accomplished woman on the move. She is a much sought after speaker, media/political commentator, national columnist and first time author who is “redefining” the rules for 21st Century living and success. As one of only a handful of African American female national opinion writers and political/cultural pundits, Sophia contributes to The Washington Post, CNN Opinion, TheGrio.com, TheRoot.com, NPR, and is fe...
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Judy Smith
Real life inspiration behind ABC's hit show Scandal.
Judy A. SmithJudy A. Smith is the founder and President of Smith & Co, a leading strategic and crisis communications firm with offices in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Over the last 25 years, Ms. Smith has brought her unique combination of communication skills, media savvy, legal and political acumen to clients facing a wide array of issues and challenges throughout the United States and abroad. Ms. Smith honed her skills through her experien...
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Robert Moore
Retired United States Marshal and author, The President's Men: Black United States Marshals in America
The Author of “The Presidents Men: Black United States Marshals in America”, The Honorable Robert Moore, retired United States Marshal is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Springfield, with a Master Degree in Public Administration. Marshal Moore was appointed by President Clinton in 1994-2002 to the position of United States Marshal for the Central District of Illinois. He is an accomplished writer, an inspiring motivational speaker, hi...
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Shirley Husar
Conservative Republican Political Consultant Pundit, Barter System Digital Marketing Strategist, Inspirational Entrepreneurship, Real Estate Sales
Columnist Writer Urban Game Changer Washington Times Communities and licensed real estate agent, CEO of URBAN GAME CHANGER living in Los Angeles, California. Personal Appointed by the 38th Governor Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger to the position of Governor Appointee Board Member for The Geologists and The Geophysicists for the State of California Governor Appointee Board Member served for 4 years. Server as a California Republican Party Delegate ...
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George Curry
Journalist, Keynote Speaker, Moderator and Media Coach
George E. CurryGeorge E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service and editorial director of Heart & Soul magazine. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, also writes a weekly syndicated column for NNPA, a federation of more than 200 African-American newspapers.Curry, who served as editor-in-chief of the NNPA News Service from 2001 until 2007, returned to lead the news service for a second t...
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Kevin Chappell
White House Correspondent for EBONY MAGAZINE, the largest African-American publication in the world.
Kevin ChappellKevin covers the White House and Capitol Hill, including hearings, floor debates, press conferences and events throughout Washington, D.C. for Ebony Magazine.In 2008, during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, he led a team of staffers at Ebony to lay out a journalistic and public relations strategy that proved to be the most important and monumental strategy ever embarked on by the magazine. In addition to in-depth coverage of th...
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Mark Sawyer
Professor of Political Science UCLA.
Mark Sawyer is currently a Professor of African American Studies and Political Science at UCLA, the Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Politics and the Chair of the UCLA Interdisciplinary Program in Afro-American Studies. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Chicago in December of 1999. In fall of 2005 he was a Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of African and African-American Stud...
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Michael Blake
From No House to the White House: One of the People Behind President Obama's Re-election.
Michael BlakeMichael Blake humbly refers to the words of his mother who said that they went “From No House to The White House”.Michael is the National Deputy Director of Operation Vote, which oversees the constituency outreach programs for the Obama For America campaign.Operation Vote oversees all efforts to constituencies including but not limited to: African-Americans, Youth, Women, Hispanic, Faith, Veterans, Jewish, LGBT & Asian American Pacif...
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Etan Thomas
NBA Player, Author, Poet, Political Pundant, Children's Advocate
Etan ThomasEtan Thomas is More Than An Athlete. He’s been called a “gentle giant.” A “rebounder with a cause.” Thomas defies the stereotype of the apolitical athlete, and plants his roots in his budding literary career with the conviction of a Bill Russell, and the poetic finesse of Muhammad Ali. Born in Harlem and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Thomas’ childhood was surrounded by books on the civil rights movement, politics and the 1960′s. He was g...
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Dr. Jason Johnson
Breaking down the tough issues with wit and common sense & bringing the people back into politics
Dr. Jason JohnsonDr. Jason Johnson is a professor, political analyst and public speaker. Fresh, unflappable, objective, and known for his ability to break down complex stories with wit and candor Dr. Jason Johnson is an up and coming voice in political and social commentary. Dr. Johnson is the author of the new book Political Consultants and Campaigns: One Day to Sell, which has been featured in Campaigns and Elections magazine and National Publi...
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Ayinde Jean-Baptiste
Son of the African Diaspora, committed to reclaiming revolutionary black pasts toward revolutionary human futures.
Ayinde Jean-Baptiste is neither an entertainer nor the next ‘great black leader’. He is a Sanba, a Kreyol appellation which encompasses poet/ griot/ keeper of memory/ servant of truth. Born in Brooklyn, on Umoja, the youngest child of a hard, demanding love, he was raised in Chicago and Evanston, IL as a member of a large extended family of blood and political relations, and as a master of ceremonies. He has shared his truth in hundreds of settin...
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Patricia Cesaire
Digital Marketing Strategist
Patricia Césaire has emerged as one of the most sought-after thought leaders in Digital Media Marketing. A frequent contributor on MSNBC, Patricia independently consults political campaigns on social media and mobile engagement strategy and presently leads Digital Marketing at Black Enterprise. Under her leadership, the brand has implemented a comprehensive audience development strategy, while underscoring the brand revenue objectives, working wi...
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Cleo Manago
Socio-political analyst, behavioral health specialist & multi-mediator, specializing in Black behavioral/self-conceptual solutions.
Cleo Manago has been in the trenches for social reform for well over two decades. A socio-political analyst, behavioral health specialist, activist, writer, film-maker and popular spokesperson on the most controversial issues facing Americans today, Manago is a prominent figure in the African American community and beyond. He is courageously at the forefront when it comes to combating society’s most pressing issues. His distinctively inventive p...
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Aisha Moodie-Mills
Political Commentator, Radio Host, & LGBT Policy Expert
Aisha C. Moodie-MillsAisha C. Moodie-Mills breaks down the beltway banter to explain the heart behind the headlines and the passion behind the policies shaping our nation. She appears regularly as a political commentator on MSNBC, Fox News, and Current TV, and her work has been featured by Washington Post, Essence, The Atlantic, Politico, The Root, Huffington Post, Uptown Magazine, and ThinkProgress among others. She has been recognized as one ...
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Omar Woodard
Omar Woodard draws on his deep expertise across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Omar T. Woodard, MPAPrincipal, Venture Philanthropy Partners. Consultant, Advisory Board Co. Deputy Regional Field Director, Obama for America. Lobbyist, The Whitaker Group. Contact: indeliblestrategies@gmail.comOmar T. Woodard is a Principal at Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), a Washington D.C.-based philanthropic investment firm that invests growth capital and provides strategic management support to nonprofits serving children and youth fr...
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Joy Cook
Servant Leader who has dedicated her life to changing the world through strategic communication, community service, and women’s empowerment
Joy CookJoy Cook is an experienced professional in making and fostering relationships through digital engagement. This has placed her among top professionals in managing the online community. Affectionately, titled “Ms. Twitter” by the front page of a popular publication, Joy has positioned herself as one of the nation's top authorities on Twitter (@JoyCookPR). Joy took her Twitter talents to the White House when she was selected as one of the i...
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Bryant Webb
A 30-Year-Old Triple Threat (Doctor, Lawyer & Social Entrepreneur) specializing in Healthcare, Health Law and Health Policy.
Bryant Cameron WebbBryant Cameron Webb, M.D., J.D. is a Resident Physician in Internal Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia, majoring in interdisciplinary studies through the University’s Echols Scholars program. After leaving U.Va., he sharpened his interests by developing a combined MD/JD graduate education program. He received his Juris Doctorate a...
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Chris Tyson
Law Professor specializing in urban issues, race and politics.
Christopher J. Tyson is an Assistant Professor of Law at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. His teaching and scholarship focuses on the areas of local government law, real estate and urban development. Professor Tyson’s interests also include matters of race, politics and youth mentoring. Prior to joining the faculty of the LSU Law Center, he practiced as a real estate and land use attorney with the law firm Jones Walker...
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