Dr. Lina Benabdallah
Virtual
Sybrina Fulton, who earned a bachelor's degree in English from Florida Memorial University, is dedicating her life to transforming family tragedy into social change. Since the death of her 17-year-old son, Trayvon Martin, during the violent confrontation in 2012, Fulton has become an inspiring spokesperson for parents and concerned citizens across the country. Her book, co-authored with Tracy Martin, Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, shares the intimate story of a tragically foreshortened life and the rise of a movement that awoke a nation’s conscience.
Virtual
Payton Knopf of USIP Dr. Karen Young of AEI Ambassador Robert Loftis as moderator
Virtual
Recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 2017 Sydney Peace Prize with Black Lives Matter co-founders Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tomet, Alicia Garza believes Black communities deserve what all communities deserve — to be powerful in every aspect of their lives. That’s what drives Alicia Garza as an innovator, strategist, internationally recognized organizer, and writer. In 2018, she founded the Black Futures Lab, which works to make Black people powerful in politics. In her first book, The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, Alicia Garza shares her thoughts on politics and pop culture from her podcast Lady Don't Take No. She warns you that hashtags don’t start movements — people do.
Virtual
Lisa Lerer, Julian Zelizer, and Harry Smith
John F. Kennedy Library
Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. is a Senior Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a Senior Strategic Engagement Leader at Special Operations Command. He served as ambassador to Zimbabwe (2016-2018), the Philippines (2010-2013) and Bangladesh (2003-2005). He retired in March 2018 with the rank of Career Minister after more than three decades in the Foreign Service. Ambassador Thomas also served as Executive Secretary and Special Assistant to Secretary Rice, Director General of the Foreign Service, Director for South Asia at the National Security Council and Director of the Operations Center.
Virtual
Lisa Haugaard, the co-director of the Latin America Working Group, has spearheaded advocacy on human rights and peace issues in Latin America for two decades. She directs advocacy on Colombia, Central America, development and military aid and policy and coordinates coalition campaigns with U.S. and Latin American partners. Lisa has testified multiple times before the U.S. Congress and produced reports on human rights topics. She has participated in international human rights verification missions in Colombia, Mexico and Central America, including on human rights defenders, migrant rights, extrajudicial executions, peace accord implementation, and electoral observation.
Virtual
Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis
Virtual
Dan Balz, Jonathan Capehart, Maria Hinojosa, and Alice Stewart
John F. Kennedy Library
Jennifer Lawless, Erin O’Brien, Theda Skocpol, Marjorie Spruill, and Rachael Cobb
John F. Kennedy Library
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