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Jackie Jacket Jackie Kallen Author, Manager & Inspiration for the Film Against the Ropes Program: Give Life Your Best Shot: Jackie Kallen's Knock Out Strategies for Success What would it be like to have Meg Ryan portray you in a movie based on your life? How did a suburban wife and mother break through to become one of the most successful players ever in a male-dominated industry? What does it take to bounce back from heart problems, both life-threatening and the proverbial "broken heart?" Jackie Kallen, the first and most successful female boxing manager and inspiration for the Meg Ryan film Against the Ropes is the one woman who has experienced and survived it all. At the podium, she reveals her secrets to overcoming adversity in all forms, including sexism, discrimination and life-threatening illness, with a certified fight plan for dealing with all of life's hard knocks. Jackie Kallen had a colorful career before she ever met a boxer. An entertainment journalist who interviewed everyone from the Rolling Stones to Elvis and Sinatra, she had a life-changing moment when she interviewed six-time world champ Thomas Hearns. After falling in love with the sport of boxing, Jackie Kallen rose from being Hearns' and his crew's publicist to managing four champions and was ultimately nominated twice as Manager of the Year. She has also served as commissioner of the Female Boxers Association and has a wall full of awards and honors. Her life story inspired the Paramount film Against the Ropes starring Meg Ryan, and she was Associate Producer of the film and made a cameo appearance. She is also the author of the inspiring book Hit Me With Your Best Shot: A Fight Plan for Dealing With All of Life's Hard Knocks. Most recently, Jackie Kallen was the “Den Mother” on the first season of The Contender on NBC with Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard. Her rise to the top has not been obstacle-free… along the way, Jackie Kallen has survived a brush with breast cancer, a heart stent implant, and the break up of her thirty year marriage. Today, along with managing several promising male and female fighters, Jackie Kallen has been named Youth Sports Coordinator for the LA County Sheriff Department. She targets inner city areas, such as South Central Los Angeles, where local kids are “at-risk” and sets up boxing gyms as a healthy alternative to gang life and other dangers. She is also very involved with local charities, particularly women's shelters. Jackie Kallen lives in Los Angeles.
My Morning Jacket In a perfect world, bios would be unnecessary. Instead of those often peculiar, occasionally vaguely helpful written pieces purporting to tell a band's story, a clear sense of the way things actually happened, which often doesn't fit into neat story-size chunks, might emerge. My Morning Jacket, for example, lost in their line-up a while back their life-long friends Johnny Quaid and Danny Cash. The two original members just decided they didn't want to spend their time working in a band heavily on the road. The remaining members -- singer-guitarist and songwriter Jim James, bassist Two-Tone Tommy, and drummer Patrick Hallahan -- didn't really know which direction to proceed: to go on as a three-piece, to look for new members, or to stop altogether...but some force kept urging them on, so they started looking around for new members. They found keyboardist Bo Koster, and guitarist Carl Broemel. My Morning Jacket talked to some other people, but the band kept coming back to Koster and Broemel, the first two musicians they met with. Things really flowed there. "We loved them immediately," says James. "It was like the band was its own force, wanting itself to go on, even down to finding these two people." For the new My Morning Jacket line-up, dreaming and changing up their music proved tonic; they worked, in a collaboration that turned out to be wholly positive, with the veteran English producer John Leckie. "We wanted to make a record that grooved and swung," James says, "but wasn't trying to imitate classic soul. We wanted to keep an aspect of what we'd always done, but also make something you could dance to or listen to while driving home. Hip-hop and soul music are unifying people right now. I wanted to incorporate that into our music; to make this really sad, mysterious kind of dance music, something that really got into your butt, but also really got into your head and made you think." My Morning Jacket hail from the city of Louisville, Kentucky, an odd metro-suburban mix of stark industry and fine thoroughbreds and rock and roll fevers. "It's a place with no labels," James says. "It's not the South, it's not Chicago, and you don't think of it as you think of New York or LA. It has some Southern romanticism to it, but also a Northern progressivism, this weird urban island in the middle of the state of Kentucky that has always provided a fertile, often dark, bed. For us, Louisville and the surrounding areas are the center of massive creativity and massive weirdness. The place has its flaws: You move away, but you're always going to come back." For their 'Z' sessions, My Morning Jacket did indeed, for the first time, move away. Instead of making music as was their custom in the country outside Louisville, they traveled to upstate New York's Allaire Studios. "We find our bearings more in a rural, removed setting," Hallahan says. "Allaire was the perfect answer to that, being isolated on a Catskills mountain." And so everything started to click with regard to the unique Louisville soul music that began to flow through the band. "Before, we had some unexpressed anger and frustration," says Two-Tone Tommy. "Now we had figured out it doesn't always have to be that way. Now we could celebrate that things were changing."
Keith Jackson ABC-TV sportscaster
Victoria Jackson Squeaky-voiced comedienne Victoria Jackson is perhaps best known for being a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992, but she also makes sporadic film appearances.
Jaqueline Jackson A gifted motivational speaker, Jaqueline Jackson, wife of Reverend Jesse Jackson, delivers a message of hope and inspiration to her audiences.
Kennell Jackson Award-winning African-American historian and creator of one of the first interdiscplinary black studies and undergraduate courses in the country. He is the author of America Is Me: A Popular Book of African-American History.
Reggie Jackson Colorful and outspoken Hall of Fame baseball player who starred for the Oakland A's, the New York Yankees and the California Angels.
"Bo" Jackson Bo Jackson was one of the most talented and versatile athletes this country has ever seen. An All-Star in baseball for the Kansas City Royals and an All-Pro in football for the Oakland Raiders, Jackson was one of a handful of athletes who ever successfully played both professional baseball and football in the same year. Tragically, Bo's career was cut short by injuries, but fans certainly will remember him for the time when he was in the spotlight. Off the field, Bo rose to greatness as well. In his book, Bo Knows Bo (a play on his habit of referring to himself in the third person), Jackson revealed problems that he had off the field, especially as a younger man, with anger and relationships (Jackson had a troubled childhood, growing up without a father). Today, even though his playing days are over, Jackson has gone on to great success, including a reputation as a terrific dad himself and one of the nicest guys in sports.
Jesse Jackson Reverend Jesse Jackson is one of America's foremost political figures. For more than thirty years he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, economic and social justice. A two-time presidential candidate and a leader in the fight against South African apartheid, he has been on the Gallup List of "Ten Most Respected Americans" for the past ten years. Reverend Jesse Jackson serves as president of the National Rainbow Coalition and is one of America's foremost political figures. Over the past three decades he has played a major role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality and economic and social justice. Rev. Jackson has been called the "conscience of the nation" and "the great unifier," challenging America to establish just and humane priorities and bringing people together on common ground across lines of race, class, gender and belief. Years before they were common positions, Rev. Jackson was advocating national health care, a war on drugs and peace negotiations with the Soviet Union and the Middle East. His strong stand against apartheid in South Africa in 1984 made it a forefront national issue. Rev. Jackson's two presidential campaigns broke new ground in U.S. politics. His 1984 campaign won 3.5 million votes, registered over a million new voters and helped the Democratic Party regain control of the Senate in 1986. His 1988 candidacy won seven million votes and registered two million new voters. His clear progressive agenda and his ability to build an unprecedented coalition inspired millions to join the political process. As a highly respected world leader, Rev. Jackson has acted many times as an international diplomat in sensitive situations. In 1984, he secured the release of captured Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman from Syria, as well as the release of 48 Cuban and Cuban-American prisoners in 1987. He was the first American to bring hostages out of Kuwait and Iraq in 1990. Rev. Jackson was elected a U.S. Senator from Washington, D.C. in 1990, a position also known as "Statehood Shadow Senator." The office was created to advocate for statehood for Washington, D.C. A hallmark of Rev. Jackson's work has been his commitment to the youth. He has visited thousands of high schools, colleges and universities, encouraging excellence and challenging students to stay in school and away from drugs. He has also been a major force in the American labor movement, working with unions to organize workers, mediating labor disputes, walking picket lines and speaking at labor rallies. He has visited prisons, bringing comfort to the abandoned and discouraging recidivism. Rev. Jackson has received numerous honors for his work in human rights and social justice. In 1991, the U.S. Post Office placed his likeness on a pictorial postal cancellation, only the second living person to receive such an honor. He has been on the Gallup List of Ten Men Most Respected by Americans for 10 years. He has also received the prestigious NAACP Springarn Award and been awarded over 40 honorary degrees.
Randy Jackson Randy Jackson is a former record company executive who joins Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul on the panel of judges for the television talent contest American Idol. Jackson is a music industry insider who has been in the business since the early 1980s, as a performer, producer and businessman. He was a temporary bass player for Journey in 1983 and 1986, and he spent many years as an executive with Columbia Records and MCA Records. Since 2002 Jackson has been on American Idol, where he is famous for peppering his pronouncements with the slang term "dawg." In 2003 he had gastric bypass surgery, and by the beginning of the show's 2004 season he had lost more than 100 pounds. In 2003 Jackson published the how-to guide What's Up Dawg?: How to Become a Superstar in the Music Business
Mark Jackson Mark Jackson is a former professional basketball player who played point guard for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets in the NBA in a career spanning from 1987 to 2004. He is currently an NBA analyst for The YES Network's New Jersey Nets games, ESPN and ABC.
Gloria Jackson Gloria Jackson is a powerful, compelling and engaging speaker. She speaks eloquently on the topics of faith, freedom, family, character development, education and economic empowerment. At the same time she sets out, with great clarity the extraordinarily inspiring and uplifting truths of the life, legacy and liberating philosophy of her great grandfather, Booker T. Washington . Enjoy listening as Gloria weaves the story of how her great grandfather, through a life of discipline and sheer determination, rose "Up From Slavery" to become one of America's greatest heroes and leaders. Relive how Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute and the National Negro Business League and encouraged Blacks toward economic independence. In 1905, Tuskegee turned out more self-made millionaires than Yale, Harvard, and Princeton universities combined. Learn of his commitment to reach back to those in need in Africa, the very continent that had sold his ancestors into slavery, and to other blacks throughout the world. Be reminded of how a young Black visionary with a call upon his life, shaped Tuskegee to become a vehicle of inspiration and encouragement and the greatest single influence toward encouraging Black Americans to begin the difficult walk toward a prosperous future. Gloria is the founder and president of the Booker T. Washington Inspirational Speakers' Network. She is an attorney and a real estate broker and she currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Kwame Jackson Kwame was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Charlotte, NC, which he considers home. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Harvard. True to his entrepreneurial training at Harvard and the bounty of opportunities in the late 90s, Kwame was heavily involved in several dot-com start-ups during his time in business school. However, his Fortune 500 professional foundation includes sales and marketing roles at Procter & Gamble and, most recently, on Wall Street as an Investment Manager for Goldman Sachs. He is most recognizable for his appearance on the first season of the popular reality series, The Apprentice. Kwame competed for the coveted chief executive position of one of Donald Trumps successful companies. He is most recognizable for his appearance on the first season of the popular reality series, The Apprentice. Kwame competed for the coveted chief executive position of one of Donald Trumps successful companies.
Erin Jackson Equal parts sarcasm and insightful commentary, Erins comedy offers an honest and hilarious look at her life and the world in which it takes place. Since making a name for herself in the comedy clubs of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD, Erin has garnered national attention with appearances on "The Bob and Tom Radio Show" and Comedy Central's Live at Gotham. Erin was also the winner of the Oxygen Network's 2007 "So You Think You're Funny?" Contest. Although her universal appeal is certain to take her far, Erin is in no rush to achieve celebrity status. She is, however, looking forward to the day when she becomes famous enough to move to Hollywood, buy a mansion and marry a White woman the ultimate symbol of success for black celebrities.
Keith Jackson Keith Jackson has also combined his college degree in communications and his professional playing experience to become a broadcast analyst with TNT television for one year, the Oklahoma Sooner football radio network in 1998, Fox Sports Network in 1999 and the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network in 2000. He has become one of the most dynamic and inspirational speakers in the country. His speaking engagements include churches, civic groups, corporations and schools. Keith speaks from one gamut of the spectrum to the next. And when it comes to pleasing the crowd, Keith has a natural knack for doing just that. With his wealth of knowledge and sense of humor, all audiences regardless of age, sex, race or political agenda are completely focused on what he has to say. One conference attendee said, "Your speech was the highlight of the conference for me. I found your stories and your passion for helping those in need to be very inspiring. Most of all, your practical approach to education and self-suffiency was so down-to-earth and refreshing. You inspired me a great deal and put a renewed spark in my efforts to make a difference." Keith speaks from an array of topics such as: Community Building, Teamwork, Education, Sports, Religion, as well as, other motivational topics. If there is someone or an entire group needing uplifting or that extra push to become all they can be, Keith is certainly the one to get them to the next level in their life or business.
Jesse Jackson, Jr. U.S. Congressman from Illinois and the former National Field Director of the National Rainbow Coalition, Jesse Jackson, Jr. is an attorney, minister, human rights activist and a gifted powerful speaker.
Simcha Jacobovici Simcha Jacobovicis numerous awards include a Gold Medal from the International Documentary Festival of Nyon, a certificate of Special Merit from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, a Genie Award, three U.S. Cable Ace Awards, two Gemini Awards, an Alfred I. Dupont-Columbia University Award, a British Broadcast Award and two U.S. Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Investigative Journalism". In 2007, he won the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club of America. Recent films include Impact of Terror (CNN), Sex Slaves (CBC, C4 and PBS Frontline), and The Exodus Decoded (History Channel), which he co-produced with James Cameron. The Lost Tomb of Jesus, also co-produced with James Cameron, continues to garner worldwide attention. His first book The Jesus Family Tomb (Harper Collins 2007), co-written with Dr. Charles Pellegrino, is a companion book to the documentary film. It is an international Best Seller. An Israeli-born Canadian, Mr. Jacobovici has a B.A. in Philosophy from McGill University and a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Toronto.
John Jacobs Leading civil rights activist and former director of the National Urban League.
A.J. Jacobs Jacobs is the editor at large at Esquire magazine. He has written for The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, New York magazine and Dental Economics magazine, one of the top five magazines about the financial side of toothcare. In 2004, Simon & Schuster plublished the Know-It-All. It subsequently spent eight weeks on the New York Times paperback bestseller list. It was praised by Time magazine, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, USA Today, Janet Maslin in the New York Times and AJs uncle Henry on Amazon.com. Jacobs has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America and the second-to-last episode of the John McEnroe Show on MSNBC, which also featured Dionne Warwick wearing a fannypack. He is a periodic commentator on NPRs Weekend Edition Saturday, where he discusses important facts, such as the fact that oppossums have 13 nipples. On October 9, his new book The Year of Living Biblically will be released. It has already garnered positive reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. The book optioned by Paramount Pictures and Plan B productions. The script has been written by a talented redhead named Jay Reiss (one of the writers of the Broadway show The Putnam County Spelling Bee). The director is a British fellow named Julian Farino is attached to direct it. Jacobs grew up in New York City. His father is a lawyer who holds the world record for the most footnotes in a law review article (4,824). His wife works for a highbrow scavenger hunt called Watson Adventures. He lives in New York. He wonders if he fooled anyone with this third-person thing, or if everyone knows that he wrote this bio himself.
David Jacobsen Motivational speaker and former Middle East hostage who lectures on coping with adversity in everyday living.
Dennis Jaffe Nationally recognized leader in the field of organizational development. Dr. Jaffe is a consultant to major corporations and family businesses on managing organizational change, developing strategic visions, sustaining employee commitment, building value based cultures and designing collaborative workplaces. He is the author of thirteen books including Rekindling Commitment: Renewing Yourself and Your Organization; Organizational Vision, Values and Mission; Empowerment: Building High Commitment Workplaces.
Jennifer Jako Jennifer Jako is a young HIV-positive filmmaker whose documentary, "True Life: It Could Be You," empowers HIV-positive youth who voice their confusion, grief and hope while educating others to avoid getting infected. The film, which accompanies her talk, premiered on MTV and has received numerous honors including a 1999 Ribbon of Hope Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Diagnosed with HIV in 1991 at age 18, Jako has taken her powerful message to thousands nationwide. Her personal story of infection and the making of the film are told with intelligence and an in-you-face sense of humor.
Kelvin Christopher James A well known novelist and native of Trinidad, Kelvin Christopher James is the author of such critically accalimed books as Jumping Ship & Other Stories; and Secrets: A Novel.
Danny Jamieson Danny Jamieson from MTV Real World Austin was the Boston male who grew up in a blue collar home working construction and fell for female cast member, Melinda Stolp, at first sight. He was seeing Melinda during the Austin Real World season and has elevated their relationship when he proposed to her just before the Reunion Show on MTV. He has appeared one Real World Road Rules challenge that being in the 2006 Fresh Meat challenge and will again be appearing in 2007's, The Inferno 3. Danny applied to the Real World as a joke which entered his head as he was partying at Boston University and then almost left the show for good when he went home for his mother's funeral as she died from cancer during filming on Valentines Day in 2005. Danny Jamieson enjoys touring the country doing college speaking engagements on depression, alcohol awareness, and family issues.
Dan Jansen 1994 Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen is a symbol of strength, hard work and perseverance. He first captured the worlds attention during the 1988 Winter Olympics. Hearts went out to him when the world learned that his sister, whose last words were ones urging him to victory, had died mere hours before his first race. He announced that he wanted to win as a tribute to her and as he stepped onto the ice, we cheered a little louder than normal. When he fell not once--but twice--we felt his pain as if it were our own. After the 1988 Olympics, letters poured in from fans worldwide, President Reagan invited him to the White House, and the U.S. Olympic Committee honored him with the Olympic Spirit Award. The speed skating champion embodies the competitive spirit, and his story inspires us to reach for our own personal Jansen continued to train and in 1989, he skated a personal best in the 500 meter, earning a silver medal at the Sprint Championships and two silvers at the World Cup. The following year, he won two silvers at the World Cup and this time, earned a gold at the Sprint Championships. The winning streak continued in 1991, when he won two World Cup gold medals. In preparation for the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France, he set a U.S. Track Record at the U.S. Trials again, won two gold medals in the World Cup and skated his career fastest 500 meter, breaking the world record. But again, the Olympic gold eluded his grasp. During his final chance in the 1994 Olympic games Dan told himself to relax and enjoy himself. His performance dazzled the spectators with a world record and an Olympic gold medal in the 1000 meter event. As he took his victory lap, there was not a dry eye in the arena. Among numerous awards and honors he has received throughout the years, in 1995 Dan was awarded the Amateur Athletic Unions James E. Sullivan Award, presented annually to the outstanding athlete in the U.S. who exhibits the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism. In honor of his sister, the Dan Jansen Foundation was established, contributing funds for Leukemia research, youth sports, and educational programs. The youngest of nine children born to Harry and Gerry Jansen, a retired police officer and a retired nurse, Dan is a first class competitor. He is also a man who knows about dreaming big and the work, positive attitude, and strength it takes to make those dreams come true. As a public speaker, he uses his story to inspire others to turn their dreams into reality.
Dr. Gregory Jantz Now for 23 years, Dr. Gregg Jantz has a vision of Hope. Trained in psychology, he looked out at the counseling options available and realized something was missing. Hurting people went to a doctor, to a psychiatrist, to a counselor, to a pastor – going from place to place, looking for hope, help and healing from their pain. At each junction, they received help for a piece of their puzzle, yet the puzzle often still remained. Instead of fractured care, Dr. Jantz created The Center for Counseling & Health Resources, where people could find comprehensive, coordinated care using a whole-person model – addressing the emotional, relational, intellectual, physical and spiritual aspects of healing and recovery. Today, The Center has helped almost 30,000 people from across the United States and internationally, who are drawn to his vision of whole-person care. A Place of Hope, as The Center has become known by its many clients, has 5 locations in the Seattle, Washington area and an affiliate in Quito, Ecuador. Supervising a staff of 50 dedicated professionals, Dr. Jantz has brought together the very best in medical, nutritional, naturopathic, relaxation, and therapeutic counseling services, for mental health, chemical dependency and dual diagnosis. A nationally recognized author and speaker, Dr. Jantz brings his whole-person vision of Hope to audiences around the country, through speaking, seminars, conferences, radio and television
Eugene Jarecki Eugene Jarecki is an award winning dramatic and documentary filmmaker and visiting senior fellow at Brown Universitys Watson Institute. After training at Princeton as a stage director, Jarecki turned to film in 1992, and his first short film, Season of the Litterbees, premiered at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival before winning both a Student Academy Award and the Time Warner Grand Prize at the Aspen Film Festival. His most recent film, Why We Fight, won the 2005 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. He also directed the award-winning film The Trials of Henry Kissinger, 2001s dramatic feature The Opponent, and Quest of the Carib Canoe. His experience behind the camera and tackling challenging topics makes Jarecki an exciting keynote speaker. In 2008, Eugene Jarecki released, The American Way of War: Guided Missiles, Misguided Men, and a Republic in Peril. The book reveals America at a crossroads, and focuses on what can be done to get the country back on track. Examining American military might, it is a unique appraisal of the balance of power in American democracy and what can be done to preserve our goverment as a beacon of hope around the world.
Adlersberg Jay Health and science correspondent for ABC News.
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band For almost two decades as leader of one of the worlds most celebrated Latin jazz bands, Concord Picante recording artist Poncho Sanchez has been an unswervingly passionate exponent of the bedrock style of Afro-Cuban Latin jazz pioneered half a century ago by such legendary musicians as Machito, Tito Puente and Dizzy Gillespie. The bearded, jovial conguero and the members of his veteran octet are virtual living symbols of the best of the modern jazz and tropical Latin traditions today. As they confidently demonstrate on their latest album, Poncho and his men are undisputed kings of a vibrant hybrid that has become one of the most dynamic and enduringly popular styles of the century.
Benjamin Todd Jealous Benjamin Todd Jealous grew up believing that there was no higher calling than to further the cause of freedom in this country and in the world. It is a mindset he inherited from of his parents and grandparents. Their drive for community betterment blazed the trail for Jealous own deep commitment to social justice, public service and human rights activism. Now, as the 17th President and Chief Executive Officer of the NAACP, and the youngest person to hold the position in the organizations nearly 100-year history, Jealous is well positioned to answer the call. During his career, he has served as president of the Rosenberg Foundation, director of the U.S. Human Rights Program at Amnesty International and Executive Director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a federation of more than 200 black community newspapers. From his early days of organizing voter registration drives up until his nomination and election as NAACP president, Jealous has been motivated by civic duty and a constant need to improve the lives of America's underrepresented. All things considered, Jealous leadership roles and active community involvement have well prepared him for his current duties as president of the NAACP. In fact, his path through journalism and the Black Press is not unlike several other former NAACP presidents, including Roy Wilkins, Walter White, Ida B. Wells and W.E.B. Dubois. As a student at Columbia University, he worked in Harlem as a community organizer for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. On campus, Jealous led school-wide movements, including boycotts and pickets for homeless rights, a successful campaign to save full-need financial and need-blind admissions when other national universities were cutting such programs, and an environmental justice battle with the University. These protests ultimately led to the suspension of Jealous and three other student leaders. Jealous used this time off to work as a field organizer helping to lead a campaign that prevented the State of Mississippi from closing two of its three public historically black universities, and converting one of them into a prison. He remained in Mississippi to take a job at the Jackson Advocate, an African American newspaper based in the states capital. His reporting -- for the frequently firebombed weekly -- was credited with exposing corruption amongst high-ranking officials at the state prison in Parchman. His investigations also helped to acquit a small black farmer who had been wrongfully and maliciously accused of arson. His work at the Jackson Advocate eventually lead to his promotion to Managing Editor. In 1997, Jealous returned to Columbia University and completed his degree in political science. With the encouragement of mentors, he applied and was accepted to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar where he earned a master's degree in comparative social research. Jealous eventually went on to serve as Executive Director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). While at the NNPA, he rebuilt its 90-year old national news service and launched a web-based initiative that more than doubled the number of black newspapers publishing online. Most recently, Jealous was President of the Rosenberg Foundation, a private independent institution that funds civil and human rights advocacy to benefit California's working families. Prior to that, he was Director of the U.S. Human Rights Program at Amnesty International. While there he led efforts to pass federal legislation against prison rape, rebuild public consensus against racial profiling in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, and expose the widespread sentencing of children to life without the possibility of parole. Active in civic life, Jealous is a board member of the California Council for the Humanities, and the Association of Black Foundation Executives, as well as a member of the Asia Society. He is married to Lia Epperson Jealous, a professor of constitutional law and former civil rights litigator with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. They presently reside in Washington, DC with their young daughter.
Ron Jeffreys Nationally known hypnotist and entertainer who casts his spell over audiences with his enchanting sense of wit and humor. In addition to performing hypnosis for entertainment purposes, he travels the country demonstrating the positive health effects of hypnosis. He conducts seminars to help people in non-medical areas such as smoking, weight-loss, self-esteem, memory improvement and meditation.
Dan Jenkins Sportswriter and best-selling author of Semi-Tough.
Carol Jenkins News anchor, talk show host, reporter, producer, Carole Jenkins is known as one of the most trusted and credible television personalities in America.
Bruce Jenner Bruce Jenner captivated the worlds attention when he broke the world record in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal, earning the title, Worlds Greatest Athlete. Since that time, he has been far from removed from the public eye. He has become a highly respected motivational speaker, sports commentator, entrepreneur, commercial spokesperson, television personality, actor, producer, and author. A devoted father and husband, he is also a loyal supporter of many non profit and charitable organizations such as the Special Olympics and the Pediatric Aids Foundation. Bruce is vice chair of the most preeminent network marketing company in the United States, Longevity Network. Also, he serves as director of special promotions for Allegiance Telecom, one of the nations leading telecommunication programs. Public appearances and endorsements on behalf of a wide variety of corporate sponsors are a major part of his busy schedule. Bruces first corporate relationship put him on the Wheaties cereal box cover for seven years, and he still represents Wheaties through a variety of personal appearances. Also, he is the subject of a new CD-ROM game entitled Bruce Jenners World Class Decathlon. He has been appointed to the Governors Council for Physical Fitness and Sports and serves on numerous advisory boards including Angel Planes Childrens Miracle Flights, The National Dyslexia Research Foundation, and David Rickey Company. Corporate and community audiences nationwide are captivated by his message, Finding the Champion Within. Bruces energy translates easily into his presentation, and audiences are visibly moved by his unique success story. Several companies have taken notice of his ability to motivate and appeal to the public. He was the 1991 national spokesperson for the General Aviation Task Force and represented NeoLife health care products worldwide. He and his wife, Kris, travel with the Coca Cola team, making appearances for such events as the Olympics, Super Bowl, and World Cup. Sports continue to be an important part of Bruces life. He is a commercially rated pilot who flies his own jet and he races cars professionally in Grand Prix events around the world. A guest host and special correspondent on Good Morning America, he served as their official representative to the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. He has been a commentator for a wide variety of NBC sports coverage. A gifted media personality, Bruce can often be seen in guest-starring roles on prime time television series. He has been the subject of countless magazine and newspaper articles worldwide and has acted in movies and is also a highly regarded author. His latest book is entitled Finding the Champion Within. Bruce and his wife, Kris, are well known for launching their successful infomercial series entitled SuperFit with Bruce and Kris Jenner. The show can be seen in over 35 countries and in 17 different languages. They recently completed their first video together, Womens Self Defense and Fitness Program. Over the years, Bruce has received numerous accolades. He was honored as the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame. Among other honors and awards, he is the recipient of the Celebrity Outreach Award for his extensive work assisting and aiding in charity fundraisers. Most Requested Topics: Finding the Champion Within: This is an invigorating program, summoning and directing the forces within all of us to be champions, no matter what the playing field. Jenner takes the audience step by step through his decathlon training leading to his victorious Olympic gold medal in 1976...the decathlon victory being a larger metaphor for all our dreams and goals in life. Jenner offers his own tried and true methods to buckle down and make what matters most in one's life come to fruition. His advice is solid and clear and his motivational style will make you want to jump out of the starting blocks with a winner's determination.
Dave Jennings Football color commentator and former punter for the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Lyfe Jennings Lyfe Jennings is an Platinum African American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. He plays the guitar, bass, and piano which he integrates into his music.
Mason Jennings Mason Jennings is a Minnesota-based pop-folk singer-songwriter. He is well known for his simple yet catchy melodies, intimate lyrics, literary and historical themes, and deep tenor's voice. His music has appeared in the surf film Shelter and he has toured extensively. Jennings is married to Amy Turany Jennings and has a son, August, born in January 2003.Jennings produced his self-titled debut album in 1997 on an analog four-track in the basement of a rented home, manning all instruments himself. In October 1998, after bringing drummer Chris Stock and bassist Robert Skoro on board, he began a weekly gig at Minneapolis' 400 Bar as the Mason Jennings Band. Garnering local praise and a wide fan base, Mason began touring nationally. During this time Mason began expanding the depth of his sound inviting saxophonist Chris Thompson to play with them occasionally and replacing Stock with jazz drummer Edgar Olivera Birds Flying Away (2000) revealed Jennings' political activism and penchant for singing first-person narratives of imaginary rustic characters. Following the release of this album, Noah Levy took over drumming duties from Olivera.In 2002, Jennings releases a studio album, Century Spring, and a "fans only" collection of acoustic rarities, Simple Life. An EP supporting Century Spring was also released, featuring the album's opening track, "Living In The Moment," two live tracks, and the previously-unreleased "Emperor Ashoka." Jennings released all three discs -- and re-released his earlier albums -- on his homebrew record label, Architect Records.In 2003, Skoro and Levy left the band (the former to pursue a solo career), and were replaced by bassist Chris Morrissey (Bill Mike Band) and drummer Brian Mcleod.On February 10 2004, Jennings released Use Your Voice, which notably included the songs "Keepin' It Real," a foot-stomper ostensibly written at the request of Shrek 2 producers (but not used in the film), and "The Ballad of Paul and Sheila," an acoustic dirge for late Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone. On 30 September of that year, the band released a DVD entitled Use Your Van, which chronicled the recording of Use Your Voice and part of the promotional tour. The DVD was filmed by Andy Grund.On June 17, 2005, news broke that Jennings had finally signed with a major label: Glacial Pace, a subsidiary of Sony's Epic Records headed by Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock.
Ann Jillian Well known actress and entertainment and a crusader for the early detection of cancer.
Lil JJ Lil JJ, star of Nickelodeons hot new TV show Just Jordan, is taking the comedy world by storm. Dubbed The Prince of Comedy, this Little Rock, Arkansas native won BETs Coming to the Stage at the early age of fourteen and has been performing ever since to sold out audiences throughout the country. In addition to his live engagements, he has had show stopping performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as Showtime at the Apollo. On the big screen, Lil JJ has starred in such movies as Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah and Yours, Mine and Ours with Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo. JJs introduction to Hollywood had him competing on and winning, Coming to the Stage, BET's comedy competition game show where he went up against and beat comics more than twice his age to become the show's ultimate winner. JJ was a run-away favorite on "Stage," where the celebrity panel deemed him to be "The Next Superstar of Funny."
Juan Roberto Job Motivational speaker, multicultural consultant and author of the best selling book, Just Because I'm Latin doesn't mean I Mambo: A Success Guide For Hispanic Americans. Juan Roberto Job is highly regarded for his work in multicultural settings and is an expert on worksite diversity, ethnic recruiting and cross cultural business protocol.
Tommy John Baseball pitching great and inspirational speaker.
Daymond John Daymond John Founder and CEO of FUBU Program Title - The Business of Hip-Hop Culture: An Evening With FUBU (For Us, By Us ) FUBU CEO Daymond John is all about endless possibilites. What began in 1992 as a hat business run by John and his friends from a basement in Queens, NY is today a $450 million enterprise that's revolutionized the fashion industry and helped define the look of young America. John is a product of a young child's aspirations to be more than a storeowner, but rather the head of a corporation. He has come a long way since owning a commuter van service to being the CEO and president of a much celebrated retail enterprise. But it didn't happen overnight! John took out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother's house and moved his operation into the basement. With the help of neighborhood friends Alexander Martin (VP) Keith Perrin (co-founder) and Carl Brown (co-founder), who shared his vision, Team FUBU was born. FUBU gradually expanded their line to include hockey jerseys, T-shirts and baseball caps. After finding it difficult to market their clothing through traditional advertising channels, they succeeded in promoting its line by using celebrities and hip hop artists, most notably LL Cool J. FUBU represents determination, excellence, and boldness - characteristics that the company's CEO embodies as well. John oversees the organization's production flow, which involves dealing with every aspect of the FUBU structure. "My job is to take our ideas and funnel it all together. We are the consumer making for the consumer." That uncomplicated approach is the force behind the company's success. It is also why FUBU continues to grow and evolve. John is always receptive to pursuing different ventures. The word risk and entrepreneur go hand-in-hand. Making the FUBU name synonymous with the music and entertainment industry, as it is with the fashion world, is an objective for John. However, longevity for FUBU is his main goal. "We are in this for the long run." FUBU has received numerous honors for entrepreneurial achievements including - NAACP's "Entrepreneurs of the Year" Award; Congressional Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship; the Essence Award; N.Y. African American Business Awards' "Outstanding Business Achievement" Award; and a Citation of Honor for "Team FUBU" from the Office of the President, Borough of Queens, City of New York.
Olivia Newton John Actress, singer, songwriter, devoted mother, humanitarian and cancer survivor, Olivia Newton John is a beloved figure to millions of people worldwide. On stage she is a profound and inspiring speaker no matter what the topic the future of our children, the importance of raising breast cancer and AIDS awareness, environmental conservation, or animal rights. Her appearances always empower listening audiences while communicating her genuine warmth and concern for the future of humanity and our planet. First gaining worldwide fame as the star of Grease and the singer songwriter behind an incredible 25 Top 40 singles, Olivia has been a deeply committed activist her entire life. She has served as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Program and National Spokesperson for the Childrens Health Environmental Coalition, and received innumerable awards from the American Red Cross, the Rainforest Alliance, and the Environmental Media Association. In 1992 Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer, which at the time seemed a fatal blow to her hopes and future. True to form, however, she not only conquered the disease but courageously used her experience to talk openly about it and to promote awareness of the importance of early detection something she continues to do today. In 1996 she founded the Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia its mission is to be the countrys leading center for cancer education and research. An amazing woman whose indomitable spirit and courage are an inspiration to all who hear her, Olivia is a passionate speaker on the following topics:
Major General John G. Castellaw Major General John G. Castellaw talks on Iraq, Afghanistan and the Road Ahead in the Global War on Terrorism. General Castellaw will provide a clear picture of the current situation in Iraq. He will provide insight into the rebuilding process and the road ahead in Americas fight against extremists in one of the most dynamic areas of the world.
Tommy Johnagin Tommy Johnagin started stand-up at the age of eighteen, dropping out of college at twenty-one to become a full time comedian. Tommy vows he will one day make enough money to pay his parents back for the six semesters of college he wasted. Tommy is an autobiographical comedian who doesn't curse on stage and has a gift of finding something funny in everyone he meets and everything he does. Tommy takes great pride in his writing as he is a medium energy act without the gift to sell a joke with actions alone. Tommy is already a favorite at comedy clubs all across the country working almost every week. In 2007 Tommy was invited to the prestigious "Just For Laughs" comedy festival in Montreal, Canada where he was the highest reviewed "New Face."
Michael Johnson Olympic hero and track and field gold medal winner.
Magic Johnson Earvin Johnson, Jr. may best be known for his winning ways during his illustrious 13-year NBA career, but today the basketball legend directs his efforts toward his growing business and philanthropic empire, Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE). Unparalleled Athletic Success Earvin Magic Johnson is famous for his brilliant passing skills, all-around sublime talent, illuminating smile, and engaging personality. During his 12-year pro basketball career, Johnson led the LA Lakers to five NBA championships and nine appearances in the NBA Finals. After announcing that he was HIV-positive and retiring from basketball in 1991, he was voted as a starter in the 1992 All-Star Game, and later chosen as a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team. We Are the Communities We Serve While Mr. Johnson may be best known for his prowess on the basketball court, he is also a successful businessman and committed philanthropist. The Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF) is a non-profit organization that provides support to community-based organizations that serve the health, educational and social needs of inner-city youth and organizations. In addition, the Foundation is committed to raising awareness about several health and social concerns that threaten under-served communities.
Rafer Johnson World class athlete, sports commentator and an excellent motivational speaker, Rafer Johnson was the Decathlon Champion in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Active in in the President's Council for Physical Fitness and the Special Olympics for the Retarded, Rafer Johnson was given the honor of lighting the Olympic torch at the Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Dr. Kerry L. Johnson Top business, sales, management and leadership speaker, Dr. Kerry Johnson is author of six books including the business best sellers, Mastering The Game; Peak Performance Selling: How to Increase Your Business by 70% in Six Weeks; and Sales Magic.
Marjorie Johnson Founder of the international organization, the Stay-At-Home-Mothers (S.A.H.M.) Motherhood Network. She speaks to groups throughout the U.S. and abroad about reaching fulfillment both as a mother and as a woman through exercising good decision making, maintaining a healthy self-esteem, establishing a solid game plan, possessing a winning attitude and asserting a positive outlook.
Ben Johnson Assistant to the President of the United States and Director of the White House Office On The President's Initiative For One America, during the Clinton Administration. Ben Johnson also served as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton where he was responsible for all areas of outreach to the African American community as well as the Hispanic and Jewish community, the disabled and senior citizens.
Roy Johnson Roy S. Johnson, an Assistant Managing Editor for Sports Illustrated, pens the weekly "Pass the Word" column for SI.com. This is his third stint at the magazine. Johnson began his journalism career at SI as a reporter from 1978-81. From 1982-89, Johnson worked at the New York Times, before returning to SI as a senior editor in 1989. During that tenure, Johnson co-authored the magazine's exclusive, first-person account of Magic Johnson's sudden retirement from the NBA due to the HIV virus. Johnson has also spent time at Savoy and Fortune. He has co-authored two books: Magic's Touch (Addison Wesley) with Earvin Johnson and Outrageous (Simon & Schuster) with Charles Barkley. In addition to his professional credentials, Johnson is a longstanding member of the National Association of Black Journalists; a board member of the International Amateur Athletic Foundation; and helps oversee the Bill Spiller/Homeboy Golf Classic. He created the Roy S. Johnson Foundation, which provides financial assistance to minority youth from his hometown (Tulsa, Okla.) who are interested in pursuing an education at prestigious Holland Hall Preparatory School, Johnson's alma mater.
Valerie Johnson Native American psychologist and social activist.
Dr. Timothy Johnson Dr. G. Timothy Johnson is one of the nation's leading medical communicators of health care information. As Medical Editor for ABC News, Johnson provides on-air medical analysis for "World News Tonight," "Nightline" and "20/20." He has provided commentary on medical problems and answers for viewers of ABC News' "Good Morning America" since the program's debut in 1975. Johnson's programs and feature reports have won several awards, including a National Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as well as two Emmy Awards from the Boston/New England Chapter of the same organization. He earned a Gabriel Award in 1999 in the best news story category for the two-part piece, "Alzheimer's: A Faded Memory." Johnson was selected as the recipient of the 1998 Bradford Washburn Award presented by the Museum of Science, Boston an honor also bestowed upon Jacques Cousteau, Walter Cronkite, Dr. Jane Goodall and Alan Alda, among others. In 1988, he received the Lewis Thomas Award for Communications from the American College of Physicians, and in 1987 and 1989, he won the Howard W. Blakeslee Award given by the American Heart Association. Johnson is the founding editor of the Harvard Medical School Health Letter and co-editor of the "Harvard Medical School Health Letter Book." He is also co-editor of the book "Your Good Health," co-author of "Let's Talk," and author of "Dr. Timothy Johnson's OnCall Guide to Men's Heath" and "Finding God in the Questions: A Personal Journey."
Jeff Johnson Jeff Johnson Political Motivator and Social Commentator Program Title: Unclaimed Legacy: Beyond Civil Rights Jeff Johnson is a political motivator and social commentator speaking to baby boomers, the Hip-Hop generation and to Generation Y the leaders of today and yesterday. He has a long history for rallying the troops stemming from his days at the University of Toledo when he became the first person of color to be the President of Student Government. Upon graduation he headed to Washington, DC and was the National Director for the NAACPs Youth and College Division, and then was later tapped by Russell Simmons to be the Vice President for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. Jeff’s work in the political arena began to gain momentum, which caught the eye of an executive at BET who felt his breadth of knowledge in cultural affairs and politics would work best for their show Rap City. Jeff played host Tiggers conscious Cousin Jeff, and for the past two-years gave audiences a dose of reality. And his popularity has proved that his words do not fall on deaf ears. Wanting to get mileage out of the progress that was created on Rap City, BET introduced The Cousin Jeff Chronicles, a series of true-life documentaries that deal with current and pertinent issues facing urban communities. It became clear to me when I began this work that I needed to provide a voice of truth and honesty - transparency within the political process, especially for young people who may have a hard time deciphering that process and knowing their options, states Jeff. Jeffs commitment to fostering communication between the civil rights and hip-hop generations has been successful as he tours the country speaking at universities, faith-based organizations and churches while conducting countless leadership training sessions in local communities. As a voice for social change, Jeff is passionate about this work. He has put a spotlight on grassroots activism making these issues relevant to a wide variety of audiences throughout the country. The time is now states Jeff. Once individuals are armed with the political information needed to foster change within their communities, it will allow them to foster change within themselves.
Javon Johnson Javon Johnson began writing in 2001, and he has since won back-to-back national poetry-slam titles. Javon has appeared on Russell Simmonss Def Poetry Jam on HBO and BETs Lyric Caf. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in performance studies at Northwestern University, examining issues of race, gender, sexuality and class in pop culture
Jack Johnson Before Jack Johnson perfected his rock star ways, he was a champion surfer on the professional route, with a sponsorship with Quiksilver. It was a life that was second nature for the Hawaiian native, for he began chasing waves as a toddler, and by the time he was 17, he was an outstanding athlete on the pipeline. However, Johnson was also testing his other creative outlets -- one being film and the other being music. It was during his college years as a film student at University of California at Santa Barbara when Johnson began writing songs. He and old mates Chris Malloy and Emmett Malloy produced a surf cinema documentary entitled Thicker Than Water, in turn spotlighting Johnson as a talented cinematographer as well as a burgeoning singer/songwriter. His peers in and around the surf circuit praised his work, and Thicker Than Water received props in Surfer magazine for Video of the Year during 2000. The follow-up surf flick The September Sessions also earned the Adobe Highlight Award at the ESPN Film Festival that same year. Still, Johnson steered away from a blossoming pro sports career and stuck with music -- something that would soon earn him additional honors. G. Love & Special Sauce quickly took notice to Johnson's lazy blues stylings, which also molded folk and hip-hop for a modern rock twist, and included Johnson on "Rodeo Clowns" from G. Love's 1999 release Philadelphonic. Johnson's four-track demo also caught the ears of Ben Harper's right-hand man, J.P. Plunier. This was surely mind-blowing for Johnson, for Harper's college rock mainstay Fight for Your Mind was one of his favorites and remained an inspiration. Aside from Plunier's production work, Harper also added his lap steel guitar work on Johnson's sultry debut, Brushfire Fairytales (Enjoy Records), in winter 2001. Two co-headlining tours followed throughout spring and summer 2002; Johnson's sophomore effort, On and On, appeared in May 2003. Stateside dates with Harper followed in June and July. A third album, In Between Dreams arrived in March 2005, narrowly missing the top of the Billboard album chart in the process. Johnson earned two Brit Awards for In Between Dreams: International Male Solo Artist and International Breakthrough Act. In February, Johnson issued the soundtrack Curious George. Nielsen SoundScan sales topped at 163,000 copies in its first week of release, earning Johnson his first-ever number one album on Billboard's Top 200 and Rock Albums charts. His sixth album, Sleep Through the Static, was released in February 2008.
C.J. Johnson Entering the room to find an unusual buzz of anticipation and expectation. The excitement starts well before the show, as much as weeks before! You hear questions circulating. Questions like, Whos going to be hypnotized? What will they do? Can I be hypnotized? As the much anticipated show time arrives, the audience learns a bit about hypnosis, and they try a few suggestibility tests from their seats in the audience. And then, the stage is opened for volunteers. You notice right away that CJ has stepped off to the side and immediately you know why...the stage is rushed with volunteers!!! The chairs on stage are filled and the show is on. You hold on for the ride your best friend is on the stage. You Watchas CJ guides those on stage through a hypnotic induction. The audience follows along with amazement, and yes, sometimes skepticism, as the volunteers begin to drop their chins to their chest or rest their heads on the shoulder next to them. They try to open their eyes, but cannot that is until CJ tells them to. The hilarity begins as the volunteers begin to take CJs suggestions. One guy believes hes the Crocodile Hunter and wrestles with an inflatable pool toy he truly believes is an actual croc! The whole group is transported back in time to the era of disco. They become part of TV shows and movies, complete with body building championships and much, much more. One girl even forgets her own name. This has GOT to be a bunch of bull... but wait!! The girl who forgot her name is your best friend!
Willie Jolley Willie Jolley is Americas Premier Celebrity Speaker Singer Author Inspiring Millions with Music & Motivation! He is an award winning speaker, a world-class singer, and a best selling author and media personality all in one person! He specializes in Accelerating Success and Growing Businesses by Growing People, Performance and Profits. Willie Jolley was recently inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame, a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. He joined luminaries like Ronald Reagan, Zig Ziglar, Harvey McKay and Les Brown. And in 1999, Willie Jolley was named One of the Outstanding Five Speakers in the World by Toastmasters International. Less than 50 speakers worldwide have been bestowed that honor! Former winners include Christopher Reeve, Margaret Thatcher and Colin Powell! In 2003, the McDonalds Corporation named him A Black History Maker of Today! Willie Jolley is a Five Time Washington Area Music Association (WAMMIE) Award Winning singer for Best Jazz Singer and Best Entertainer. His new Jolley music is now the number one downloaded Motivational Music on the Apple I- Tunes site! Willie Jolley is the author of two international best selling books, It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life! and A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback. His books have been translated into eight languages. As a co-author of Go M.A.D. (Go Make A Difference), a best selling book for youth - teaching life skills and encouraging academic excellence - his message is spreading around the world! And Chicken Soup For The Christian Soul - II features Willie Jolley along with Joyce Meyers, Tony Campolo and Naomi Rhode! As host of the syndicated radio show The Willie Jolley Motivational Minute, Willie Jolley is heard daily in over 50 markets, on the ABC Rejoice Radio Network, The Radio One Praise Network; and on WHUR-FM in Washington, DC. Plus, he writes a column that is syndicated by the National News Press Association and read by over 6 million readers via the internet with the Electronic Urban Report. Hes seen on television with his PBS ground breaking special for teens Dare 2 Dream, Dare 2 Win and as a spokesperson for Mercedes Benz and the District of Columbia Government Community Outreach Programs. Willie Jolley is a graduate of The American University and Wesley Theological Seminary. His mission in life is to help people maximize their God given talents and abilities so they can Do More, Be More and Achieve More!
Rashida Jolley Rashida Jolley, Miss District of Columbia 2000, utilizes both music and powerful storytelling to communicate the benefits of making the right choices in life. Rashida was raised in Washington DC, the product of a great family-line of musicians and motivational speakers. She has a very diverse background speaking and performing at Juvenile Detention Centers, High school and Middle School assemblies, National Embassies, and The United States Congress. Rashida has appeared on MTV and BET. She has been featured in the Washington Times, US Weekly Magazine, Washington Post, and Eagle Forum. She was the youngest member appointed by the President to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Rashida has partnered with, and served, numerous community and health organizations around the country including Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Florida Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Health, Congressional Black Caucus, Best Friends for Girls Foundation, National Abstinence Clearinghouse, and Project Reality. Rashida combines her vast knowledge of pop culture with entertaining renditions of Top-40 music to expose the lies of our media-saturated times. Her presentation includes her personal experience of making a decision at a young age to remain sexually abstinent until marriage, STD Statistics, media influences, and lifestyle tips for healthy relationships.
Shirley Jones Oscar winning actress presents a motivational and entertaining program.
Star Jones Star Jones, a lawyer and former prosecutor, is known to television viewers for her candor, confidence and uncanny ability to clarify muddy legal and social issues. Her knowledge of the law and talent for television has won her critical acclaim as a news and legal correspondent. She debuted on television in 1991 when she started moonlighting as a studio commentator for Court TV during the William Kennedy Smith rape trial. She was quickly lined up as a guest on "Today," and a few months later she became the NBC legal correspondent for "Today" and "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw," covering the latest developments in the Mike Tyson rape case and the Rodney King police brutality trial. She landed an exclusive interview with Tyson after the imprisoned ex-heavyweight champion had dodged the press for a year, and an exclusive interview with King after the sentencing of the two Los Angeles cops convicted of violating his civil rights. That success led to her own syndicated show, "Jones & Jury." With the 1997 launch of ABC's "The View," Star expanded her point of view to include commentary on the law, self-esteem, race, family, education, religion, the media and other social issues relating to the community at large. "The View" has earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Daytime Talk Show and, for Star and her co-hosts, Outstanding Talk Show Host. Star is heavily involved with numerous philanthropic organizations, is a frequent contributor to several charitable foundations, and serves on the Board of Directors of Dress for Success, the East Harlem School at Exodus House, and God's Love We Deliver. In 2000, she joined the efforts of Girls Inc. for a national self-image building campaign aimed at young women. She was also elected to the organization's national board of directors.
Sarah Jones Sarah Jones is a Tony Award winning playwright, actor, and poet. Her multi-character solo shows include Bridge & Tunnel, which was originally produced Off-Broadway by Oscar-winner Meryl Streep, and went on to become a critically acclaimed, long running smash-hit on Broadway. Jones career has taken her from a sold out run at The Kennedy Center to tours of India, Europe and South Africa to performances for such audiences as the United Nations, members of the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court of Nepal. Her multicultural cast of characters has always been a reflection of her diverse audiences. A proud Queens, New York native, Sarah attended the United Nations International School and Bryn Mawr College where she was the recipient of the Mellon Minority Fellowship, then returned to New York and began writing and competing in poetry slams at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. There she developed her first show, Surface Transit, which was presented at The American Place Theatre and PS122. Her next piece, Women Can't Wait! was commissioned by Equality Now to address the human rights of women and girls. A subsequent commission by the National Immigration Forum yielded Waking the American Dream, the inspiration for Bridge & Tunnel. Most recently, Jones has been commissioned by the WK Kellogg Foundation for a piece entitled A Right to Care, which tackles themes of inequality in health. Jones has also received grants and commissions from Lincoln Center Theater, The Ford Foundation, and theater honors including an Obie, a Helen Hayes Award, two Drama Desk nominations, HBOs US Comedy Arts Festival's Best One Person Show Award, and an NYCLU Calloway Award in recognition of Jones as the first artist in history to sue the Federal Communications Commission for censorship. The lawsuit resulted in reversal of the censorship ruling, which had targeted her hip-hop poem recording, Your Revolution. A regular uncensored guest on public radio, she has also made numerous TV appearances on HBO, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, CNN, and in her own special, The Sarah Jones Show, on Bravo. Jones lives in New York with her creative partner and husband Steve Colman.
Roy Jones, Jr. Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, Roy Jones, Jr. a motivational speaker, speaks to America's youth on the value of education and the perils of drugs.
Will Jordan Popular comedian and impressionist.
Deloris Jordan The mother of basketball's greatest player, Michael Jordan, Deloris Jordan, a motivational speaker is the author of Family First. Using warm anecdotes and never before told family stories, she paints a realistic and uplifting portrait of the potential power of parents. Ms. Jordan explores the universal goals parents set for their children, and explains the practical tools she used to help her children realize those goals.
Vernon Jordan A prominent attorney, political advisor to President Bill Clinton and the former president of the National Urban League. Vernon Jordan has devoted the major part of his life to the civil rights movement and he continues to speak out on vital national issues.
Ronnie Jordan From the very start funny man Ronnie Jordan has proven that hes a comedy force to be reckoned with. After only a year on the comedy scene, the kid voted Most Wittiest in high school was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2001 by the famed Uptown Comedy Corner in Atlanta. As one of the countrys hottest up-and-coming comedians Ronnie is quickly making a name for himself as a comics comic who has shared concert dates with stand-up heavyweights Rickey Smiley, Bruce Bruce, Mike Epps, and a host of others. A crowd favorite, he held it down as the opening act on the Queens of Comedy 12 city tour; the Miller Lite King and Queens of Comedy Search Tour; the Crown Royal Comedy Soul Fest Tour featuring R&B music legends Earth, Wind, and Fire. No stranger to television, Ronnie has been featured on Comic View, as well as HBOs P.Diddy Bad Boys of Comedy.
Nicki Joy Popular sales and motivational speaker, Nicki Joy, called The Bette Midler of sales, has been noted in Selling Power magazine and listed in Entrepreneur as one of one of the nation's top twenty-one sales motivators.
Andrea Joyce Sports analyst for HBO Sports.
Donna Richardson Joyner Richardson Joyner is today's vibrant trailblazing pioneer for health and fitness, who has enjoyed enormous success in the workout video world. Widely known for her series of twenty five award-winning fitness videos, most notably the wildly popular "Sweating In The Spirit," and "Buns Of Steel," Richardson Joyner (wife of popular syndicated radio personality, the "Fly Jock," Tom Joyner), is a lively, gorgeous advocate for health, vitality and fitness. She's the ultimate, fit example of inner beauty combined with outer beauty and she's ushering in a new paradigm of fitness in America. A mover and a shaper with infectious spirit and energy, the Silver Springs, MD native created and produced her videos to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle among Americans. Her "Sweating In The Spirit" video, which combines spirituality with health, is the #1 gospel exercise video in the country, featuring live performances by gospel greats Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams and Shirley Murdock. "This is the music that gets your soul stirring," Richardson Joyner says, "you are giving praise to God and taking care of your temple at the same time."
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Perhaps the most gifted female athlete of all time, Jackie Joyner-Kersee has won gold medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Her desire and dedication to be the best catapulted her to the top of the sports world. An inspirational and motivational speaker.
Naomi Judd Naomi Judd has always dared to do the impossible. A former nurse and single mother, she turned a musical pairing with daughter Wynonna into a six-time Grammy Award-winning country music phenomenon. She is the best-selling author of Love Can Build a Bridge, a moving story of the human spirit. Although she would modestly insist otherwise, there has never been anything simple or commonplace about Naomi Judd - not her vision, her life, her faith, nor the music she and her daughter, Wynonna, created as The Judds. She dreamed bigger, worked harder, took greater risks and triumphed more resoundingly than most people ever will. From the beginning of The Judds' meteoric rise, her "china doll" looks and magnetic personality paralleled the duo's music for the public's attention and appreciation. As their songs became #1 hits, their RCA albums went platinum and their concerts became sellouts. Their popularity kept them undefeated for eight consecutive years at all three major country award shows. They received six Grammys and a vast array of other awards and honors. Bringing values and insistence on integrity to every aspect of her public and personal life, Judd helped The Judds set new standards of excellence and ushered in the resurgence of country music's popularity. America fell in love with the self-proclaimed country girl from Ashland, Kentucky. From small town humble beginnings, this daughter of a gas station owner father and riverboat cook mother became a hope seller to the duo's legions of fans. The music industry labeled her the "Cinderella" of country music because of her real life rags-to-riches story. During the Judds' eight-year reign as superstars, she became infinitely more to the public than a singer, songwriter and engaging performer. She came to represent every woman. Having been an R.N., a secretary, waitress and clerk, the divorced, working mother stood for the modern American family, with all its defects and glories.
Cary Judd The music of Cary Judd will punch you in the gut and rip your heart out. Whether you see his live performance or enjoy his new CD, entitled "Looking Back From Space", you will be intrigued by the contradictions he explores. His songs - vulnerable, clever, explosive, and beautiful-appeal to virtually all listeners because of their raw connection with human fear, hope, and triumph. With Cary, it's not about wearing his heart on his sleeve, it's about wearing your heart on his sleeve. Cary's live show is deceptively understated-just a man and a guitar. But what you see is not what you get. He starts by playing a riff or progression that finds itself embellished in a swirl of drum and guitar loops that he masterfully creates with a series of electronic pedals at his feet. His stage demeanor will make you feel like you're having a conversation and a good laugh with an old familiar friend. Cary impressively redefines the one-man-show.
KellyAnne Judd KellyAnne Judd was diagnoised in 7th grade with ADD and went through a painful cycle of medication until ultimately at the age of 17 she saw a nutritionist who got her on natural ADD medicine which she adjusted to much better and led her to contemplating a career in natural medicine. Like most that actually seem to make it onto The Real World KellyAnn Judd was pushed into it by someone else, who for her was her sister. So she went to the open audition in her town and was suprised that Bunim-Murray Productions kept calling her back through each round until she ended up on The Real World Sydney. KellyAnne from The Real World Sydney could speak well on natural medicine and sexual harassment at college speaking engagements especially when paired with Parisa Montazaran.
Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis was born in Hungary and is descended from a great rabbinic dynasty that can trace its lineage back to thedays of King David. Prior to the Holocaust there were 85 rabbis bearing the nameJungreis in Hungary. Following W.W.II, only ten remained. Having experienced the Holocaust first hand as an inmate of Bergen Belsen, the Rebbetzin.