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Name Description
George Takei Best known as Sulu on "Star Trek," Asian-American actor George Takei presents an entertaining inside look at the "Star Trek" phenomenon. Takei began recurring appearances as the announcer for The Howard Stern Show on January 9, 2006, after that show's move to satellite radio. He is currently cast in the TV hit show Heroes as Hiro Nakamura's father Kaito Nakamura.
C.T. Tamburello Christopher Tamburello, 26, born on July 16 1980 in Brooklyn, New York and then raised in Methuen, Massachusetts. He now resides in the Boston area. He was known as the confrontational Boston guy from Real World Paris. Real World Paris was season 13 on MTV airing late 2003. Chris Tamburello has been on several challenges being the Inferno in 2004 and the Inferno 2 in 2005 as he was on the Bad Ass team. He will was on the recent challenge, The Duel. He is also to be in the next real world road rules challenge, the Inferno 3, that will air in early 2007. CT of The Real World Paris would be great for speaking on communication/anger management/living with others/relationships at college lectures.
Amy Tan Well known asian american author of such major best-selling novels as The Joy Luck Club; and The Kitchen God's Wife.
Deborah Tannen Psychologist and expert on interpersonal relationships
Allan Tannenbaum Allan Tannenbaum's first real break into the photography business was a five-dollar assignment for the Soho News, a downtown New York City weekly. At the time, Tannenbaum was one year shy of a personal deadline: find a steady job or quit the profession. Until that day in 1974, the self-taught photographer had done freelance work in San Francisco, taught photography and filmmaking at Rutgers University in New Jersey and schlepped around the city with a portfolio, trying (in vain) to pick up assignments from major news magazines. While the Soho News weekly $40 salary was hardly enough to live on, the paper did provide Tannenbaum with the legitimacy and training he needed. "Initially I was very shy," says Tannenbaum. "At the Soho News I learned how to be better at telling people how to pose, at getting into places and pushing and shoving if necessary." In his post-Soho years, Tannenbaum has focused on international news. Here he is covering Desert Storm. Tannenbaum quickly made a name for himself with his shots of New York night life, celebrities, and political events. He earned the respect of prominent New Yorkers and eventually landed an exclusive photo session with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, one week before the Beatle was killed. Those photos drew world-wide attention for Tannenbaum, who, according to an early agreement with the Soho News, maintained complete copyright on all his photos. Despite the low pay and his dwindling interest in covering the decadent New York scene, Tannenbaum stuck with the weekly until it closed in March 1982. He then signed up with the photo agency Sygma and pursued his true passion -- international news photography. He traveled to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's release from prison, to Colombia in order to document the volcanic disaster that left over 20,000 people dead, to Berlin to cover the reunification of Germany and to the Gulf to shoot the aftermath of the war. His photos of the Arab-Israeli conflict won him First Prize for Spot News from the World Press Association. Despite the excitement and significance of his recent work, Tannenbaum still credits his decade at the Soho News as being a crucial period in his career. He is now working on a book, Soho Blues, about his time with the weekly.
Aerle Taree She has been characterized as a modern-day Renaissance Woman: Poet, songwriter, vocalist, producer, stylist, public speaker, and entrepreneur all describe the multi-talented, 25-year-old Atlanta-based Aerle Taree. Now, with her most recent venture as the president and founder of Reality Writings, Inc., Taree’s fans can add publisher to that list of accomplishments. Using her own experience as a successful recording artist, Taree is now on the other side of the microphone: as an advocate, coach, and publisher for promising talent in Atlanta.Born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1973, Taree was inspired through the admiration of her mother, a civil rights attorney and poet/writer, and her father, an editorial writer for the city’s newspaper. Their guidance led Taree to an appreciation for intellectual thought, creativity and education, and she spent most of her childhood writing and composing (anything from restaurant jingles to award-winning poetry). She continued her poetic quest while attending Cornell University in New York, where she studied fashion and apparel design. Her writing talent culminated in 1989 when she joined the Grammy award-winning group Arrested Development.It was as a member of that Atlanta-based group that Taree’s writing blossomed, co-writing the hit songs Tennessee and Revolution, (at the request of Spike Lee for Malcolm X: The Movie). During this time, Taree continued her studies at Clark Atlanta University; by the age of 21, she had won two Grammy Awards and a BMI .Taree’s career with Arrested Development gained her nationwide recognition and awards, including MTV Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, and Rolling Stone Critic Poll’s Band of the Year. During this time, Taree also made several feature appearances in magazines videos, albums and television, including Arsenio, BET Teen Summit, and Yo! MTV Raps. She also toured with pop group EnVogue, the Black College Tour, and the Lollapalooza Tour.Following her departure from Arrested Development, Taree continued to grow artistically. She has also started her own multifaceted entertainment company in Atlanta called Reality Writings, Inc., one of the newest members of the MCA Music Publishing family: “I really want to be seen as an artist and as a writer of pop poetry,” she says. “A modern-day Princess of Poetry.”Taree has written her own book of narrative poems entitled PoeTaree: The Jurisprudence of Life, which details an evening in the lives of college students from different social, racial, and class backgrounds. Writer Zona Neale Hurston, activist Angela Davis, and poet Gil Scott Heron have largely influenced her work.Taree has a keen interest in African-American communities; she continues to stay focused with what’s going on and the changes she can make through public speaking and panel appearances. She has spoken at the Athlete’s Village during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, the 1997 National Black Arts Fest, the IAAM Conference in Washington, DC, the North Carolina Black Leadership Caucus, as well as at other colleges and universities across the country. She also participated in the Vibe Magazine Music Conference in 1996 and the Jack the Rapper panel that same year.Today, Taree is involved in The PhD Project (phdproject.com). The organization aims to improve workforce diversity by diversifying business school faculties, and helping those pursuing a business PhD. Taree remains devoted to her personal commitment to promote change and progress in the community through writing and speaking.
Elizabeth Taylor Internationally known actress and legendary movie star.
Billy Taylor Celebrated jazz musician, Billy Talor appears regularly on CBS' "Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood." Mr. Taylor, a jazz historian as well as a performer, is available for a lecture, a lecture/demonstration or a concert.
Mikki Taylor Popular journalist and motivational speaker, Mikki Taylor is the Beauty Director and Cover Editor of Essence magazine. To think of Mikki Taylor as merely another beauty editor would be as classifying the late Louis Armstrong as just another guy who blew a horn. Her contribution to Essence magazine, the African-American community and the beauty industry is immeasurable. As beauty and cover editor of the nation's premier lifestyle publication targeted to Black women, she has the enormous responsibility of not only reflecting the culture's definition of "beauty" but also of shaping it. Some of Mikki's topics are: Positioning Yourself to Succeed Through the Power of Affirmation; What is This Thing Called Endurance; and Increasing Your Personal Power.
Kristin Clark Taylor White House Director of Media Relations in the Bush administration and the first African American woman in American history to hold that position. A journalist, Kristin Clark Taylor helped create and launch USA Today and was a founding member of the newspaper's Editorial Board. She is the author of her autobiography, The First to Speak: A Woman of Color Inside the White House.
Ephren Taylor Ephren Taylor Mogul Activist An Evening with Ephren Taylor At twenty-three, Ephren Taylor has had more business success then most people have in a lifetime. Already a history maker, Ephren is the youngest African-American CEO of a publicly traded company. His empire oversees over $100 million in assets and growing. A hip hop generation, self-made multi-millionaire, financial engineer, real estate investor, ordained minister, and venture capitalist, Ephren is the CEO of City Capital Corporation and owns three other companies. From Wall Street to South Central, Ephren’s diverse client list includes stock market day traders to Hip Hop icons such as Snoop Dogg. Ephren started his historical journey at the age of twelve by rejecting the misconception that young people are powerless. Like most young men, Ephren enjoyed playing videogames; however, his parents lacked the financial means to purchase them. So young Ephren began making videogames and later formulated a company to house his operation. By the age of sixteen, Ephren owned his second company, which became a multimillion dollar enterprise GoFerretGo.com. This innovative website connected high school and college students with employers. Today, Ephren is still making connections—he connects individuals, corporations, and churches to wealth. Beyond his unprecedented accomplishments in the financial industry and real estate market, Ephren is an ordained minister, an author, and public speaker. In his ministerial duties, Ephren talks about vision driven wealth, maintaining faith, and regularly consults with churches to help them plan and finance projects that further their mission. Ephren has authored five e-books and is currently penning his first bookstore release, which is an autobiography. As a speaker, Ephren connects to audiences with an energetic, humble, and interactive style that inspires audiences to expand their visions and move to action. Recently, Ephren expanded beyond the financial field into the entertainment arena. He currently owns a record label and is working on projects with a number of urban premier entertainers. Additionally, Ephren invest in a number of community redevelopment projects including the Kansas City Historic Jazz District revitalization. A true wealth engineer, Ephren is becoming for the hip hop community what Warren Buffet is for baby boomers, the premier financial expert for a generation.
Susan L Taylor Susan L. Taylor has been the driving force behind one of the most celebrated African American owned business success stories of the past three decades. She is the senior editorial executive at the venerable communications company and writes the popular In the Spirit column each month. She is currently working on her newest book, All about Love: Favorite Selections from in the Spirit on Living Fearlessly. The book draws from the 25 years of her In the Spirit column. A fourth-generation entrepreneur, Taylor was the founder of her own company, Nequai Cosmetics, before becoming Essence fashion and beauty editor and, in 1981, its Editor-in-Chief. She is the author of three books: In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings of Susan L. Taylor, Lessons in Living and Confirmation: The Spiritual Wisdom That Has Shaped Our Lives, the latter coauthored with her husband, Khephra Burns. She is also a greatly sought-after speaker, delivering inspiring messages of hope and possibility that encourage us to reclaim and reorient our lives and society and create peaceful, productive, sustainable communities. In 1999 Taylor became the first African American woman to receive The Henry Johnson Fisher Award from the Magazine Publishers of America, the magazine industry's highest honor. In 2002 Taylor was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame, which celebrates the career-long records of excellence, creativity and impact of a select group of highly influential magazine journalists. Taylor's visionary leadership was acknowledged when NAACP President Bruce presented her with his first President's Award in 2006. She is an avid supporter of a host of organizations dedicated to moving the Black community forward. Her passion and focus are on creating equity in education and turning around the nation's failing schools, which, she says are "the pipeline to prison." Taylor has received more than a dozen honorary degrees from numerous colleges and universities, including Lincoln University, Spelman College, Dillard University, Bennett College for Women, the University of Delaware and her alma mater, Fordham University. Most recently Taylor has been focusing her attention on the Essence Cares initiative. She launched this call to action to the African American community at the 2006 Essence Music Festival. It is a massive mentoring campaign that asks every able adult and our leadershipelected and appointed officials, educators, business, religious and secular leaders and college students to rally their communities to guide and secure our vulnerable children who are crying out for help. The goal is to create the largest mentoring campaign in the history of the nation and increase high school graduation rates among African American students by 10 percent annually. Taylor is also a cofounder of The Future PAC, the first national political action committee devoted to providing progressive African American women opportunities to hold more federal and state political offices by creating a network of support and funding. In addition, Taylor and Danny Glover co-chair a capital campaign to raise money to build housing in the rural areas of South Africa. She serves on the board of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, DC, and is an official on the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which she joined to assist the devastated people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region.
Kelly Taylor At just three years into the uncertain world of comedy, Kelly Taylor is feeling pretty comfortable with his decision to give up his mediocre career in hockey and pursue his dream. Kellys ability to headline clubs, corporate and college events at just three years into his career is evidence that this kid is the real deal. Kelly has performed on Just for Laughs. Kelly Taylor Saskatcheewans second best export after wheat!
Brianna Taylor Brianna Taylor a reality show personality, singer and songwriter, having appeared on both the fifth season of American Idol and The Real World Hollywood, the twentieth season of MTVs long-running reality television series, The Real World. She released her debut, self-titled EP, Brianna Taylor, in 2008, on Chamberlain Records; according to that labels website, she is now signed to Universal Music.
Immortal Technique Immortal Technique (Felipe Coronel)was born February 19, 1978 in a military hospital in South America, Immortal Technique was brought to the United States in the early 80's while a civil war was breaking out in his native Peru. The US supported puppet democracy and Guerilla factions were locked in a bitter struggle which ended like most do in Latin America, with the military and economic aid of the State Dept. through channels like the CIA. Although he had escaped the belligerent poverty and social turmoil of life in the 3rd world, he was now residing in Harlem which had its own share of drama. Growing up on the streets of New York, the young man became enamored with Hip Hop culture, writing graffiti and starting to rhyme at an early age. Although he frequently cut school and ended up being arrested time and time again for his wild behavior, the kid still managed to finish high school and got accepted to a state university. Unfortunately the survivalist and aggressive attitude that was the norm in New York City caused him to be involved in more violent altercations at school, whether it was with other brothers, false flaggers or the relentlessly racist population of an uncultured Middle America.
Studs Terkel Pulitzer Prize winning author and social critic.
Jamiel Terry Jamiel Terry, a child of movement royalty, as the Washington Post once called him, is the son of Randall Terry. Randall Terry, an icon of the religious right, is the founder of Operation Rescue, which led large-scale nationwide protests against abortion. He is also an outspoken opponent of granting special rights to homosexuals, and has championed the fight against same-sex marriage. Randall thought his sons homosexuality was something that he would just have to overcome. Some very personal and life altering moments in Jamiels life finally forced him to face his inner struggle and accept himself for who he was.
The Boys Choir of Harlem World reknowned Boys Choir of Harlem presents an uplifting and inspiring musical presentation.
Cal Thomas Conservative journalist, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and TV talk show host.
Helen Thomas Commonly referred to as The First Lady of the Press, White House Bureau Chief Helen Thomas is a trailblazer, breaking through barriers for women reporters while covering every President since John F. Kennedy. For 57 years, Helen also served as White House correspondent for United Press International. She recently left this post and joined Hearst Newspapers as a syndicated columnist. Born in Winchester, Kentucky, Helen was raised in Detroit, Michigan where she attended public schools and later graduated from Wayne State University. Upon leaving college, she served as a copy girl on the old, now defunct Washington Daily News. In 1943, Ms. Thomas joined United Press International and the Washington Press Corps. For 12 years, Helen wrote radio news for UPI, her work day beginning at 5:30am. Eventually she covered the news of the Federal government, including the FBI and Capitol Hill. In November, 1960, Helen began covering then President-elect John F. Kennedy, following him to the White House in January, 1961 as a member of the UPI team. It was during this first White House assignment that Helen began closing presidential press conferences with ?Thank you, Mr. President.? In September, 1971, Pat Nixon scooped Helen by announcing her engagement to Associated Press? retiring White House correspondent, Douglas B. Cornell at a White house party hosted by then President Nixon in honor of Cornell. Helen was the only woman print journalist traveling with then President Nixon to China during his breakthrough trip in January, 1972. She has the distinction of having traveled around the world several times with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, and Bush, Jr., during the course of which she covered every Economic Summit. The World Almanac has cited her as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in America. Helen Thomas has written three books, including her latest, Thanks for the Memories Mr. President: Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row at the White House.
Kurt Thomas World-class Olympic gymnast, ABC sports color analyst and motivational speaker.
Isiah Thomas Basketball superstar, and now head coach of the Detroit Pistons of the NBA.
Joyce Carol Thomas Award winning novelist, poet and playwright and lecturer, Joyce Carol Thomas won the National Book Award for her first novel, Marked By Fire. Her newest book, Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea, is a collection of unusually moving poems that celebrate family, individuality and African American heritage. Topics: Multiculturalism is Morally Correct; Saving the Black Family; Why Are Black Women Mad at White Women.
Mable Thomas Known throughout the country as "Able Mable," Mable Thomas was one of the youngest women to be elected to the Georgia State Assembly where she served from 1985 to 1993. She is currently serving a four year term as councilwoman on the Atlanta City Council. A truly concerned public servant and a role model for the youth of America, she is committed to youth, housing, economic development, women's issues, community awareness and participation.
John Thompson Highly regarded basketball coach for Georgetown University and now a television basketball analyst. An entertaining, humorous and motivational speaker.
Kathryn Harris Tijerina Native American attorney and activist, Kathryn Harris Tijerina is the Diretor of Indian Resource Development in New Mexico. Ms. Tijerina graduated from Radcliffe-Harvard College and from the Stanford University School of Law.
George Tinker Native American activist, theologian and author, George Tinker articulates a Native American Christian Theology which is relevant to many indigenous peoples. Topics include The Columbus Quincentennary, Native American spirituality, sovereignty, solidarity and other issues.
Thomas Todd Attorney and well known motivational speaker.
Van Toffler Van Toffler is MTV Networks Group President, responsible for all of the MTV Networks music services including: MTV, MTV2, VH1, CMT and all their affiliated digital services, as well as Logo, MTV Networks soon to be launched network for the gay, lesbian, bi and transgender audience. Additionally, he is President of MTV Films, the feature film division he helped create in 1995. As MTVN Group President, Toffler also provides leadership for all other ancillary businesses related to these brands. At each network, there is a dedicated team of executives who oversee day-to-day operations, with Mr. Toffler overseeing strategy and long term planning.
Judge Lynn Toler With over twenty years of experience behind her in the practice of law, Lynn Toler brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the bench of DIVORCE COURT, the half-hour, relationship-oriented courtroom show by Monet Lane Prods., Inc. and Twentieth Television. A television classic revived for the 90s and beyond, DIVORCE COURT features real people, real conflicts and powerful human drama in a compelling true-life courtroom setting where litigants abide by Tolers legally-binding decisions. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Toler earned an undergraduate degree in English and American Literature from Harvard (1981) and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1984. Toler quickly established herself as one of Clevelands top attorneys soon thereafter, specializing in an array of civil matters. Between 1986 and 1994, she served as an arbitrator for Cuyahoga Countys Common Pleas Court. Encouraged by many to run for Municipal Court judge in Cleveland Heights, Toler became enthusiastic about the idea, but wondered whether she had the kind of judicial appearance and stance that is appropriate for the bench. She pushed it all aside and launched a grassroots campaign in pursuit of her first public office. Tolers determination proved to be just in 1994 when she was elected Administrative Judge in Cleveland Heights Municipal Court. Toler quickly settled into her new role, realizing that her job "was not to prove that Im a good judge, but to be a good judge. To be a good judge, I have to affect positive change in the people I see." During her eight year tenure, she presided over hundreds of small claims, domestic violence, homicides, assault and stalking cases. Additionally, Toler implemented "Women Talk," a judicial mentor program dedicated to motivating at-risk high school girls toward educational achievement and financial independence and personal esteem independent of male "acceptance." In 2001, Toler stepped off her Ohio bench and headed for Hollywood after being asked to preside over the second season of Twentieth Televisions syndicated strip, "Power of Attorney." It was there that Toler got her first taste of television for which she enjoyed fully.
Chief Justice Tom Tso A leading Native American jurist, Chief Justice Tom Tso served for many years as Chief Justice of the Navaho Court. The Indian court system is independent of the U.S. court system and Chief Justice Tso is an active lobbyist to protect the individual and tribal rights of Native Americans.
Dave Toma David Toma is a legend in his own time. For the last forty years he has been America's leading antidrug and antialcohol crusader, speaking to thousands of teenagers, parents, teachers, and school administrators each week. The inspiration for two television series -- "Baretta" and "Toma" -- he was a policeman for twenty-one years and is also a former Marine drill instructor. For sixteen of his years on the force he was a detective in the vice, gambling, and narcotics squad of one of North America's most troubled cities, Newark, New Jersey. His arrest record was unmatched--numbering in the thousands with an unheard-of 98 percent conviction record--all without ever firing his gun. He has lectured throughout the world, is the author of four books including Toma Tells It Straight--With Love, and Turning Your Life Around, and has hosted his own weekly discussion program on New York's WOR-TV and an excellent motivational speaker.
Lily Tomlin Lily Tomlin continues to venture across an ever-widening range of media, starring in productions in television, theatre, film, animation and video. Recent projects include the film I Heart Huckabees and the hit NBC television series The West Wing. Throughout her extraordinary entertainment career, Tomlin has received numerous awards, including six Emmys; a Tony for her one-woman Broadway show, Appearing Nitely; a second Tony (Best Actress), a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her one-woman performance in Jane Wagners The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe; a CableACE Award for executive producing the film adaptation of The Search; a Grammy for her comedy album This Is a Recording; and two Peabody Awardsthe first for the ABC television special Edith Anns Christmas: Just Say Nol and the second for narrating and executive producing the HBO film The Celluloid Closet.
Jeffrey Toobin Legal affairs analyst for ABC News and "Good Morning America." A former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Jeffrey Toobin was also an Associate Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel, Lawrence E. Walsh.
Carrot Top As for Carrot Top's live show, it has to be seen to be believed. It has evolved into a spectacle of lights, lasers, and music. The evening consists of numerous travel trunks overflowing with bits and pieces of everyday life transformed into creations of reality which everyone can relate to: a Mark Fuhrman belt with a bloody glove attached, a party horn with an inhaler for asthmatics, a briefcase with a credit-card machine attached for O.J. Simpson's lawyers, slippers with bumpers for those nighttime excursions, etc. Each prop is introduced to his captivated audience with a twist of the absurd. With rapid-fire succession, he displays an uncanny accuracy for making people laugh in a carnival-like atmosphere. Yes, that is his real hair and it's naturally this curly. There are some people who honestly think he went into a salon one day with a normal head of hair and said, "Can you screw it up real bad?", and then paid for it. His favorite color is plaid, but he loves all colors and think they should all be worn at the same time. His philosophy on clothing is "Never Match It's Boring." In case you were wondering, for a brief time he preferred briefs or boxers, but all he can tell you now is "I'm Swinging Like a Pendulum Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." He is originally from Cocoa Beach, Florida... Talk about a difficult place to get an education. When you get up, it's really hard making the decision whether to surf or go to school. He went surfing more than he went to school. His father worked for NASA and his brother became a fighter pilot after going to the Air Force Academy on a swimming scholarship, and here he is on stage, swinging around a plastic private body part. Now that's giving his parents something to be proud of !!! He considers himself pretty strange. Sometimes he reminds himself of the Kennedys. Maybe he is a Kennedy or even an Osmond. Not because of the freckles or the red hair, of course, but because of his big teeth. As for his transportation, he has a "rot-proof" Carrot-Mobile. And then there are his hundred servants, bowing at his feet. As for the road, what started out as a Yugo and a tackle box has now become 35 fully packed trunks can't have enough props in an 18-wheeler, and a tour bus. Carrot Top would have to say his major comedy influences are Jonathan Winters, (you just look at him and have to laugh), and Robin Williams. Don't forget one of his favorites George Carlin...the MASTER!
James Top For over 30 years,TOP has been recognized as; one of the most legendary subway graffiti crews in NYC. This crew has taken their subway beginnings and transcended in to; Television, Fine art gallery shows, Community art inspired activism, Fashion, and Web based commerce. The most popular Graffiti Artist today in New York City. The Daily News describes him as "The Spray King" His works was crucial in the success of Graffiti's most prestigious group shows. Graffiti 2005 and History in the Making Part 3. This self taught artist began his career in the East New York section of Brooklyn as a founding member of "The Odd Partners" (TOP) would make history by dominating the IND and the BMT subway lines during the mid to late 1970's. Today James is the founder of Graffiti Artist for a Positive Cause. This organization help charitable, political and community organizations through art. They also beautify neighborhoods with murals and productions. JamesTop also is producer and host of "Graffiti NYC" a weekly cable TV show that is shown on Sunday 1:30 AM on channel 67 in NYC and 12:30 AM Friday in Brooklyn. The outdoor mural project "The Peoples Wall" located at 147th street between 7th & 8th avenues in Harlem. Coming soon JamesTop autobiography "My Life as an Odd Partner". Artist Statement: “I take great pride in capturing what I feel is the African American experience in America” JamesTop is currently resides in Harlem, an is an art instructor.
Joe Torre Popular manager of the New York Yankees.
Gwen Torrence Track and field star, and motivational speaker Gwen Torrence won a gold medal anchoring the USA women's relay team to victory at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Liz Torres Well known Hispanic actress.
Shauvon Torres Shauvon from The Real World Sydney is currently a Senior at California State University Sacramento CSUS but will finish her journalism degree at Cal State LA. She seems to fulfill the "sex vixen" role within The Real World Sydney cast as she was newly single for the show and wrote a weekly column for the CSUS State Hornet Newspaper, called "Sex Capades", where she wrote about sex, dating, & relationships. Shauvon from The Real World Sydney would be great for speaking on women empowerment, body / weight issues, teenage & young adult insecurities and how to overcome them at college lectures.
Daniel Tosh The unusual mind of Daniel Tosh has earned him the admiration of his peers by winning over audiences with his unique brand of stand up comedy. A quick look at Daniel thus far: Born in Germany... grew up a preacher's kid in Florida... two sisters and one brother... surfer... decent student... bad allergies... began his foray into stand up... UCF graduate... took to the road... lives in Los Angeles on the beach and loves his dog. Daniel will next be seen starring in "Tosh.0," a series he created for Comedy Central set to premiere June 4th, 2009. Daniel is currently one of the most requested headliners in the country. He has also quickly evolved into one of the most popular and successful college acts, having performed at more than seven hundred campuses in his career. Daniels casual style and sharp material have proven to be greatly appreciated by his audiences, young and old (but mostly young). Daniel made his network debut on "The Late Show with David Letterman," and has returned to perform several times since. Daniel has also appeared multiple times on "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." His previous television credits include "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn," " The unusual mind of Daniel Tosh has earned him the admiration of his peers by winning over audiences with his unique brand of stand up comedy. A quick look at Daniel thus far: Born in Germany... grew up a preacher's kid in Florida... two sisters and one brother... surfer... decent student... bad allergies... began his foray into stand up... UCF graduate... took to the road... lives in Los Angeles on the beach and loves his dog. Daniel will next be seen starring in "Tosh.0," a series he created for Comedy Central set to premiere June 4th, 2009. Daniel is currently one of the most requested headliners in the country. He has also quickly evolved into one of the most popular and successful college acts, having performed at more than seven hundred campuses in his career. Daniel's casual style and sharp material have proven to be greatly appreciated by his audiences, young and old (but mostly young). Daniel made his network debut on "The Late Show with David Letterman," and has returned to perform several times since. Daniel has also appeared multiple times on "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." His previous television credits include "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Last Call with Carson Daly," "Premium Blend" (Comedy Central), "Best Week Ever" (VH1), "The Test" (FX), "Friday Night Stand-Up" (Comedy Central), MTV'S "Punk'd" and "Live at Gotham" (Comedy Central). In 2002, he taped his first stand up special, "Comedy Central Presents: Daniel Tosh," at the Hudson Theatre in New York City. While still living in Florida, Daniel hosted his own popular late-night television show, "Tens." Daniel has performed at the most significant comedy festivals across the globe. In 1998, he appeared in the New Faces show at the Montreal's Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. Through the great response generated, he was invited to return two years later in his own televised gala at The St. Denis Theatre. In addition, Daniel has also turned in triumphant festival performances in New Zealand and Kikenny, Ireland, one of Europe's largest comedy festivals, as well as multiple trips to HBOs U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. In 2005, Daniel was named one of Varietys 10 Comics to Watch. When not performing comedy, Daniel surfs, gambles and continues to pursue his interests in acting, hosting and writing. Daniel's premiere CD, "True Stories I Made Up," was released in November of 2005 through The Comedy Records. His hour special, "Completely Serious," premiered on Comedy Central in June 2007. Since then, he was featured in Mike Myers' latest film, "The Love Guru," has hosted "Live at Gotham" for Comedy Central and is enjoying himself touring theatres throughout the country.
Pamela Toussaint Journalist and author of six books including, Boys Into Men: Raising Our African and American Teenage Sons and I Call You Friend: Four Women's Stories of Race, Faith and Friendship. Topics: Race, Faith and Friendship; Raising African American Children; Building Authenitic Relationships Across Race.
Robert Townsend As a passionate visionary, trailblazer and journeyman, Robert Townsend, transcends any medium he touches with a magic that is truly undeniable. Most recently, Robert Townsend, the Hollywood hyphenate added president and CEO of a Television Network to an impressive list that showcases his talents as an actor, director, writer, comedian, and producer. Not bad for a kid raised by a single mother on the rough Westside of Chicago. The second oldest of four children Robert entertained his mother doing impressions of everyone he watched on television. His impersonations were astounding. He could transform into Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, and Humphrey Bogart and then turn around and do Alfred Hitchcock and Bill Cosby. Roberts genius revealed itself publicly in elementary school while reading Shakespeares Oedipus Rex, where he dazzled the class with his ability to transform effortlessly into characters. His remarkable talent caught the attention of Chicagos Experimental Black Actors Guild X-Bag Theatre in Chicago. Then it was onto The Improvisation, New Yorks premiere comedy club. It was there his career as a stand-up comedian took off. Soon after, Robert hit Hollywood like a ton of bricks performing on various television comedy specials including Rodney Dangerfield: It s Not Easy Being Me" and Uptown Comedy Express". Robert also landed roles of a lifetime opposite Denzel Washington in A Soldiers Story", Diane Lane in Streets of Fire" and Kevin Costner in American Flyers". Unbridled success continued when Robert Townsend the independent filmmaker was born. With no formal film education or outside funding (using his own credit cards) Robert co-wrote, directed, and starred in his own film. The result was the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle". His next film endeavor was the inner-city fable: "The Meteor Man" that he also wrote, directed and starred. The stellar cast included James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, and Eddie Griffin. The popular soul musical, "The Five Heartbeats", reminiscent of 60s R & B male groups was his next cinematic accomplishment. In between features, Robert created and produced the ground breaking- Cable Ace award winning-Partners in Crime" variety special. Townsend also created the highly praised Townsend Television" for FOX television-not to mention Roberts hit WB series in which he also created and starred in- The Parenthood was a sensational hit among audiences of all ages. With his career in high gear, film projects poured in as Robert soon found himself directing Hollywood stars such as: Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy Raw"; Academy Award-winners Halle Berry and Martin Landau in "B*A*P*S"; Academy Award-winner Louis Gossett, Jr. in Showtimes Love Songs"; and the Disney family film Up, Up, and Away"! Townsend made history at the NAACP Image Awards in 2001 by directing three performers nominated in the best actor/actress category in three different films: Leon, for his role in NBCs Little Richard"; Alfre Woodard in the Showtime Movie Holiday Heart" (which also garnered her a Golden Globe nomination) and Natalie Cole for her gripping self-portrayal in Livin' For Love: The Natalie Cole Story" (for which she won the coveted Image Award for best actress). Townsend continued to helm films for the small screen: "Carmen: A Hip-Hopera" for MTV Films, starring Beyonce Knowles, Mos Def, and Bow Wow. "10,000 Black Men Named George" for Showtime, a period piece about the Pullman porter strike, was nominated for an impressive four Image Awards- [starring Andre Braugher, and Charles Dutton] who later went on to win the Image Award for his outstanding performance in the piece. While busy as a performer and filmmaker, Robert always makes time to participate in humanitarian efforts and speak to various organizations. As a longtime speaker for the United Negro College Fund, his concern for inner city youth takes him throughout the country to inspire young people to follow their dreams. In addition, Robert shares his business expertise with various Fortune 500 companies. Today, Townsend continues to reinvent himself as the President and CEO of Productions for the Black Family Channel. During his first five months on the job he has produced eight new television programs including Spoken", Souled Out", The Thousand Dollar Bee", Lisa Knight and the Round Table", and The Black College Talent Hour", that run the gamut in content. In his new role as CEO, Townsend aims to change the face of television. I know its a tall order and Ive set the bar really high, but in order to reach the stars you must set your sights on the moon".
Alex Trebek TV personality and host of Jeopardy.
Geoff Trenchard Geoff Trenchard, a spoken word artist based in Oakland, California, was featured on Def Poetry Jam - Season 3. A guest performer and lecturer at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and Arkansas University, among others, Trenchard has toured nationally with the San Jose Slam Team and participated on award-clinching teams throughout the Bay Area. He also coached the UC Berkeley Slam team to 1st place at the ASUC Collegiate Nationals, and is a mentor with YouthSpeaks, the national youth poetry, spoken word, and writing program. In addition, he works with the Art Gate program to produce curriculum geared toward at-risk youth. Trenchard's poems have been published in The National Poetry Slam Anthology, Tea Party Magazine, and the Worcester Review. He continues to write and tour with the performance poetry trio "The Suicide Kings."
Judy Scales Trent Law professor, attorney and author of Notes of a White Black Woman: Race, Color, Community, which describes a hidden part of the Black experience in America by exploring what it is like to be a "white" Black woman and to live simultaneously inside and outside of both white and Black communities.
Lori Trespicio Lori Trespicio from MTV Real World New York. She was known as embracing drama and loving to sing while on Real World New York. Real World New York was season 10 on MTV. Lori Trespicio would be great for singing events and speaking on sensitivity/diversity/relationships at college lectures
Joe Trippi Joe Trippi - heralded on the cover of The New Republic as the man who "reinvented campaigning" -began his political career working on Edward M. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1980. His work in presidential politics continued with the campaigns of Walter Mondale, Gary Hart, Richard Gephardt and Howard Dean. He is the author of a new book, ,The Revolution Will Not be Televised, which focuses on his expertise on the effective use of the internet, grass roots marketing and campaigning, and of course his take on the current political environment, particularly the Howard Dean campaign. As a campaign manager, Trippi has run Presidential, Senate, gubernatorial and mayoral campaigns. He was selected by former Vice President Walter Mondale to manage Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses in 1984 and later went on to run several key states for the Mondale for President campaign. In 1988, Trippi was the Deputy National Campaign Manager for Richard Gephardt's presidential campaign. In 2004, he was National Campaign Manager for Howard Dean's presidential campaign, pioneering the use of online technology to organize what became the largest grassroots movement in presidential politics. Through Joe Trippi's innovative use of the internet for small-donor fundraising, Dean for America ended up raising more money than any Democratic presidential campaign in history, all with donations averaging less than $100 each. Trippi's innovations have brought fundamental change to the electoral system and will be the model for how all future political campaigns are run. Trippi began his work in media consulting at the Democratic media firm of Doak, Shrum and Associates, where he was involved in developing the strategy and producing the media for the successful campaigns of Jerry Baliles for governor of Virginia and Bob Casey for governor of Pennsylvania. Trippi was also instrumental in the re-election campaigns of U.S. Senator Alan Cranston of California and Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles. In addition to his work in politics, Trippi worked with a number of high-tech companies in the 1990's, including Wave Systems, Progeny Linux Systems, and Smart Paper Networks. As a political analyst and commentator, Trippi appears regularly on MSNBC and the Fox News Channel. He has been profiled in GQ, Fast Company, The New Republic and The New York Times Magazine
Quincy Troupe Author, novelist and poet, Quincy Troupe is among the most vibrant and prolific American writers today. He was the founding editor of Confrontation: A Journal of Third World Literature and serves as senior editor for the literary journal, River Styx. Quincy Troupe was in the forefront of the multicultural movement in literature and the arts with the publication of Giant Talk. He is the winner of the American Book Award and the Peabody Award. Topic: Contemporary African American and African Literature.
JOHN TRUDELL Native American Poet and Recording Artist On the subject of his extraordinary and acclaimed work as a recording artist, poet and champion of indigenous issues, John Trudell is as direct and plain spoken as the words he puts to music. A people's poet in the truest sense of the term, John Trudell's potent imagery and passionate convictions have established his reputation as a spoken word artist whose international following reflects the universal language of his music...and his message. Simply put, John Trudell is the real deal. Now, with Bone Days (Daemon Records), his brilliant new collection of thirteen original compositions, John Trudell is poised to bring his stunning soundscapes to a whole new audience. Recorded with his longtime band, Bad Dog, and executive-produced by Angelina Jolie, Academy Award winning actress and Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Bone Days marks a new chapter in the creative saga of one of America's true originals. Kris Kristofferson once called John Trudell, a crazy lone wolf, poet, prophet, preacher, warrior full of pain and fun and laughter and love... He's a reality check. Justice is a fire that burns inside him. His spirit cries out for it. It makes him dangerous.
Donald Trump Chairman of The Trump Organization and star of The Apprentice As Chairman of The Trump Organization, Donald Trump sets the highest standards of excellence in real estate, gaming, and entertainment. He was named the "Visionary of the Century" by the UJA Federation and is the author of several best-selling books, including The Art of the Deal and How to get Rich. Trump stars in the very successful reality TV program, The Apprentice, earning rave reviews making history in its ratings. Trump is most famous for several large skyscrapers he developed in Manhattan and named after himself. Starting with Trump Tower, he developed Trump World Tower along the East River and then began construction of the Trump Place Apartment complex along the Hudson River that same year. His nickname of "The Donald" was given to him by ex-wife Ivana Trump. He is often known as "A Schoolboy's Dream" and "A Competitor's Challenge," as he is rarely afraid of defining the ways of a prolific American business executive, and thus became an example of one.
Ming Tsai Ming’s story began in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio where he spent countless hours cooking alongside his mother and father at their family-owned restaurant, Mandarin Kitchen. His love of cooking (and eating!) great food was forged in these early years, while he gained valuable experience in both the front and back of the house. With food still deeply ingrained, Ming headed east to attend school at Andover and then on to earn his degree in Mechanical Engineering at Yale University. During this time, Ming never strayed far from the kitchen; while at Yale, he spent his sophomore summer at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Upon graduation, Ming decided to focus on food and set out to learn as much as he could in kitchens around the globe. Ming trained under renowned Pastry Chef Pierre Herme in Paris and in Osaka with Sushi Master Kobayashi. By the time Ming returned to the United States, he knew he had made the right decision to pursue his true calling in the world of food. To get closer to his (and every chef’s) dream, Ming enrolled in graduate school at Cornell University to earn his master’s degree in Hotel Administration and Hospitality Marketing. From there he went on to hold positions in both front and back of the house at establishments in Chicago, Atlanta, California and Santa Fe, where he continued to learn varied styles of cuisine.In February of 1998, Ming’s dream became reality. He and his wife, Polly, opened the doors to Blue Ginger, a bistro-style restaurant dedicated to East-West cuisine. Located in the Boston suburb of Wellesley, Massachusetts, Blue Ginger brings urban dining and sophistication to the Boston suburbs.Since opening, Blue Ginger has impressed diners from Boston and beyond with its unique East-West cuisine. In its first year, Blue Ginger received 3 stars from the Boston Globe, was named “Best New Restaurant” by Boston Magazine, was nominated by the James Beard Foundation as “Best New Restaurant 1998” and Esquire Magazine honored Ming as “Chef of the Year 1998.” Five years later the popularity continues. The James Beard Foundation crowned Ming as the “2002 Best Chef Northeast,” while the 2002-2003, 2003-2004 & 2004-2005 Zagat Restaurant Guide rated Blue Ginger as the “2nd Most Popular Boston Restaurant.” In 2005, Ming was honored as “Restaurateur of the Year” by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. Ming is also a founding member of Chefs For Humanity, a coalition of chefs and culinary professionals who came together in response to the tsunami tragedy in 2005. Chefs For Humanity organizes relief and fundraising for people in need throughout the world. Most recently, Ming was in Gulfport, Mississippi, with Chefs For Humanity, cooking for the police force and displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina. In the winter of 2000, Ming was approached by Target, who proposed the idea of a partnership. With the backing of such a trendy, quality-focused retailer, Ming would be able to give even more people the opportunity to create East-West food at home that is flavorful and healthy, while at the same time being fun and affordable. From Target and Ming’s partnership, the Blue Ginger line was launched. “Blue Ginger” is exclusively available at SuperTarget stores nationwide. The easy to use, high-quality cookware and delicious Asian-inspired ingredients and snack foods allow home cooks to experiment and create their own versions of Ming’s East-West fare. In January 2004, Ming’s noodle bowls, rice bowls and stir-fry kits debuted across the country. These tasty, exotic meals bring East-West cooking from the microwave or skillet to your table in minutes!
Tom Tso Tom Tso played a pioneering role in establishing modern Anglo-American law and legal processes in the Navajo Nation while upholding tribal values, independence, and integrity. As the first Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court at its establishment 1985, Tom served as its widely respected leader until his disability retirement in 1991. After graduating from high school in 1965, Tom served as a Marine, earning the Purple Heart in 1966 for wounds he sustained as a sergeant in Vietnam. His training in legal services began in 1970, at the Navajo Legal Aid and Defender Services, where he was an interpreter, investigator, and court advocate. In 1978, he was appointed director of the Tribal Law and Development Litigation Unit of Department of Native Affairs-People's Legal Services, Inc. In March 1982, Tom was appointed District Court Judge, where he presided over civil, criminal, and juvenile cases for four years before being appointed Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation. At his confirmation in 1985, Tom said, "No person can be guaranteed fairness and impartiality from the courts unless the judges and courts are free to carry out their duties without the possibility of any type of influence from any other person or government body." Because the Navajo Nation operates without a constitution, there has been serious debate about the role of the tribal courts in deciding legal issues about the structure of the Navajo Nation government. Tom's calm and steady efforts to maintain the independence and primacy of the Navajo judiciary over Navajo Nation affairs and to keep the court's focus on its judicial mission amid intense controversy won praise from every quarter. Tom rejects the melting pot image where "everybody blends together to form an indistinguishable mixture. This is fine for people who come to this country and want to jump into the pot. The real measure of tolerance and respect may well be how successfully the outside world can coexist with tribes." Tom has been particularly successful in helping non-Native Americans better understand the Navajo emphasis on traditional relationships with nature and the effect this has on cases involving natural resources and the environment.
Ernie Tsosie Ernie Tsosie, also known as Concho Roman, was born and raised in the Southwest on the Navajo Reservation and is originally from Fort Defiance, AZ. His maternal clan is "Near the Water People" and his paternal clan is "Bitter Water People". Ernie is a husband and a father of two children who takes pride in his family life. Ernie has performed in films, on radio, on stage and as a stand up comedian. Besides being a comedian Mr. Tsosie is also an actor and has acted on stage and in films with notable Native American actors such as Gary Farmer, Wes Studi, and more. Mr. Tsosie can be seen in the film "Two Gray Hills" with Gary Farmer, in which he plays "Big Dave", he is also in the cast of "Rez-Robics" staring Elane Miles and Drew Lacapa, and most recently Ernest is featured in the 2004 PBS movie of the week "A Thief of Time", in which he plays "Clem Allison" police dispatcher. Mr. Tsosie's theatre experience includes acting in two world premier plays, the first entitled "Thirteen Days" for the Tony award winning Mime Troupe and Borderlands Theatre of Tucson. The second world premier play was entitled "Katsina" for the Actors Theatre of Phoenix. As a stand up comedian, Ernie was the runner up winner in the first Navajo Nation comedy competition held in Farmington, New Mexico. He has shared the stage with notable comedians such as Vincent Craig, Drew Lacapa, Steve McGrew and James Junes. Ernie loves to perform whether it is on stage in a play, in front of a camera or in front of a live audience making people laugh. His motto and message to others is, "You don't know what you can do until you try".
Cynthia Tucker Cynthia Tucker is editorial page editor of the Atlanta Constitution and a syndicated columnist whose commentary appears in dozens of newspapers across the country. She is a frequent commentator on the News Hour With Jim Lehrer and CNN and Company.
Chris Tucker You might not know Chris Tucker by name, but his constantly running motormouth and bulging bug eyes make him hard to miss on the big screen. Fresh off of a memorable turn in The Fifth Element, he plays a con on the run opposite Charlie Sheen in New Lines new comedy Money Talks, which opens Wednesday. Impressed by his co-star's manic energy, Sheen describes Tucker as "Eddie Murphy squared." Tucker's first taste of stardom came at Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia. "I was always getting in trouble. Your typical class clown," he admits. "But my teachers liked my humor. They knew I meant no harm." One day, a favorite teacher suggested Tucker take his wise-cracking antics to the stage and host the school's talent show. Instead of being dumbstruck, Tucker was awestruck. "I got up there and did it. Ripped it up. After I heard everyone laughing, I decided this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was one of the best feelings I've ever had," he recalls. Tucker rips it up again playing schmoozy Franklin Hatchett, the ticket-scalping car-wash entrepreneur who uses his wits to out-con a gruesome team of French diamond smugglers in Money Talks. The twenty-four-year-old comedian's rise to stardom is pretty meteoric considering how long it takes most actors in this town to land a really great table-waiting job. After performing in amateur nights at various comedy clubs in Atlanta, Tucker surprised friends and family by leaving for Los Angeles to pursue stand-up comedy and acting at age twenty. An early lucky break landed Tucker in House Party 3, which eventually led to roles in Panther and the Hughes Brothers' Dead Presidents. His breakout role came as aptly named Smokey in the cult comedy Friday.
Johnnie Tuitel To many, Johnnie Tuitel's disability is a struggle. But to Johnnie, it's just the way things are. Much of his positive attitude can be attributed to his upbringing. In 1963, doctors told Johnnie's Dutch-immigrant parents that their son had cerebral palsy. "He'll be a burden," they said. "He won't be able to lead a normal life." Ignoring the doctors, the Tuitels took their baby home to love him and to raise him. They encouraged him to focus on his abilities and to try anything and everything. Yes, there were cuts and bruises along the way, but they just increased his determination and toughened his resolve. Each struggle was a stepping-stone to a higher, yet undefined goal. The goal became clearer in 1974 when Johnnie became the first student with a disability to be mainstreamed into the public school system. He not only completed public schooling, but went on to receive a bachelor's degree from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. And all this from a young man who wasn't supposed to be able to lead a "normal" life. Speaker, author, entrepreneur, visionary, family man and world-traveler, Johnnie Tuitel is a man who thinks outside the wheelchair. And he helps others to focus on life's potentials rather than its limitations.
Jim Tunney Highly respected NFL referee, business consultant, educator and motivational speaker.
Walter J. Turnbull Named one of the "15 Greatest Men on Earth" by McCall's magazine, Dr. Walther Turnbull is the founder of the internationally acclaimed Boys Choir of Harlem. Over the past 25 years, he has developed a successful formula for educating inner city children. He has redirected the lives of thousands of young men from Harlem with his philosophy and discipline. Dr. Turnbull has great vision and a successful record in motivating and educating inner city youth.
Debbye Turner Former Miss America, motivational speaker and a doctor of veterinary medicine.
Gene Turner For more than a decade, Gene Turner has been repeatedly "caught in the act" of entertaining audiences with his amazing sleight-of-hand and unique brand of comedy. Only Gene can lift a watch from the wrist of one person and place it on the wrist of another without either knowing. Whether he's performing his nationally acclaimed stand-up comedy pickpocket act or presenting his customized "Magic with a Message" as your keynote speaker, Gene's ability to connect with an audience has made him one of the most sought after performers in his profession. He'll steal the show every time!
Ted Turner Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (born November 19, 1938) is an American media mogul and philanthropist. He is perhaps best known for founding CNN and Turner Classic Movies and his $1 billion pledge to the United Nations. Turner served as vice chairman of Time Warner Inc., a position he assumed in October 1996, following the merger of Time Warner Inc. and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. As vice chairman, Turner oversaw the Time Warner cable networks division, which consists of the assets of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., including the domestic and international arms of Cable News Network (CNN), Cartoon Network, Headline News, TBS Superstation, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Turner Network Television (TNT), as well as Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO), Cinemax, Warner Bros. International Networks, and Time Warner's interest in Comedy Central and Court TV. He also oversaw New Line Cinema and the company's professional sports teams-Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves, National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks and the Thrashers, Atlanta's National Hockey League expansion team. In January 2001, he became vice chairman of AOL Time Warner subsequent to the merger between Time Warner and AOL in 2000 - a position he retained until he resigned in May 2003. Turner's media empire began with his father's billboard business which he took over at the age of 24 after his father's death. Purchase of an Atlanta UHF station in 1970 began the assemblage of the Turner Broadcasting System. His Cable News Network (CNN) revolutionized news media, coming to the forefront covering the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 and the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Years later he originated the "superstation" concept, transmitting the station's signal to cable systems nationwide via satellite. Turner has made his mark as one of the most influential philanthropists in the US. Originator of the Goodwill Games in 1985, he is also president of the Turner Foundation, the Turner family's private grant-making organization, which focuses on population and the environment. Turner is also chairman of the United Nations Foundation, a charitable organization he founded to support UN causes, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Turner, the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, is an active environmentalist and has received numerous civic and industry awards and honors, including being named Time magazine's 1991 Man of the Year and Broadcasting's Man of the Century in 1999, he was also inducted into the Cable TV Hall of Fame in 1999. In 1995, Turner accepted, on behalf of the team, the Atlanta Braves' first World Championship trophy, and in August 2000, he was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. In January 2002, Turner opened the first Ted's Montana Grill, which specializes in bison burgers, in Columbus, Ohio with his partner, George W. McKerrow Jr., founder of the Longhorn Steakhouse chain and several other successful restaurants. Ted's Montana Grill expects to open up to forty more restaurants in the next few years.
Scott Turow Best-selling author and attorney.
Brent Turvey Leading forensic scientist and criminal profiler, Brent Turvey is well known for his forensic analysis and psychological profiling in the 1993 Arkansas ritualistic murder case known as "The Robin Hood Hill Murders" which was brought to national attention in the Emmy award winning documentary "Paradise Lost". HBO has recently produced and aired a special on the murder case entitled Paradise Lost: Revisted" which details the re-opening of the case of the three convicted high school students. Mr. Turvey is an expert on crime reconstruction, satanism, profiling, sexual homicides and rapes and serial homicides.
Edward Turzanski Edward Turzanski appears on television (MSNBC, Fox News, CNN) and radio (National Public Radio) throughout the world as a commentator on national security issues, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Patriot Act, intelligence and espionage reform, domestic and foreign policy analysis, and the media. A LaSalle University professor and assistant vice-president, he is Comcasts CN-8s national security and intelligence analyst.
Thandeka Tutu Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe is the second child and the eldest daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Thandeka is an accomplished public speaker making numerous presentations at universities, churches and community organizations. She speaks about racial reconciliation, South Africa, women's issues and HIV-AIDS.
Lorna Tychostup The War You Won't See On TV Lorna Tychostup is the senior editor for Chonogram magazine and a freelance journalist and photographer. To date, she has visited Iraq three times, collectively spending more than 12 weeks there. Her photographs of Iraq and its people, before and during the war, have been exhibited throughout the country, and her PowerPoint presentations have intrigued and informed audiences at colleges and other organizations from New York to Oregon. Lorna's work has appeared in Foreign Policy, YES!, Z Magazine, Covert Action Quarterly, War Times, and Major League Baseball Magazine. She has been interviewed extensively, on both radio and TV, including Fox's Hannity & Colmes and NBCs Nightly News with Tom Brokaw."
Aisha Tyler The elegant Aisha Tyler, has taken quite a journey to end up where is today.She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and soon after fully devouted her time to comedy. You have seen her on E's Talk Soup, The Fifth Wheel as well Friends. She then moved into her acting roots and did more dramatic films and shows. She played in Fx's Nip/Tuck and is now in two of the hottest shows on televison ,CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' and Fox's '24'. Aisha is very versatile for now she can do comedy and drama and successfully pull it off.
Omar Tyree A New York Times best-selling author and 2001 NAACP Image Award recipient, Omar Tyree has sold more than 1.6 million copies of books worldwide. He has been recognized as one of the most renowned contemporary writers in the African-American community. Tyree has recently completed work on his15th novel,The Last Street Novel, which is set to hit national bookshelves in July. Hes written 14 novels, including his Urban Griot series, which features raw material geared towards urban male readership. As an author, journalist, performance poet, songwriter, screenwriter, entrepreneur, creative genius and an energetic and fiery speaker, Tyree is no stranger to the world of contemporary urban influence. Tyree became one of the dominant literary self-promoters of the 1990s, leading to offers of publishing deals by a number of influential mainstream book publishers. In 1995, he signed a lucrative two book arrangement with publishing powerhouse Simon & Schuster. Tyrees journey as an entrepreneur began in his early 20s when he started the book publishing company Mar Productions, to release his earliest works of fiction. His entrepreneurial ventures have evolved to: Hot Lava Entertainment, a synergy production company for books, music and film. Recently Tyree released his first movie The Lure of Young Women which is available on DVD nationwide. As an orator, Tyrees passion for his work ignites his audience. Both thought-provoking and veraciously entertaining, Tyree executes compelling commentary on topics such as The State of Urban Literature where he expounds on contemporary literature including his own work, Leslie, which takes place in New Orleans and has received adequate reader attention post-Hurricane Katrina. A staunch believer in literary integrity, Tyree challenges authors of fiction and non fiction to address issues in the community rather than simply capitalize from exploitive topics in their work. Additional speaking topics for Tyree includes: The Life of MLK Jr., and "Images of Women in the Media. In his latest lecture, The Equation for Life, Tyree weaves together a full-proof formula for attaining life long success in business as well as everyday living. One attendee who heard the lecture commented, Omar Tyrees equation for life speech made me rethink my whole life it has given me the focus I need. An accompanying CD, Book and DVD for The Equation for Life, will be available in 2008. Tyrees articles have been published in the Washington Post, Essence, Upscale, Black Collegian, Washington Times and Black Issues Book Review. A graduate of the prestigious Howard University, Tyree plans to reestablish his college age roots by doing magazine features focusing on community, culture, entertainment, politics, and new wave intellectualism. Tyree is presently creating business partnerships with the initiative of adapting several of his novels into feature films. He is also in negotiations to launch a talk show that highlights contemporary notable authors and their die hard readers.
Cicely Tyson Actress, activist and humanitarian was discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and, with her stunning looks, she quickly rose to the top of the modeling industry. In 1957, she began acting in Off-Broadway productions. She had small roles in feature films before she was cast as Portia in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968) in 1968. Four years later, Cicely was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her sensational performance in the critically acclaimed film Sounder (1972). In 1974, she went on to portray a 110-year-old former slave in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974) (TV), which earned her two Emmys. While Cicely has not appeared steadily onscreen because of her loyality to only portray strong, positive images of Black women, she is without a doubt one of the most talented, beautiful actresses to have ever graced the stage and screen. She holds a record 12 Image Awards as best actress from the NAACP and has received awards from such civil rights organizations as PUSH, CORE, the SCLC and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, among others.In 1974, Tyson co-founded the internationally celebrated Dance Theater of Harlem. She currently serves on its board, as well as on the boards of the American Film Institute, Urban Gateways and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. A founding member of the Coalition for a Healthy and Active America, Tyson in 2002 was appointed by President George W. Bush as a commissioner of the National African American Museum of History and Culture. In 2003, Tyson received the National Women's Law Center Award, the Ellis Island Family Heritage Award and was a featured speaker at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit and has served as Chairperson for UNICEF and works with the United Nations and celebrity organizations in promoting global cultural understanding.and was married to legendary trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1988.