Community & Nonprofit

Journalist and women’s rights advocate Masih Alinejad welcomed the sentencing of the Iranian-backed hit team sent to kill her on U.S. soil—a moment she calls proof that the country she once was taught to hate has become the place that saved her life. The plot, orchestrated by agents aligned with Tehran, never succeeded, but the court’s decision to hold the perpetrators accountable in New York reinforces the strength of American legal protections and the rule of law. In her new op-ed for The Free Press, Alinejad writes, “Today, a judge will sentence the hitman Iran sent to kill me on American soil. It’s proof that the country where I sought refuge protects the freedoms I love.”

On Oct. 10th, APB is honored to celebrate World Mental Health Day. The goal of this annual event is to raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health around the globe.

Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month invites us to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and recommit to earlier detection, better care, and compassionate support. It’s also a chance to amplify voices that inform, inspire, and mobilize communities. At APB, we’re proud to work with speakers who transform experience into impact—bringing audiences insights, hope, and the courage to act. Below are three featured keynote speakers whose stories and advocacy illuminate what’s possible when perseverance meets purpose.

For six decades, American Program Bureau (APB) has proudly stood as one of the world’s most trusted speaking agencies. Founded on the belief that ideas can inspire action, APB has brought the voices of world leaders, groundbreaking innovators, cultural icons, and passionate advocates to audiences across the globe. Our history is a testament to the caliber of people we’ve worked with—individuals who don’t just speak, but shape history.

National Grief Awareness Day is on August 30th and writer, APB speaker, and podcaster Nora McInerny offers a powerful, compassionate reframe of grief in her celebrated TED Talk. Her words ring truer than ever, reminding us that loss isn’t something to be escaped—it's something we learn to carry.

A fearless voice in a divided world, acclaimed cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams is about to release his highly anticipated new book, Summer of Our Discontent. With clarity, nuance, and unflinching honesty, Williams confronts today’s most urgent debates—from race and nationalism to cancel culture and personal identity. This bold new book is essential reading for anyone grappling with what it means to belong in an increasingly fractured society.

This year marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Malcolm X. Hear from his daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, who carries his voice forward.

We are excited to share that two of our most popular speakers, investigative journalist Dan Slepian and criminal justice reform advocate Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, have been honored with the 2025 News & Documentary Emmy Award for Best Documentary for their groundbreaking series, The Sing Sing Chronicles. This four-part documentary, directed by Dawn Porter and produced by MSNBC Films, chronicles Slepian's 22-year investigation into wrongful convictions at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, including Velazquez's own case.

Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans throughout Texas learned that they were free—news that took approximately two months after the Confederate surrender of the Civil War and two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation to reach them.  As our nation recognizes the legacy of Juneteenth during a time of heightened consciousness over pervasive racism and persecution in our nation, we urge everyone to continue to do their part in igniting change.

We are excited to share that Molly Jong-Fast's recently released memoir, How to Lose Your Mother, has landed on The New York Times Bestseller List! With rave reviews continuing to pour in, People magazine said: "This raw, intimate memoir is a stunning portrait of difficult relationships and how we survive them.”