Corporations & Associations

APB speaker and the first female U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral, Admiral Michelle J. Howard (Retired), was also the first African-American woman to reach the rank of three-star and four-star in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the first African-American woman to command a ship in the Navy. Now, Admiral Howard is being highlighted in Sailing True North: Lessons of Character from Ten Admirals by Admiral James Stavridis USN. 

Today is Juneteenth, a day that should be recognized by all Americans. It marks June 19, 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. It is also the anniversary of the Greenwood Massacre, one of the worst episodes of racist violence in U.S. history. On June 19, 1921 a white mob stormed a thriving African-American neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, burning it to the ground and killing 300 people. As our nation recognizes the legacy of Juneteenth during a time of heightened consciousness over pervasive racism and persecution in our nation, we urge you to learn more about the significance of this anniversary.

CNN’s Chief National Correspondent and speaker John King says recent coronavirus statistic are frustrating. As states are beginning to reopen, the U.S. COVID19 death toll has crossed 103,000. On this week’s segment of Inside Politics, King highlights one of the most compounding and upsetting facts about coronavirus. The pandemic is affecting the African American population most prominently, with 25% of the COVID-19 deaths hitting that specific race.  

New York Times bestselling author, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation and APB speaker Wes Moore captured the nation’s attention with his debut book The Other Wes Moore, a firsthand account of a life journey empowered by the strength of family, educational opportunities and community network. Wes is now speaking out against the systemic injustice and racism happening in our country. 

New York Times bestselling author and APB speaker David Epstein highlights the murder of a black man in his recent “Range Report,” where he interviews his brother Daniel. This murder took place in Minneapolis when a black man died after police officers pinned him down with their knees for several minutes until he stopped breathing. No, not George Floyd – his name was David Cornelius Smith and this happened in 2010. 

Over 55 years ago, APB was founded on the mission to provide an open forum for individuals to voice their opinions and points of view. Now is the time to speak out. Now is the time to stand together. Now is the time for change. We have a long history of working toward racial justice and providing a platform to those giving a voice to the voiceless, from such leaders as Martin Luther King, Jr., Dick Gregory, and Adam Clayton Powell to the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter. As we reflect on everything that is happening, let’s be confident that change will come – and smart enough to know that it must involve all of us.

Audiobooks are having a moment. APB speaker and bestselling author Brad Meltzer along with APB speaker and CBS News contributor David Pogue say it’s the acting and tone of a good narrator that draws listener to the audiobook.  

From grassroots activism to presidential campaigns to working in the White House, speaker Karine Jean-Pierre is now Joe Biden’s 2020 senior advisor. Jean-Pierre had previously served in the Obama White House as regional political director before working as deputy battleground states director on his 2012 re-election.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and a member of The Elders, addressed a high-level open videoconference (VTC) on the United Nations Secretary-General’s annual report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Invited because of her experiences leading Liberia through both the Ebola Crisis and its recovery from a decades-long civil war, President Sirleaf provided insights on how to manage the impact of COVID-19 on civilian populations in conflict and post-conflict situations. She urged the council to “act with boldness” to protect those trapped in conflict and “end the cycle of immeasurable loss and human tragedy.”

Although traveling and attending social events or group classes are mostly cancelled this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, virtual versions might be possible. APB speaker David Pogue investigated this concept by spending the weekend bingeing Airbnb’s newest virtual experiences.