ICM Speakers

02/28/2022

Adweek Media Visionary Shonda Rhimes on Moving to Streaming

Showrunner, TV writer, and executive producer Shonda Rhimes receives constant accolades for her work and is no stranger to "Top," "Best," and "Most Important" lists, having been named to The Hollywood Reporter's Most Powerful Showrunners and Time's Most Influential People just last year.

She was named Adweek's Media Visionary and sat down with the publication to discuss her storied career in television, including the many current norms that were pioneered at Shondaland, and her shift from network TV to streaming in her landmark deal with Netflix. Read the full interview: https://bit.ly/3vrGaE3

Learn more about Shonda here: https://bit.ly/35c4C1R

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After declaring she would change the world through television, the creator has done just that, on both linear and streaming.

02/28/2022

As #BlackHistoryMonth comes to a close, we're spotlighting the incredible Shonda Rhimes. TV mogul Shonda Rhimes is the brilliant mind behind some of your favorite television shows including "Grey's Anatomy," "Bridgerton," and most recently, "Inventing Anna."

Rhimes is the first woman to create three television dramas that have achieved the 100-episode milestone. Those shows, “Grey's Anatomy,” the longest-running medical drama in history, its spinoff “Private Practice,” and the groundbreaking series “Scandal” for ABC, changed the face of television by proving that series that feature characters of color are more financially powerful in terms of advertising dollars and audiences than all-white series. For five TV seasons, Shondaland shows occupied ABC’s entire Thursday night schedule, creating a powerful brand well-known to fans and advertisers as TGIT.

Learn more about Shonda here: https://bit.ly/3pnV1vG

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02/25/2022

‘The struggle continues’: Spike Lee on racism, conspiracy theories and storytelling

"How can you look at “Do the Right Thing” now and see the murder of Radio Raheem and not think about Eric Garner, George Floyd and many other people?"

In this extensive interview with the Washington Post, legendary filmmaker Spike Lee speaks about the continued relevance of the racial issues tackled in his earlier works, and his long and continued history of using his art to reflect societal ills.

Full interview here: https://wapo.st/3honyfX

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The seminal filmmaker discusses the controversies around his 9/11 documentary.

02/25/2022

Spike Lee is a legend & pioneer of Black storytelling on the big screen. In his 30+ years as a filmmaker, Spike has worked in nearly every genre, exploring a vast array of social issues on screen, such as racism, classism, sexuality, and politics.

As Black History Month comes to a close, treat yourself to a classic "Spike Lee Joint" such as "Do the Right Thing" and "Malcom X," or one of his recent hits like "Da 5 Bloods" and "BlacKkKlansman."

Invite Spike to your event to discuss the role entertainment plays in critiquing and shaping modern culture through the lens of his extensive body of work. More on Spike here: https://bit.ly/3ImIJv3

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02/24/2022

Why open a school? To close a prison | Nadia Lopez

Dr. Nadia Lopez is best known as the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy who "opened a school to close a prison" in one of NYC's poorest neighborhoods, giving Brooklyn's most underserved students the tools & opportunities to change the trajectory of their lives.

She shares her philosophy for revolutionizing education for both students and teachers in her viral TED Talk which has garnered over a million views. Watch here: https://bit.ly/3LUaTzL

Learn more about Nadia here: https://bit.ly/359lINz

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Our kids are our future, and it's crucial they believe it themselves. That's why TED Fellow Nadia Lopez opened an academic oasis in Brownsville, Brooklyn, on...

02/24/2022

Education advocate and former principal Dr. Nadia Lopez is revolutionizing the education space through consulting. Through her company, The Lopez Effect, she provides workforce training and coaches leaders to build their capacity, improve culture through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and develop systems to create healthy spaces for professional sustainability. She also offers mental health resources and support for teachers struggling with burnout under years of pandemic stresses, on top of already inefficient systems.

More on Nadia here: https://bit.ly/3vdlq2O

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02/23/2022

Jay Pharoah, Derek Luke, Chris Chalk, Aldis Hodge and Algee Smith on the Realities of Racism in Hollywood

Actor and comedian Jay Pharoah joined Variety’s #Represent: Black Men in Hollywood roundtable to discuss typecasting, the limited roles available to Black men in entertainment, and the tainted narrative of Blackness that is created as a result.

“When you’re not telling the whole story, when you’re pushing this narrative of Black people are just thugs, we all get incarcerated, that’s a spurious narrative. All of us are not like that. We have to glorify more the success, the ingenuity of Black folks. … There’s so many stories. There are engineers, there are rocket scientists, there are so many of us out there.”

Full conversation here: https://bit.ly/3LYnW2Q

More on Jay here: https://bit.ly/3t13gie

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The world seems to be quickly coming to understand that navigating life as a Black person in America is an emotional and difficult journey. But what about paving a path in Hollywood? As support for…

02/23/2022

New to our roster is Jay Pharoah, an actor and stand-up comedian. With six seasons as a cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live, Pharoah is best known for his wide array of uncanny celebrity impressions, including President Barack Obama, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Stephen A. Smith, Kanye West, and Chris Tucker, as well as his recurring character of school principal Daniel Frye. He currently plays recurring roles on ABC’s A Million Little Things and Fox’s Family Guy.

Learn more about Jay Pharoah here: https://bit.ly/3JLqH5O

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02/22/2022

Angélique Kidjo Has Heard It All

In this extensive interview with New Yorker Magazine, Grammy award-winning musician & humanitarian Angelique Kidjo dives deep into her artistic process, speaking on the melting pot of cultures in her music & the activism that happens behind the scenes of each album in her multi-decade career. https://bit.ly/3LWq1g2

More on Angelique here: https://bit.ly/350Pggn

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At sixty-one, the doyenne of African pop is recording with everyone from Burna Boy to Philip Glass—and still searching for new rhythms.

02/22/2022

Grammy award-winning musician and humanitarian Angelique Kidjo wakes up every day and chooses action. Invite her to share the incredible and inspiring stories of the work she’s done to empower disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond, from championing education for girls to flighting climate change and urging a ceasefire in war-torn Sudan. https://bit.ly/3v68b44

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02/18/2022

In his book "Ghosts of Jim Crow: Ending Racism in Post-Racial America," Professor Michael Higginbotham dives deep into how decades-old laws and actions have been used to maintain a racial paradigm of hierarchy and separation in the 21st century—legally, economically, educationally and socially. Using history as a roadmap, Higginbotham arrives at a provocative solution for ridding the nation of Jim Crow’s ghost and create a post-racial America through legal and political reform.

More on Michael here: https://bit.ly/36cIzbd

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02/18/2022

An expert on civil rights, human rights, and constitutional law, Michael Higginbotham has taught and written extensively on racial equality issues for over thirty years. He argues that even if there were no more racist people in America, racism would still exist as it is built into the country's operational systems. His research and writings explore the radical legal reforms needed to foster true racial equality at the systemic level.

Learn more about Michael and his work here: https://bit.ly/3JHHJ4V

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02/17/2022

Anna Deavere Smith has something new to say about the 1992 riots

Anna Deavere Smith's play "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992" which debuted in 1994, capturing experiences surrounding the LA race riots, was revived last year. The updated version bridges connections between the murder of Rodney King, the event that sparked the 1992 riots, and the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and the Stop Asian Hate campaign. Hear what Anna has to say about the reimaging of this important work. https://bit.ly/3oZprUH

More on Anna here: https://bit.ly/3uYeu9Y

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Anna Deavere Smith’s play Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 has been performed numerous times since its premiere in 1993. Back in the early ’90s, Smith conducted 320 …

02/17/2022

Playwright, actor, and educator Anna Deavere Smith uses her signature brand of verbatim theatre to explore issues of community, character, and diversity in America. Her work often highlights the social issues that plague the Black community, such a the school-to-prison pipeline in her award-winning play "Notes from the Field," and police brutality in "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992."

Explore Anna's work here: https://bit.ly/3BrxEpT

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02/16/2022

Anti-Racism at Work | Ximalaya International Edition Himalaya

Social change activist and political commentator Ben O'Keefe is the embodiment of the phrase "doing the work." To help others step into their power and create change in their own lives, he created the “Anti-Racism at Work” course on the Himalaya Network. With these brief but impactful classes, O’Keefe explores the power one has to drive lasting human rights improvements and combat deeply ingrained racism in the workplace, and equips listeners with tools to build a workplace that gives all employees the opportunity to thrive.

Check out the course here: https://bit.ly/3GXXUZU

Learn more about Ben here: https://bit.ly/3GUFHfN

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The fight for racial equality in the United States isn’t new and in this cou...

02/16/2022

Ben O'Keefe is a social change activist, political commentator, 30 Under 30 honoree, and Head of Diversity & Impact Production at Creator+. His work finds him at the intersection of entertainment and politics, having worked with top organizations, brands, politicians, celebrities, and showrunners to build campaigns, make content, and execute strategies that make a bold impact on the world.

You may not know Ben now, but we guarantee that once he speaks at your event, you'll never forget him. More on Ben here: https://bit.ly/3BEpx9D

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02/16/2022

New to our roster is bestselling author and food writer Laurie Woolever, who, for nearly a decade, worked as the lieutenant to the late author, TV host, and producer Anthony Bourdain. She is the author of two New York Times best-selling books: "World Travel: An Irreverent Guide," co-authored with Anthony Bourdain; and "Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography." She has also written about food, travel, and wine for popular publications including the New York Times, Vogue, Food & Wine, and more.

Learn more about Laurie here: https://bit.ly/34Ka2kg

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02/15/2022

Quinta Brunson Has a Hit on Her Hands With "Abbott Elementary"

"I just could not think of many workplace sitcoms with Black leads. Most of the recent ones, there is one Black person, or a Black person and another person of color in the workplace, but not predominantly. Whereas where I've come from, most of the workplaces were composed of predominantly Black people, and I wanted to reflect that." Creator Quinta Brunson on her intentions with #AbbottElementary, showcasing the everyday lives of Black characters on screen. https://bit.ly/3JvUpvv

More on Quinta here: https://bit.ly/3uWQhR8

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Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson opens up about developing her ABC series, the show's quick popularity with viewers, and more.

02/15/2022

Quinta Brunson is the star of and the brilliant mind behind ABC's new hit series, #AbbottElementary. Just a few episodes into its debut season, the show has become a quick fan favorite and has broken viewership records, causing critics to hail it as a sign of the return of quality network television.

Learn more about Quinta here: https://bit.ly/3gSGraA

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02/14/2022

How Tunde Oyeneyin Went From ‘Last One Picked’ to Peloton Instructor

"I continue to utilize my platform as a space to stand up for good, and as an opportunity for people that look like me to see themselves in me." Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin - Peloton speaks to the importance of using her massive Peloton platform to speak up on issues close to her, such as Black Lives Matter, and why her visibility as a Black person in the predominantly white world of fitness is so crucial.
https://bit.ly/3Lvo3D1

More on Tunde here: https://bit.ly/34GeAbl

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Peloton’s hardest instructor talks career advice, partnering with Nike, and using her platform for a good cause.

02/14/2022

Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin - Peloton is known for her empowering and motivational rides that force you to dig deep and open your mind, and shine light on important issues such as human rights & racial injustice.

Tunde most recently announced her book, "Speak" will be released in May 2022. "Speak" is an empowering, inspiring memoir that shows how she transformed grief, setbacks, and flaws into growth, self-confidence, and triumph. Tunde believes that in order to S.P.E.A.K., you must Surrender, know your Power, lead with Empathy, remain Authentic, and have the Knowledge to back it up.”

More on Tunde here: https://bit.ly/3gLR1QY

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02/11/2022

Black Work Broadway

In response to a lack of centralized resources on Black playwrights, #SlavePlay playwright Jeremy O. Harris created Black Work Broadway, an archive of shows by Black artists that made it to Broadway stages. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with this element of Black history https://bit.ly/33idSAu

More on Jeremy here: https://bit.ly/3gM0oQl

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Cargo

02/11/2022

Jeremy O. Harris is the playwright and creator of #SlavePlay, the most Tony-nominated Broadway play in history. Often finding himself at the center of discourse and reveling in it, Jeremy is not one to shy away from controversy. He pushes boundaries and the buttons of viewers in every medium he approaches, which now includes television and film, adding his special touch to hits like #Euphoria and #Zola.

Learn more about Jeremy here: https://bit.ly/3oJCoC6

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