Main Stage

Michael McAfee, President, began his service at PolicyLink in 2011. Under his leadership, PolicyLink has emerged as a national leader in building cradle-to-career systems that are ensuring that all children and youth in America have a pathway into the middle class. Central to this equitable systems-change are communities of opportunity, where all children can grow…

Sherry Salway Black has worked for more than 40 years in American Indian issues at the American Indian Policy Review Commission; Indian Health Service, First Nations Development Institute, and with the National Congress of American Indians. She currently serves as Board Vice President of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, Prosperity Now (formerly CFED), and as chairperson…

Tonika Lewis Johnson, a visual artist/photographer from Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, often explores urban segregation and documents the nuance and richness of the black community. As a trained photojournalist and teaching artist, she has been engaged in building an artistic legacy that gained citywide recognition in the last two years. She was featured in Chicago Magazine…

Dan Cardinali is president and CEO of Independent Sector, the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse set of nonprofits, foundations, and corporations to advance the common good. Before joining IS in 2016, Dan served on the IS Board of Directors and several IS member committees. He also led IS member, Communities In…

On May 20, 2019, Lori E. Lightfoot became the 56th Mayor of the City of Chicago. Her campaign’s call for an ethical and responsive government and opportunities for all Chicagoans resonated in every ward of the city. Mayor Lightfoot carries the watchwords of her campaign into office: Equity*Diversity & Inclusion*Transparency*Accountability*Transformation Mayor Lightfoot came to City…

Dr. Sarah Kastelic became the executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association in January 2015, assuming the responsibility from founding director Terry Cross. Dr. Kastelic was selected to succeed Cross in 2011 and, as chief of staff, spent four years under his guidance, assuming increasing responsibility of operations and management of the 28-year-old…

Richard Brown is the Vice President of Philanthropy at American Express where he oversees all three of the company’s global giving programs Community Service, Historic Preservation and Leadership, which includes the Partners in Preservation program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the World Monument Watch, as well as the American Express Leadership Academy. …

chicago born and raised, roy kinsey is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to tradition in his respective industries. where being a black, queer-identified, rapper, and librarian may be an intimidating choice for some, roy kinsey’s non-conformist ideology has informed his 4th album, and self proclaimed, “best work yet,” blackie: a story by roy…

Recently named by Fortune Magazine as one of the Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders , a recipient of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award and listed as one of the world’s most influential creative people by The Creativity 50’s, Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic, inspirational innovation. As a career producer…

Theaster Gates lives and works in Chicago where he creates work that focuses on space theory and land development, sculpture and performance. In 2010, Gates created the Rebuild Foundation, a nonprofit platform aimed at galvanizing communities through neighborhood regeneration and the development of educational and arts programming and amenities. Many of the foundation’s initiatives have…