Thanks to ‘the Rona’ making its way through the streets of Memphis, many events and conferences taking place in the 901 were cancelled or postponed. DAMN!
As much as we look at this as a bad thing, there’s some good shining through the tiny open area of your face mask. With more time to plan an awesome event, you also have the opportunity to invite some amazing Memphians to take your lineup from good to … well, let’s just say Ching’s season’d fries. Like seriously, when will they sell that seasoning at Kroger?
Anyway, here’s five Memphians to schedule as speakers at your next event:
Fletcher Cleaves – Motivational
Fletcher Cleaves’ story is full of resilience, hope and inspiration. Following a tragic car accident caused by a distracted driver that left him paralyzed from the chest down, he began to promote the importance of safe driving and overcoming adversity. Fletcher has inspired many, and has made special appearances on College Game Day, ESPN TV, ESPN radio, SportsCenter, Outside the Lines with Bob Ley, and a National Safety Transportation Board (NSTB) event.
Dana James Mwangi – Branding/Design
Dana James Mwangi is a designer, brand strategist, and communications teacher. She’s the founder of Cheers Creative, a creative agency that builds brand visuals and websites for creative professionals, industry leaders, and art platforms. She’s been featured by Forbes and Essence, as well as a host of podcasts. Dana has a passion for helping people tell their stories through visuals and in the most transparent, striking and emotionally compelling way.
Sebastian Carson – Spoken Word
Recently winning the award for Best Spoken Word Artist at the Best In Black Awards, it’s safe to say the entire city is aware of the poetic justice Sebastian Carson serves to his audience. Carson, a poet and professional storyteller, has traveled across the country performing inspirational pieces on topics from self empowerment to African American history. Check out his latest piece on Memphis icon, Tom Lee.
LaTricea Adams – Environmental Justice
LaTricea Adams is an environmental justice advocate and founder of Black Millennials for Flint (BM4F). BM4F is a grassroots, environmental justice and civil rights organization with the purpose of bringing like minded organizations together to collectively take action and advocate against the crisis of lead exposure specifically in African American & Latino communities throughout the nation. Her ability to take complex issues and explain them effectively to just about anyone, is the reason why she’s been able speak on the stages of your largest environmental and sustainability conferences.
Anthony Young – Business & Entrepreneurship
Anthony Young is recognized as one of Memphis’ experts in economic development. With an extensive background in commercial lending and entrepreneurial capital solution, Anthony can help just about any locally-owned business go to the next level. He currently serves as a CDFI leader and the Capital Executive in Residence at Epicenter. From workshops to panels, his audience usually leaves with wealth of knowledge and amazing resources.
Building out your keynote speaker, panelists, and live performers for those postponed events doesn’t have to be challenging or outsourced. Memphis has so many talented public speakers right here at home, and currently hanging out at home – because they’re practicing social distancing, like you (right?).
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