If you never heard Valerie’s story, it would be difficult to imagine that her daughter Jamie was murdered at the age of 30 or that it was not the first time Jamie had been shot — 12 years and 12 days earlier, she survived the same injury. But her story…
“A merciless pit bull of an investigator” is what the Chicago Tribune said about Gerald Posner, a former attorney turned investigative journalist and author. He has written thirteen acclaimed books, including New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestsellers Case Closed, Why America Slept and God’s Bankers. Posner was a finalist for…
Dominic Tierno has told stories through video since he was a child. As he grew into his teenage years, with the rise of social media, he realized he could use video to make an impact. Dominic won his first film festival award at the age of 16 for a motivational…
I founded APALD-Association of People Against Lethal Drugs as a result of losing my son Jordan Garmatter to Illicit Fentanyl on 4/6/19. My son suffered from Substance Use Disorder. He was drug free for 8 months when he developed a wisdom tooth growing in the wrong way. His face was…
Rebecca Kiesling lost not one - but both of her sons to a Fentanyl overdose. Now she is helping to educate parents and the government about the widespread poisoning of our youth. She has testified before Congress on the order crisis. She is an attorney and activist. PART OF THE…
Michael Fiore is the Outreach Coordinator for Voices for Awareness and Project Facing Fentanyl (Home of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, August 21). Michael is C.E.0. & Founder of Inspire 2 Inspire providing resources to addicts in recovery nationwide. Michael was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y.C., and now…
Jared Callahan is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated director / producer. He founded and runs People People Media, a production company based on a 95-acre farm in the San Francisco East Bay that specializes in personal and unique stories that help amplify voices and increase empathy. His work has been released through…
From a small town in Southeast Missouri, Jen Zoë had always been fascinated with horses. Her career with horses, however, did not begin until the age of 30 when she started taking horseback riding lessons. She quickly realized that the traditional way of training horses was archaic - using negative…
Ellen Elizabeth is an author & coach representing people who are dealing with the struggle and the shame that comes from feelings of inadequacy, especially the feelings of the inability to quit addictive behavior. She wants to inspire people to define who they want to be and to help them…
Ricki Friedman is a motivational speaker, mentor, creator and top100 podcaster who has transformed thousands of lives worldwide with her no BS approach and innovative ideas. Ricki helps people take steps forward with her walking podcast, Steps Forward with Ricki, daily social media content and life-changing program, Walking Away From…
Ken Makimsy Middleton is obsessed with helping people build the best versions of themselves. Ever since he experienced a tremendous turnaround from an entrepreneurial endeavor when he gave up alcohol on November 10th, 2018, his mission has been to help others realize alcohol is probably the one thing that is…
Leeann Blaskowsky is a board-certified neonatal nurse practitioner. In her words: since 2009 I have been living and working in Colorado, and I am faced, almost daily, with counseling families about marijuana use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. My nursing education began with an Associates degree waaay back in 1984, continuing…
Max knows what it's like to hit the highest highs and the lowest lows. The former BYU and AZ Cardinals quarterback is a husband, father of 2 and high school football coach. While playing in the NFL, he suffered multiple concussions and a shoulder separation which required surgery. The anxiety…
William “Bill” Bodner, a 31 year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration, assumed the role of Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles Field Division in June, 2019. As the Special Agent in Charge, Mr. Bodner is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of 14 offices…
Dr. Tracy Strawberry is an international speaker, published author, CEO, and wife of baseball legend Darryl Strawberry. After many years of battling addiction, alcoholism and other life controlling issues, Tracy surrendered her life to Jesus Christ and experienced a radical life transformation through the power of God and the process…
Darryl Strawberry is described as a baseball legend by many who have been dazzled by the dynamics of his game. His many accomplishments in the major leagues include four World Series titles, eight All-Star Game appearances, and a nomination to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. He has…
Khallid Muhammad (born September 29, 1988), is the son of Nation of Islam Minister Tony Muhammad. He was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and moved to Los Angeles at the age of six. Muhammad formed OverDoz. in 2008 and released one album and four mixtapes with the group. He is known…
Following five years of sobriety, Sonia Kahlon founded EverBlume which provides online small group recovery meetings with supportive peers and a recovery coach facilitator. Each group is uniquely tailored based on the characteristics of its members. The goal is to provide a safe space for conversation and connection. She is…
Derek S. Maltz retired from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after 28 years of dedicated service and is currently working for Pen-Link Ltd as the Executive Director, Government Relations. Mr. Maltz is also a National Security, Public Safety Executive who appears on national news networks as a subject matter expert.…
Ryan grew up with a great childhood and a close-knit family. All he focused on was becoming a successful hockey star which his parents fully supported. Ryan left home at the age of 16 to play professional hockey. This is when things began to change. During this time is when…
Joseph has overcome his struggle with drug addiction, after being a slave to it for 11 years. His addiction has led him to serve two separate prison sentences and being at a place where suicide seemed like the only option. Finally he realized his only way of living a life…
Reverend Frederick Shaw is the Director of Public Affairs and Spokesperson for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), a more than 50-year mental health industry watchdog. He’s also the Executive Director of the NAACP Inglewood-South Bay Branch in California, with a long history of working with NAACP. He…
Sam Quinones is a journalist, storyteller, former LA Times reporter, and author of four acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction, including New York Times bestseller and National Book Critics Circle Award winner Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic and his most recent book The Least of Us: True Tales…
Ryan grew up with a great childhood and a close-knit family. All he focused on was becoming a successful hockey star which his parents fully supported. Ryan left home at the age of 16 to play professional hockey. This is when things began to change. During this time is when…
