I Share Hope: Chris Williams

Having survived years of violence and sexual exploitation, Athena speaks and writes about real life that’s not always pretty. She shares hope through her blog and weekly live show on Google+, YouTube, and RokuTV. She's a founder of Trauma Recovery University and The #NoMoreShame Project, which lends a platform to abuse survivors who desire to share their stories.

Changing the world from Milan, Italy, Cristina Gabetti, is supporting evolution from the era of information to the era of knowledge. As a journalist, author, environmentalist, mother and grandmother Cristina has proven to be an intergenerational leader in sustainable global health initiatives.

Born in Bururi, Burundi and only 10 hours old, Mrs. Pasikari’s parents carried her as they fled for their lives to Congo when their home was overrun with the horrors of Civil War. 25 years later as an adult she was forced to become a refuge once again in Tanzania when Congo became engulfed in its own Civil War. Mrs. Pasikari’s two daughters, skillfully translate the words of their mother as she recounts her story of tragedy, survival and new hope.

A fashion media professional, avid blogger, founder and executive producer of the television series Designing Africa, with her hit campaign, 100 Days of African Fashion, Diana Opoti is a champion of the continent’s fashion design market, growing to become one of the Africa’s most formidable fashion connectors.   In 2014 Diana Opoti was nominated as “Outstanding Trend Communicator of the Year” by The Africa Fashion Awards.

Shirley Mae Springer Staten, international keynoter, singer and workshop facilitator, moves people forward beyond their limiting ideas. A born storyteller and dynamic a ccapella vocalist, she brings an unrivaled blend of vision, passion and sheer virtuosity to her work. From the age of five, Shirley Mae picked cotton in the fields of Georgia. Her transformation came with many challenges. A daydreamer and dyslexic, she graduated from high school not knowing how to read. By the early 1990s she had managed to work her way through college and earn her Bachelor's and Master's degrees.   Shirley Mae, like no one else, can weave words and music to empower her audience. She is a multitalented performing artist who motivates people to recognize and break through their self-imposed limitations. She can hold a group spellbound with stories of her struggles against the obstacles of the world. Her message of hope will show you how to "keep movin' forward".

"Ask a Sex Abuse Survivor" author and performer Michael Broussard is the producer, director and emcee of the Five Minute Follies, Philadelphia’s only ongoing family friendly vintage variety show. He is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.   Michael’s abuse came at the hands of a trusted guardian, his stepfather. While children are often warned about “stranger danger”, studies show that 75% to 90% of offenders are known to the child. Often they are a family member, a friend, or a well respected person in the community.   The long term effects of this abuse have followed Michael well into adulthood and have affected every aspect of his life. Every relationship, whether personal or professional, has been colored by the abuse.   Like many survivors, Michael struggles daily with a host of mental health conditions, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Social Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and chronic low self esteem.   "Ask a Sex Abuse Survivor" is Michael’s way of taking back the

Angelina Estrada-Burney currently serves as a staff member for U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, senior Senator from Alaska. A large part of her duties revolve around assisting Alaskans from all walks of life and establishing effective dialogue with state leaders on a variety of issues. In this capacity, she serves as an important communications conduit between the Senator and the constituency of Alaska. Previously she served in the Anchorage and Fairbanks Offices of the Governor,  worked on Capitol Hill for the Alaska Congressional Delegation, worked as a legislative aide in the Alaska State Legislature and as a Special Assistant in the Department of Commerce and Community Development.     She is active in the Anchorage Hispanic community and is an inaugural Board of Director and Past President of the Hispanic Affairs Council of Alaska. She was chosen to represent Alaska at the 2002 and 2004 National Hispanic Leadership Summit in Washington DC.   Ms. Estrada-Burney's strong sense of community and love for Alaska

Pedro Eustache (Caracas born August 18, 1959), is a creative solo flautist - "World Music" woodwinds-reeds-wind synthesizers and composer with extensive academic studies and more than 35 years of professional experience. He has more than seven years of symphonic experience and a collection of around 600 instruments from all over the world, many of which having been created, built, designed, and/or modified by himself.

Vivian Melde works for Ecology and Environment, Inc., as an environmental consultant, specializing in public involvement, planning, and emergency management.  She is a member of the Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team (START) as a contractor for the US Environmental Protection Agency.  START assists the EPA in emergency responses to oil and hazardous materials incidents.     As a life-long dance and theater performer, Vivian has been a featured artist at Cyrano's Off Center Playhouse in Anchorage since its doors opened with Thy Country's Good, in which she played Black Caesar.  In February 2015, she directed Eve Ensler’s Emotional Creature, which brought together a multi-ethnic cast of seven talented women between the ages of 18 and 32.  In April 2015, she was one of the creators of We Came to Stay:  Anchorage Untold Stories, a project celebrating the lives of immigrants who arrived in Anchorage during her centennial years,  www.anchorageuntoldstories.com.  In 2013 she played Maryamma, an Indian

Growing up in rural Cameroon, Denis learned about gorillas from his father who hunted primates and other wildlife as a source of protein and income for his family. His father narrated stories about his encounters with primates – stories which were often imbued with superstition, power, totemic relationships, and empathy. Denis owes his interest in the study and conservation of gorillas to these early experiences.   Given this background, As Director of Great Ape Field Research at The Gorilla Foundation, Denis seeks to develop and sustain strategic conservation education and research partnerships with indigenous people groups and organizations working in gorilla habitat countries.   He has received many awards for his groundbreaking work with the people and gorillas of Cameroon, including TGF’s Wildlife Protector Award in 2009-10.

17+ years of diversified , multi-national and high profile work experience, a proven innovator, the originator of Arabic, Urdu and Persian language capabilities to the internet. He is a winner of 39 international awards. In 2012, Masood won the distinguished MIT Enterprise Forum BAP Award and is an Alumnus of MIT.   Raised in a family of mechanical engineers, he brings a combination of expertise in mechanical, electrical and software engineering. His product/user experience, design and problem solving abilities are really valuable to SoloInsight.   He has won 39 international awards and SoloInsight Inc, his company, is a Chicago based biometrics technology company that specializes in access control, workforce management, compliance enforcement along with several other cloud based smart solutions.  

Over the past 25 years Robin has written 82 books with almost 4.5 million copies sold worldwide. To her great delight, Robin’s books are doing exactly what she always hoped to do – they are traveling around the world and telling people about God’s love. She is doing the same. Over the past ten years Robin has been invited to speak at events around the US and Canada as well as in South America, Africa, Europe and Australia. Robin and her husband have two grown children and have been married for 35 years. They live in Hawai’i where she continues to write and speak.  

Korvi Rakshand is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and the founder of JAAGO Foundation, a volunteer organization established in April 2007. Rakshand was ranked 5th in list of top 10 inspirational Bangladeshis around the world published by British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration 100 at the British Parliament Commonwealth Room.   The JAAGO Foundation is a civil society organization that operates with the help of its employees and volunteer platform, 'Volunteer for Bangladesh' for the betterment of people living below the poverty line. JAAGO currently has 14 schools in Bangladesh providing free education to over 1,800 underprivileged children who are supported by 300 employees and 17,000 volunteers.  

The Bruneian actress has taken the industry by storm since pursuing acting and not long ago becoming the face of a drama series filmed by RTB which combined the best young talents of both Brunei and Malaysia, the starlet has risen to new levels, sharing the same set as profiled and seasoned actors and actresses.   Nina is known for her TV series (Drama) Erna Suraya ( RTM ), Balkish and Rintihanku. She also showcased her acting talents in the big screen (Perempuan Muka Surat Tujuh, Sniper dan Lu, Gua Bro, Cari, Muka Surat Cinta, Pengantin Malam, Ada Apa Dengan Rina).

Patrick is a remarkable young man who was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk.  Additionally, two steel rods were surgically attached to Patrick's spine to correct scoliosis.   Despite circumstances that may seem overwhelming, Patrick has overcome these physical issues to excel as a musician, student, performer and public speaker.  Patrick started playing the piano at the age of only nine months and also plays the trumpet and sings. He even participated in the University of Louisville Marching Band for five seasons with help from his father, Patrick John Hughes, who tirelessly maneuvered his wheel chair through the formations with the other 220+ members of the Cardinal Marching Band. Patrick was usually a straight 'A' student, having received only 3 'B's' during his entire primary/secondary educational experience and graduated from U of L magna cum laude.  Patrick is a Spanish language major and speaks Spanish fluently.  

Marina Mahathir is a well known newspaper columnist and human rights activist. In 2010, she was awarded UN Person of The Year for her volunteer work in combatting HIV/AIDS. Today Marina serves on the board of Sisters in Islam which advocates for justice and equality for Muslim women.  

Grant Baldwin is a nationally known keynote speaker and expert at helping people find and do work they love. His podcast “How Did You Get Into That?” has over 30,000 listeners every month and has been ranked the #1 ranked Careers show in iTunes. As a speaker, Grant has given hundreds of presentations and has spoken to over 350,000 people in 45 different states through leadership conferences, conventions, and other events. His book and curriculum for students, “Reality Check,” is taught in 400 high schools around the country. While Grant does love speaking and inspiring others, his favorite roles are being a husband and father. He is married to his high school sweetheart and together they have a Barbie dream filled with three daughters. They live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sir Gustav Nossal arrived in Australia from Vienna when he was eight years old. He graduated from Sydney University’s Medical School with first class honours and gained his PhD degree in 1960. Sir Gustav is one of Australia’s most celebrated scientists. His research accomplishments are world-renowned, with his work confirming Burnet’s theory of antibody formation a watershed in understanding of the immune system. As researcher and director of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research from 1965 to 96, he helped build the foundations of modern immunology and define the field for more than 30 years. Sir Gustav has been directly involved with the World Health Organization since 1967, most recently as chairman of the Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunization, and has helped shape the scientific affairs of Australia for decades. As president of the Australian Academy of Science he provided valuable input to government policy-making, and has been an influential public commentator on scientific a

Sean Swarner is a two-time cancer survivor who, both times, was given just weeks to live. He not only survived but thrived. He became the first cancer patient to summit Mt. Everest and he didn't stop there in his desire to motivate and inspire. He went on to climb the highest peak on each continent, then completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and, in January, made a successful trek to the South Pole. He is also the founder of nonprofit cancerclimber.org; is the author of Keep Climbing; and has been dubbed one of the most inspirational persons of all time. This year, he celebrates 25 years cancer free.

Dante LA Jimenez founded Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on August 3, 1998. The original officers of the organization were mostly victims of heinous crimes, noted lawyers, civic-minded businessmen and youth leaders led together with Mr. Lauro G. Vizconde.     The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) is a non-stock, non-profit non-government organization (NGO) which envisions a relatively crime-free and corruption-free Philippines. It aims: to eradicate criminality and corrupt practices to assist victims and to work for the improvement of the criminal justice system. VACC actualizes this vision with its various programs: court monitoring, legal aid, psychological counseling for victims, radio and television broadcast on actual cases and referrals to concerned agencies. As it lives out this mission through these programs, the VACC has evolved into a highly-regarded NGO for providing assistance and support to victims and for its unwavering stand against all forms of government corruption