Tuesday, August 12

Desmond Meade

Desmond Meade is a 2021 MacArthur Fellow award winning voting rights activist and the Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. Desmond’s work to restore voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians has earned him recognition in publications like TIME, The New York Times, and Fast Company. He was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2024 Florida’s District 9 community hosted a street naming ceremony to honor Dr. Desmond Meade’s significant lifetime contributions to the community as a champion of democracy.

Wednesday,  August 13

Dr. Bruce Perry, MD

Dr. Bruce Perry is a renowned psychiatrist, currently the senior fellow of the Child Trauma Academy in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. He is also the Co-Vice Chair of the PCA America Board of Directors, where he plays a vital role in advancing the organization’s mission. Dr. Perry’s groundbreaking work on childhood trauma and brain development continues to shape how we understand and support children’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.

Thursday, August 14

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is an award-winning physician, researcher, and former California Surgeon General who has transformed our understanding of the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress on long-term health. She pioneered efforts to treat toxic stress and has been a leader in promoting trauma-informed health policies. Dr. Burke Harris’ TED Talk, “How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime,” has been viewed more than 12 million times. Her book “The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity” was called “indispensable” by the New York Times.