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The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau

A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Our history can illuminate the future we're fighting for.

Speaker on Democracy, Civil Rights, and American History | Pulitzer Prize-Winning Creator of The 1619 Project | Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-Winning 1619 Project Hulu Docuseries | MacArthur Genius

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We Must Confront Our History If We Want to Move Forward (1:54)

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We’ve Been Telling the Wrong Story About Our Country (3:20)

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The 1619 Project: Understanding How Slavery Shaped America (4:25)

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How Black Americans Fought for Our Democracy (7:05)

Lavin Exclusive Speaker

Our democracy stands at a crossroads. No one is better equipped to help us navigate this crucial moment than Nikole Hannah-Jones. A MacArthur Genius and one of TIME‘s most influential people in the world, this Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist is a leading voice on our democracy, our civil rights, and how our country’s history can help us strengthen both. She created The 1619 Project (the #1 New York Times bestselling book and Emmy Award-winning Hulu docuseries) and is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine. As we look to the path ahead for our country and our democracy, Nikole helps us to understand the history we need to know—and the future we’re fighting for.

“[A] groundbreaking compendium . . . This collection is an extraordinary update to an ongoing project of vital truth-telling.”

— Esquire review of The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story

Nikole Hannah-Jones has spent her career investigating racial inequality and injustice, and her reporting has earned her the MacArthur Fellowship, known as the “Genius Grant,” a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards and the National Magazine Award three times. She is the host and an executive producer of the 1619 Project Hulu docuseries, which won the 2024 Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

She also serves as the Knight Chair of Race and Journalism at Howard University, where she founded the Center for Journalism & Democracy. Hannah-Jones is also the co-founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which seeks to increase the number of investigative reporters and editors of color, and in 2022 she opened the 1619 Freedom School, a free, afterschool literacy program in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. Hannah-Jones holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned her BA in History and African-American studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Testimonials

Nikole was phenomenal! Everything we’d hoped for and more. Not only was Lavin a breeze to work with, but Nikole’s thought leadership, approach, and insights were incredible. We’ve gotten so much good feedback from attendees and folks have been quoting her all over the place from the session. Nikole has a beautiful way of sharing her scholarship in accessible and relatable ways, which makes it so much more meaningful and powerful.

PolicyLink

Testimonials

Nikole was awesome! Everyone really enjoyed her honesty and her ability to discuss a tough topic with ease. We had rave reviews about her and the event.

The United Way, Salt Lake City

Testimonials

It was truly a great event and Nikole was fantastic like I knew she would be. Our attendees left awakened and inspired and better educators because of it.

International Literacy Association

Lavin Exclusive Speakers

Angela Duckworth

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Daron Acemoglu

2024 Nobel Prize Winner | 3rd Most Cited Economist in the World | Bestselling Co-Author of Why Nations Fail and Power and Progress

Alison Wood Brooks

Harvard Business School Behavioral Science Professor | "40 Under 40 MBA Professor" | Author of TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves

Derek Thompson

#1 New York Times Bestselling Co-Author of Abundance | Host of thePlain English Podcast | Founder of the Substack Derek Thompson

Clint Smith

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of How the Word Is Passed and Above Ground | The Atlantic Staff Writer

Speech Topics

Politics & Society

An Evening with Nikole Hannah-JonesOn Civil Rights, Democracy, and Where We Go From Here

In this moderated conversation, MacArthur Genius Nikole Hannah-Jones engages in a powerful discussion of history and democracy that speaks directly to our current moment. Drawing on her storied career investigating civil rights and equality, as well as her Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project, she reframes our understanding of American history, highlights the contributions of Black Americans, and illuminates key moments of struggle and resistance. Hannah-Jones explores the history of our cultural, political, and legal institutions, and the way it continues to shape contemporary American life. This is a profoundly revealing vision of our country’s past, present, and future.