Understanding the Christian Roots of Race Science with Terence Keel

Understanding the Christian Roots of Race Science with Terence Keel

Outspoken speaker, Terence Keel, shares with audiences his meaningful research in, among other things, investigating how pre-modern Christian thought and contemporary scientific perceptions of human difference are linked. Read more from Terence about this topic, including his award-winning book, in this recent interview, originally conducted by UCLA.

Read More

Kirkus names Crystal Fleming's 'Rise Up!' a 2021 Book of the Year

Kirkus names Crystal Fleming's 'Rise Up!' a 2021 Book of the Year

We're thrilled today to announce some exciting news about Outspoken speaker, Crystal Fleming: Kirkus Reviews has named Rise Up! How You Can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy! a Best Book of the Year for 2021. This book explores the roots of racism and its legacy in the modern-day, all while empowering young people with actionable ways they can help foster a better world and become antiracists.

Read More

Four key steps to expanding your worldview with Tayo Rockson

Many of us already have an idea of our own set of values, but what can we do when we want to seek growth? How can we be better, challenge our pre-existing social constructs, and create a culture of accountability for ourselves and those around us? In a recent article published in Newsweek, corporate diversity and inclusion trainer Tayo Rockson outlines four key steps to this process using the VIEW framework—"V" is for vigilance. "I" is for intention. "E" is for expanding environments. "W" is for warrior mindset.

Read More

Jessica O. Matthews’ Uncharted offers sustainable infrastructure solutions for underserved communities

Jessica-Matthews_Lab.jpg

Where Sustainability, Equity, and Innovative Solutions Meet

President Biden’s $1 trillion Infrastructure Bill comes at a pivotal time in American history. Climate change and engineering experts across the nation have long understood the dire need for clean transportation infrastructure, repaired highways and bridges, universal broadband, clean drinking water, modern city and state facilities, and more – not just for the sake of sustainability, but also for equity. Perhaps, no one better understands the day-to-day hassle and life-threatening implications of poor infrastructure than underserved communities. While they might not have the full language to describe them, the children of Flint know, all too well, the health implications of unclean drinking and bathing water. Single black and brown mothers best understand the need for modernized child-care facilities. Outspoken speaker, Jessica O. Matthews, said it best in Fast Company, “Black and brown people in America think about infrastructure every single day because we do not have what we need to be as successful as some of our peers.”

 
Black and brown people in America think about infrastructure every single day because we do not have what we need to be as successful as some of our peers.
— Jessica O. Matthews
 

While our most recent presidential administrations have not prioritized sustainable infrastructure, Matthews has long been one of the leading champions for the cause. She is the founder & CEO of Uncharted (formerly Uncharted Power), an award-winning, Platform-as-a-Service company that helps cities and developers reduce the cost and complexity of deploying and managing last mile infrastructure. "Bridging the last mile – whether we're talking about resilient power grid technologies, more efficient water systems, or equitable mobility services – has always been of critical importance," said Matthews in an Uncharted press release last month. "Today's communities cannot afford to deploy and manage the smart and sustainable infrastructure solutions that can solve their biggest problems, and the Uncharted Platform aims to fix this." 

That said, last month, Uncharted successfully completed the first phase of its pilot in Matthews’ hometown, Poughkeepsie, New York, in which it deployed a platform unified the city’s infrastructure and sensors thereby making it easier to monitor service flows and anticipate disruptions across the city. After nearly a year of working with the city of Poughkeepsie through a $1.8 million grant, Uncharted is now opening up its technology to other cities.

Matthews’ career started at the age of 19 with her invention of the SOCCKET, an energy-generating soccer ball. At the age of 22, she founded Uncharted Power as a power solutions company before expanding to integrated infrastructure solutions. Her list of accolades include Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs, Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30, and Harvard University Scientist of the Year.

As we, as a nation, recommit to turning our attention to climate change and infrastructure, it’s important we look to leading experts not only in sustainability, but in diversity and business. In her talks, Jessica O. Matthews bridges her leadership skills, innovative genius, and passion for equity to empower audiences around the world to solve the world’s biggest infrastructure, tech, and social problems. We are indeed entering a new decade, a new shift; with the help of Matthews the path to a more sustainable and equitable future becomes a bit clearer.

Jessica O. Matthews is available to book for virtual and in-person events. For more information, click here.

———

Outspoken Agency is a women-owned speaking agency representing leaders, founders, public intellectuals, authors and entertainers for paid keynotes, workshops and panels at in-person and virtual events. Learn more about our female founders here.

The Argument for Critical Race Theory with Crystal Fleming: There’s Nothing Harmful about Telling the Truth

The Argument for Critical Race Theory with Crystal Fleming: There’s Nothing Harmful about Telling the Truth

Critical race theory (CRT) is not a weapon of harm employed to shame, guilt, and dehumanize people who find themselves, consciously and unconsciously, intentionally and unintentionally, perpetuating white supremacy and racist thinking. It is, first and foremost, a service tool; a framework that enlightens and empowers those suffering under racial oppression to help them build a more just and beneficial society.

The kicker is: we are all suffering under white supremacy! Outspoken Speaker and critical race theory expert, Dr. Crystal Fleming, understands this better than most.

Read More