A Morning with Henry Winkler

Audiences always leave Henry Winkler's presentations inspired and entertained. Through humorous anecdotes and inspirational life lessons about overcoming adversity to his storied career in television and entertainment, groups of all ages can learn from Winkler's speeches. His passion for supporting others is the result of a lifetime struggle with undiagnosed dyslexia. Winkler has worked tirelessly to bring awareness and support to children who learn differently by advocating for changes in the education system and informing parents and teachers about learning challenges.

Henry Winkler co-stars as acting teacher Gene Cousineau on the hit HBO dark comedy, “Barry.” In 2018, he won his first Primetime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his role on the series. He also won the Television Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and received nominations for a Golden Globe and SAG Award. Behind the scenes he has also made his mark as a producer and director. 

Winkler has always been concerned about the quality of children’s television programming. He has produced countless worthwhile projects for young audiences, including Happily Ever After for PBS and its sequel, Two Daddies to Love Me. Additional specials include Run, Don’t Walk, and All the Kids Do It, which was about teenage drunk driving (he also directed.)

His first book, “Niagara Falls or Does It? Hank Zipzer the World’s Greatest Under-Achiever,” became a New York Times bestseller. The book was inspired by Winkler’s struggle throughout his education due to his learning challenges and became so popular, it grew into a series of 28 novels. To date, he and his co-author, Lin Oliver, have written 39 children’s novels. "Alien Superstar," a trilogy, became an instant New York Times best seller. Their newest book, "Detective Duck," will be published in October of this year.

Winkler has always believed in helping others and is especially passionate about children. He has been a featured speaker at WE Day Celebrations promoting education and service for students. His work also includes Honorary Chairman of United Friends of the Children; Founding Member of the Children’s Action Network; the first National Honorary Chairman of the Epilepsy Foundation of America; National Chairman of the annual Toys for Tots campaign; the National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped; the Special Olympics; and the Los Angeles Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival for children who are physically challenged; as well as participating in numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs.

A Conversation with Dr. Bernice A. King: It Starts With Me

Today’s students endure perilous times like never before. They must cope with gun violence, pandemic-related losses, discrimination and more. These real-life issues are barriers to achievement but, more importantly, barriers to students’ well-being. How can you continue to support today’s students and make an impact? Join Dr. Bernice A. King, author, lawyer, global thought leader, strategist, peace advocate and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, for a genuine conversation, based on her book “It Starts With Me.” 

Dr. King is a global thought leader, strategist, solutionist, orator, peace advocate and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center For Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), which was founded by her mother as the official living memorial to the life, work and legacy of her father. In this position, Dr. King continues to advance her parents’ legacy of nonviolent social change through policy, advocacy, research, and education and training through the Kingian philosophy of nonviolence, which she re-branded Nonviolence365™ (NV365).  

Through her work at The King Center, she educates youth and adults around the world about the nonviolent principles and strategies modeled by her parents. Under her leadership, the Center has implemented numerous initiatives reaching over 500,000 people around the world, including the Beloved Community Leadership Academy, Students with King, NV365 Education & Training and The Beloved Community Talks, a courageous conversations platform about the difficult racial and social justice issues affecting our world.  

Dr. King has received numerous awards and recognitions. In 2021, she received the Atlanta Business Chronicle Lifetime Achievement Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Additionally, The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation honored her in 2020 with its highest award, The Phoenix Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society. She is the author of “Hard Questions, Heart Answers,” as well as a children’s book titled “It Starts with Me,” which is a part of The King Center’s Be Love movement.  

Dr. Brian Davis is Georgia Aquarium’s president and CEO. Davis first joined the Georgia Aquarium team prior to its founding in 2003, as the director of education, later served as the Aquarium’s vice president of education and then most recently as executive vice president of operations. Davis has also served in both teaching and administrative roles in Cobb County’s school system and spent time developing education programs at both New York Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta.

Ernest Holmes is co-founder and president of CodeHouse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on increasing representation in the technology industry. Holmes is passionate about providing mentorship to young people of color and created CodeHouse after recognizing the lack of diverse employees in the tech industry and wanting to inspire more students that looked like him to pursue careers in STEM. 

James Jones, a native of Philadelphia, is an inaugural Atlanta Leading Men Fellow with The Literacy Lab. As a Fellow, Jones works as a literacy tutor for pre-K students in an Atlanta Public Schools classroom. Initially unsure of his passions and aspirations, upon relocating to Atlanta, Jones found a clear path to achieving his goals through the Leading Men Fellowship. James strongly advocates for increased representation of Black males in early education spaces and is fascinated by the impact their presence can have on students' overall academic and social trajectory. He is pursuing a career in education to further this mission.