Barry Lane
That amazing troubadour of joy, hope, and song is coming back. He tells me a school without music is a prison not a school. Barry wants us to know music heals, music inspires, music matters. Most of all Barry Lane wants us to know music belongs in our public schools.
Love is Truth. Kindness is freedom. Be kind to be free. In this talk author/singer Barry Lane shows how songs can create a greater degree of self-awareness that helps students and schools move past a compliance model of kindness, to one where students are encouraged to act from a place of intrinsic nobility. When we help children to recognize and act from their “higher self”, they take pride in their behavior and encourage others to do the same. Together we weave a Force Field for Good.
Cassandra York
Cassandra Forsythe, PhD, RD, is an author, a professor at CCSU, a dietician, and more. She works with women and men of all ages, shapes, and sizes to change the way they see and experience fitness and exercise. An advocate for personal wellness and fitness, she is sought after for expertise and training alike all across the state.
Luis Torres
An amazing Bronx Principle Luis E Torres whose school PS 55 is renowned for Champion Steppers, for putting on unbelievable Broadway Musical like productions. A community school, not a Charter School, not a Magnet School, a regular public school where art, music, imagination, and play strive. Where Academic Excellence is connected to the arts. A school where children come first, and the arts strive. Why? Because the arts save Principal Torres's life.
Marcel Bonnici
Marcel Bonnici is an accomplished YouTuber, Guinness World Record Holder and CCSU student from Rhode Island. He joined YouTube as AstonishingStudios to showcase his LEGO vending machines. Boasting 600,000 subscribers, Marcel works with brands like Taco Bell and General Mills, and was recently accepted into Northwestern's Master in Robotics program.
Nzinga's Daughters
Nzinga's Daughters is an ensemble of women who share their gift of song and prose from the East Coast of the USA to the West Coast of Africa.
Vishnu Murali
Vishnu looks forward to sharing his story about hope and faith that made him see a miracle in his life which will be an eye opener for everyone that listens to his talk.
Vishnu Murali is a high school sophomore. As a yoga & technology enthusiast, he has volunteered at his local library, CCSU, kids’ yoga classes and practices yoga everyday. He aspires to spread awareness of yoga and technology. In the future, along with being a technologist, he hopes to become a yoga instructor to teach underprivileged children for free.