Eliza Reid
Eliza Reid is a bestselling writer, public speaker, gender equality advocate, cofounder of the acclaimed Iceland Writers Retreat and former first lady of Iceland. She was born and raised in Canada but has lived in Iceland for over twenty years. Eliza’s first book, Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World, was an instant bestseller in Canada and Iceland, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Pick, and translated into numerous languages. Her first novel, an Iceland-set mystery called Death of a Diplomat (Death on the Island in the U.S.), will be published in spring 2025.
From 2016 to 2024, Eliza served in the unofficial role of First Lady while her husband was President of Iceland, during which time she acted as patron of numerous organizations and was named a United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals. A memoir of her time in the role is set for publication in 2026.
Passionate about inclusion, belonging, and equality, she wielded her influence through poignant op-eds, a compelling TEDx talk, and dozens of keynote addresses to audiences of hundreds around the world, including presidents and royalty. In addition to public speaking, Eliza Reid is an experienced moderator and has interviewed celebrities, including politicians and other world leaders such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ashley Judd and internationally-acclaimed authors Louise Penny and Anthony Horowitz. Her advocacy in the field of gender equality has been praised by U.S. President Joe Biden, Canadian Governor General Mary Simon, and numerous others. She has also received awards from the Better World Fund, Meet in Reykjavík, and the Institute for South Asian Women.
Eliza has degrees from the University of Toronto (Trinity College) and Oxford University (St. Antony’s College). She lives in the outskirts of Reykjavík with her husband and four children.
Eliza’s Speaking topics
- Secrets of the Sprakkar: How to Bring Gender Equality Within Reach, and Why That’s Important for Everyone
Based on Eliza’s bestselling book, Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They are Changing the World, this talk introduces people to Iceland, the country that has come closer than any other to closing the gender gap over the past 15 years. Using Iceland as an example, it covers what works and what remains to be done, from policy approaches such as parental leave for both parents and equal pay legislation, to the value of role models in society. Most importantly, this talk shares the stories of “sprakkar” – an Icelandic word for “extraordinary women” – who are making a difference in their communities by taking up space, using their voices, and serving as role models. This talk inspires us all to make a difference in the world by nudging things in the right direction.
- The Bend in the Road: How to Make the Most of Unexpected Opportunity
Eliza’s memoir of her time as first lady is set for publication in 2026 and this talk is based on much of that content.
Eliza Reid grew up in small-town Canada and met her Icelandic husband, Guðni Jóhannesson, at graduate school in England. When she gave fate a push by contriving to win a date with him in a raffle, she never imagined that spontaneous decision would lead her to becoming First Lady of Iceland almost two decades later, after a whirlwind seven-week campaign on her husband’s first foray into public office.
Incorporating insightful behind-the-scenes moments from life in the world of global leaders; from having tea at the White House with the Bidens, to poignant moments such as attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, navigating volcanic eruptions and living through a global pandemic, this talk examines how Eliza navigated her public but undefined role, and used it to upend expectations about first ladies.
Although it’s entertaining and provides a glimpse into an unusual world, this talk is really about inspiring people to make the most of unexpected opportunities, to be forces for positive change in the world. It’s for everyone who strives to write their own fairytale, and subvert the expectations others might impose on us.
- Storytelling for leadership and change
Everyone has a unique story. Paying attention and harnessing the wisdom of your journey can enhance how you move through the world—the type of organization you run, the children you raise, the people whose lives you’ll impact.
This workshop is designed to help you make sense of your story and sharpen your observation skills to better understand the stories that continue to unfold around you. It will help you to tease out the special details of a life and how to use those details to inspire, inform, and connect with others, putting your story to work to bring out the kind of change you want to create in your company or community.
- General talks in the sphere of travel & sustainability
I have delivered numerous keynote speeches on travel and sustainability at industry events and was named a United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals in 2017. I can adapt speeches to suit a broad range of audiences and explore a variety of topics. Often using Iceland as a case study, I can speak to how travel and tourism are economic drivers in a country; the challenges and opportunities that tourism brings, and how Iceland is a leader in sustainable tourism and has (unusually) a generally positive view of tourism among its local population.
More broadly speaking, travelling and discovering new places and meeting new people has the potential to bridge divides and bring us closer together. I have travelled extensively, much of it solo, and can share some of the stories I have heard and adventures I’ve had on the road, and what that has taught me about communication and cooperation in other facets of life.
Testimonials
“She shared many heartfelt messages, leaving an indelible impression as one of the most empowered, driven, and inspiring women I have ever met.”
—Lilian Atho, CEO and Founder Real Time Global
“I had the great privilege of recently attending a speech by Iceland’s former First Lady, Eliza Reid. She was funny, smart, insightful, and entertaining. She didn’t hit a homerun; she hit a grand slam.”
—Jean Becker, Former Chief of Staff to George H.W. Bush
“Her energy, intelligence and integrity are so inspiring and most of all, I love how real she is. When you think of a First Lady you don’t expect someone to be so warm, unpretentious and personable.”
—Amy Skelding, Managing Partner at Finn Partners Travel
“Ms. Eliza Reid captivated our group of over 100 lawyers and their spouses with her stories of life in Iceland and extraordinary women in Icelandic history, but the best aspect of her presentation was the message that equality in authority and parity in opportunity are possible and within reach. Eliza’s approachable style and comfortable delivery, sprinkled with humor and playful wit, capture and sustain the attention of the audience. She is a delightful, entertaining and empowering keynote speaker for any meeting or conference.”
Steve Quattlebaum, 2023 National President of The American Board of Trial Advocates
Rukhsana Khan
Rukhsana Khan is an award-winning author and storyteller. She was born in Lahore, Pakistan and immigrated to Canada at the age of three.
She grew up bullied in a small town and read books to survive.
She has eighteen award-winning books published and more on the way. In 2013, her book BIG RED LOLLIPOP was chosen by the New York Public Library as one of the 100 greatest children’s books in the last 100 years.
She has appeared on television, radio and been featured at festivals around the world.
She lives in Toronto with her husband and family.
Awards
In addition to the awards her books have won, Rukhsana has been recognized with the following:
- Artist in Library at Fairview Public Library, Toronto Arts Council, 2014
- Writer in Residence, Toronto District School Board 2013
- The Award of Excellence from the Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals (CAMP) Toronto chapter, 2008
- The Communication & Leadership Award from the District 60 branch of Toastmasters, 2004
- The Literature Award from the Canadian Islamic Congress, 2004
Rukhsana Khan Speaking Topics
Rukhsana has been a public speaker for more than twenty years and has done several workshops on public speaking. She has an incredible ability to project not only her voice, but her personality. Even when she speaks softly, audiences hang onto every word.
Colonization in Western Literature
The Art of Engaging the Reluctant Student
Developing Strength and Resiliency in our Children
Forget About Projecting Your Voice—Project Your Personality
The Key to Diversity, Inclusion and Equity is to Get Past It
Elisabeth Burks
Elisabeth Burks (she/her) brings over 20 years of experience at the intersection of culture and commerce, driving revenue and relevance for cultural icons like John Legend, global brands like Samsung, and entertainment giants like Sony Music and TIFF. As a visionary strategist, she guides organizations and leaders through the challenges of boardrooms and the marketplace—delivering transformational insights and strategies for leadership, business growth and cultural relevance. As founder and CEO of Known Entity, Elisabeth specializes in creating cultural and commercial strategies that move markets and mindsets. Elisabeth holds an EMBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and the Schulich School of Business, and a B.A. in Media and Cultural Studies from The New School in New York City. A proud mother and wife, she is a sought-after public speaker and moderator and a passionate advocate for youth and social impact.
“Elisabeth’s extensive experience is distinguished as a unique and trusted advisor for top-tier businesses. Her specialized expertise provides a compelling strategic vision on how to harness cultural trends to drive commerce in today’s fragmented market. Her approach, equally strategic and sincere, is both refreshing and inspiring.” —Veronica Gaik, Executive Director, Brand Sales & Partnerships at TikTok Canada
Elisabeth Burks Speaking Topics
As a sought-after speaker and moderator, Elisabeth is equal parts advisor, strategist and motivator. Elisabeth delivers more than just inspiring keynotes—she develops workshops and seminars tailored to help organizations impact culture and the bottom line.
Leveraging Culture as a Competitive Advantage
Learn how to build and sustain cultural capital, transforming relevance into long-term commercial success.
Strategic Workshops on Aligning Purpose with Profit
Interactive sessions that equip teams with strategies for meeting consumer expectations while driving ROI.
Tailored Training on Navigating Emerging Trends
Seminars designed to decode and apply cultural shifts to leadership, branding, and marketing strategies.
Designing Commerce Around Culture
Learn the step-by-step process of connecting cultural movements to product innovation and market leadership.
Building Teams for a Culture-Driven Future
Unpacks how cultural movements and consumer trends are reshaping organizationz and how businesses can stay ahead by aligning their leadership strategies with cultural shifts.
Sharon and Randi
Since the 1970s, Sharon, Lois & Bram have been family-entertainment superstars across North America and beyond. Over the course of their 45-year musical journey, Sharon, Lois & Bram produced dozens of recordings and compilations, as well as three award-winning, best-selling children’s books. Together, the threesome appeared in many of the most prominent venues in the United States, as well as every major concert hall in Canada. They were Goodwill ambassadors, received countless awards, sold millions of albums worldwide and starred in two critically acclaimed television series (The Elephant Show and Skinnamarink TV). They are widely recognized as the most beloved children’s entertainers of all time.
Sharon Hampson and Bram Morrison performed as a duo for more than 20 years after Lois Lilienstein stepped away from live performing. The Sharon, Lois & Bram tiktok has made them social media darlings with over 37M+ views and 188,000+ followers.
When Bram retired from touring at the end of 2019, Sharon’s daughter, Randi, joined Sharon as a live performer, and recently produced and sang on the JUNO-nominated album, Sharon & Bram and Friends, as well as writing three picture books for Penguin Random House, Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Skinnamarink, One Elephant Went out to Play, and Peanut Butter and Jelly.
Now Sharon and Randi are continuing to share the music of Sharon, Lois & Bram, performing in both live and virtual settings as A Sharon, Lois & Bram Singalong with Sharon & Randi. Just as Sharon, Lois & Bram brought happiness to four generations of children and their grown-ups, Randi and Sharon are now bringing their own live performances, featuring stories, music, memories, and life lessons, to a new generation of adults and children.
Speaking topics and performances
A Sharon, Lois & Bram Sing Along with Sharon & Randi
This singalong gathering is a real family affair featuring Sharon & Randi, Randi’s son Ethan and her beau, Jim. Singalong highlights include such beloved Sharon, Lois & Bram favorites as “Tingalayo,” “Hey Dum Diddeley Dum,” “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain,” and, of course, “Skinnamarink. Guaranteed to be a fun, interactive time for children, their families and the young at heart.
Randi and Sharon in the classroom
Randi and Sharon play games, sing songs, teach finger play and make music with classes and children from JK-grade 4.
Behind the Scenes and Life Lessons with Sharon & Randi
Listen in on captivating conversation and stories of tours, TV, parties, and behind-the-scenes peeks. Sharon also shares her personal journey dealing with breast cancer, the loss of her husband, Joe, then partner and friend, Lois. This will be poignant, fun, infused with laughter, inside stories and of course, always singing. This can be an intimate event with a Q&A or a keynote address.
Finding your Child Spirit Workshops for Teachers
Sharon & Randi will delight educators by singing and reading from their three best-selling children’s books, and teaching songs and gameplay to their educator audience. Participants will reconnect with their child spirit by engaging in literary and musical activities they will take back to their classrooms. This will be a fun hour of singing, dancing and laughing, that consequently teaches about memory, food, rhyme, counting, patience, coordination, cooperation and so much more.
Kai Thomas
Kai Thomas is an author and educator. His background and body of work span from land stewardship, carpentry, and small-scale farming to historical research and scholarship.
His debut novel, In the Upper Country, was awarded the 2023 Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust prize for fiction and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction and the Amazon Canada First Novel Award. The work has been featured in news outlets such as NPR, CBC, The New York Times, and the Globe and Mail.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Writing from the Land
How can writing cultivate connection with nature? In this workshop, Kai facilitates exercises of storytelling from the land, offers reflections on how land-based work and play can invigorate and inform writing practice, and opens discussions on the role of storytellers in an era of environmental crisis.
Approaching the Novel
Novel writing can be a daunting task. In this presentation, Kai makes it less so by speaking candidly about strategies for managing some of the challenges of the process. From topic-selection and drafting techniques to research approaches, participants will learn and engage with valuable perspectives in the craft of prose fiction.
Story-ing the Past
Stories of our past are a powerful way to understand the present. Through personal storytelling and guided reflection Kai holds space to immerse in and meditate on the narratives that have shaped us.
Other topics or types of workshops, consultations, lectures, readings, or interviews may be developed for a particular group or event.
To book Kai Thomas, contact Rob Firing at rob@transatlanticagency.com
Matthew Dawkins
Matthew is a Jamaican award-winning author and poet whose writing explores subject matters including adolescence, race, nationhood, and mental health. His short story about a brave and relentless Black girl is featured in the forthcoming THE ANNETHOLOGY, a collection of Anne of Green Gables re-imaginings (Acorn Press, 2024).
In Matthew’s debut YA novel UNTIL WE BREAK (Wattpad Books, 2022), a Black ballet dancer grapples with grief after a potentially career-ending injury and the death of her best friend. Matthew is currently at work on an adult novel about queerness and masculinity in World War II–era Jamaica.
His work has been featured in Westwind Poetry, Indolent Books, Pinhole Poetry, and in advertising campaigns for Western University and IKEA. Matthew was the 2022-2023 Student Writer in Residence at Western University, where he graduated with a B.A. in Arts and Humanities and English Literature.
Selected Media
- CBC Radio Q interviews author Matthew Dawkins
- Quill & Quire interview on artistic sacrifice, mental health, and personal growth.
- TeenInk interview on writing process and inspiration from Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo.
Selected Speaking Topics
Spoken Word
In his performances, Matthew combines traditional poetic forms with contemporary subject matters such as adolescence, race, ecology, nationhood, and mental health. His engaging style is influenced by Toni Morrison and Amanda Gorman, and encourages audiences to snap, hum, and nod along. Matthew’s poetry is suitable for ages 16 and up.
Moderating
Matthew is an avid reader, interviewer, and moderator with a passion for exploring the intersection of literature and diverse cultural experiences. His B.A. in English Language and Literature, as well as his lived experience, equip him with a deep understanding of the realities of diverse youth, particularly within the Jamaican/Caribbean and immigrant communities. Matthew’s insightful questions and ability to create a welcoming atmosphere allow audiences to engage deeply with topics such as identity, belonging, and culture. His passion and intention ensures every event is thought-provoking and enlightening.
Your Voice is a Key – Start Opening Doors
For Matthew, classrooms represent more than just homework and required reading; they are spaces where problem-solving skills and creative thinking are developed. In this session, Matthew uses interactive storytelling exercises to empower students, helping them refine their voices and showcasing how their passion and ideas can make a real difference. This workshop is ideal for students ages 12 and up.
In Defense of Storytime: Why We Need More Art in Schools
Matthew’s writing career can be credited to approximately ten staff rooms; worth of teachers who not only sharpened his talent but also supported him with resources. His experience forms the bedrock for this discussion on the significance of deliberately fostering creative talent among young people. In this session, Matthew will underscore the transformative power of a strong arts education and explore how and why adults, mentors, teachers, and administrators can support students’ creativity.
The Art of Self-Care
In this session, Mathew facilitates a brave space to help professionals explore the therapeutic benefits of creative writing and reconnecting with their inner artists. Through a series of hands-on activities, organizations will learn how to use art as a tool for self-care, stress relief, and personal growth. This session will leave teams feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to tackle professional and personal challenges with renewed creativity and resilience.
To book Matthew contact Léonicka Valcius at leonicka@transatlanticagency.com
Riley Yesno
Riley Yesno (she/her) is a queer Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and commentator, from Eabametoong First Nation and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
She is highly sought after for her words and analysis— called an “Indigenous powerhouse” by the Toronto Star, “one of the brightest young minds in Canada today” by jury members of the Canadian Journalism Foundation, and “a rising intellectual giant by the University of Toronto.
She has been a contributor and commentator for some of the largest media outlets in Canada and the world, including the New York Times, BBC World News, The Globe and Mail, and CBC National News. Riley has also travelled the globe speaking at internationally renowned institutions and events, including the UN climate negotiations, the Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality, TEDx stages, and many others.
She has taught Indigenous governance at Toronto Metropolitan University and is completing her PhD at the University of Toronto, where she is studying Indigenous / Canadian politics and is a Vanier Scholar. Riley is at work on the proposal for her first book of non-fiction, which will look critically at reconciliation in Canada, interwoven with her lived experience.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Beyond Reconciliation
It has been almost ten years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its Final Report and launched Canada’s reconciliation project into the country’s political and social consciousness. What progress has been made? Where have we failed to take action? In this talk, Riley charts the trajectory of reconciliation from its inception to the present— highlighting Indigenous people’s critiques and the work we must all do to go beyond reconciliation as it has been pursued to date.
The Future is Indigenous
Too often, Indigenous people are wrongly viewed as ‘past people’— stuck in a time of pre-colonization and unable to adapt to the modern world. In this presentation, Riley shows that Indigenous people are, contrary to this racist belief, one of the most adaptable people out there— surviving apocalypse after apocalypse and adapting to every change brought on by colonization— Indigenous people have never let up on their commitment to realizing futures where we all thrive. Drawing on a concept called ‘Indigenous Futurism, ‘ Riley will explain how Indigenous art and activism are writing the story of a bold new future— today.
Indigenous Queerness: The Colonizers Brought the Closet
Over the past few decades in North America, the term ‘two-spirit’ (2S) has been increasingly recognized. As a queer Indigenous person herself, in this talk, Riley aims to break down what ‘two-spirit’ means, where it came from, and common misconceptions of the identity. She will also highlight how colonization has impacted all of our understandings of gender and sexuality and challenge audiences to decolonize their relationships to gender and sexuality as well— whether you’re Indigenous or not.
#LandBack
How did an internet joke turn into a rallying call for Indigenous action that spans across the continent? This is the story of Land Back: Building off of a longstanding history of refusal of the settler-colonial status quo, Land Back has become a point of connection for supporters of Indigenous self-determination and, increasingly, for those who see Indigenous leadership as the world’s greatest hope against climate destruction. This talk will outline how Land Back came to be and how it fits into the larger story of Indigenous contestation, provide examples of Land Back in action, and suggest ways we can all take part in the growing movement.
Lessons in Youth Leadership
Riley was only sixteen years old when she started taking up prominent leadership roles in Canada and around the world. From the Prime Minister’s table and UN negotiating rooms to grassroots youth movements, she’s learned many lessons about what it means to be a truly strong and honourable leader. Drawing on these experiences and teachings from an Anishinaabe worldview, this talk asks audiences to deeply consider questions like: How do you define leadership? How do you move through challenges with integrity? Is leadership about having a seat at the table, or should we be challenging the idea of ‘the table’ altogether?
Transforming Education for Indigenous Peoples
In Canada, we know that public education is not serving Indigenous people in the way it should, even as the statistics improve from year to year. From the closing of the last residential school in 1997 to now, Indigenous people continue to have high school graduation rates far below our non-Indigenous counterparts, and Indigenous representation in higher learning is even further behind. How do we overcome this? How can we decolonize the classroom— both the physical environment and the learning approach— so that all students not just pass, but feel empowered and seen by their education?
Murdered and Missing: Canada’s Failure to Protect Indigenous Women, Girls, and Queer People
The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people was released to the general public in 2019, but it had been a conversation in Indigenous communities for much longer than that. In this talk, Riley traces the history of injustice against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people from the onset of colonization to now. The goal is to look beyond the data and the public reports and ask bigger questions like: How can we build communities and worlds that truly value non-violence, consent, and accountability?
To book Riley, please reach out to speakers@transatlanticagency.com
Prince Shakur
Prince Shakur – author, journalist, podcast host, video maker, and educator – is a radical voice in today’s literary and cultural landscape.
With his thought-provoking articles in prominent publications such as Teen Vogue, Afropunk, Catap
His debut memoir, When They Tell You To Be Good, was described as “… a searing account of self-discovery amidst the unyielding weight of structural oppression.” (Publishers Weekly).
It was named one of TIME Magazine‘s Most Anticipated Books of the Fall.
Beyond the written word, Prince Shakur harnesses the power of visual storytelling. He collaborated as a writer, co-producer, and lead actor in BEFORE I DIE, a short film about two childhood friends on the precipice of an event that promises to reshape their lives. He has attended several prestigious artist residencies, including Sangam House, Studios of Key West, Norton Island, Atlantic Center for the Arts, and La Madison Baldwin.
As an organizer, he brought racial justice issues to Ohio University as a student organizer and writer. While in Seattle, he defended worker rights as a boycott organizer and then worked as a bank teller at Compass Housing Alliance for people without housing. Since then, he has participated in numerous environmental actions/movements, including Standing Rock; organized cultural events, protests, and abolition trainings as a lead organizer with Black Queer and Intersectional Collective; raised funds to support migrant caravans support efforts at the US/Mexican border; and organized against fascism through art and political action.
Prince, the host of the Black anarchist podcast “THE DUGOUT,” has a decade-long history of grassroots organizer. He brought racial justice issues to Ohio University, defended worker rights in Seattle, and worked as a bank teller at Compass Housing Alliance from 2014 to 2016. His activism extends to environmental movements like Standing Rock, cultural events with Black Queer and Intersectional Collective, fundraising for migrant caravans, and organizing against fascism through art and political action.
Since 2023, Shakur has served as an adjunct at Lehman College and a writing instructor for various queer/BIPOC writing organizations on memoirs, Black history, archival, and radical narratives. He is additionally a vital source for writing resources and reflections online as the founder of Millennial Writer Life, an Authortuber, and a political commentator to a TikTok following of over 8,000.
To book Prince, please reach out to speakers@transatlanticagency.com
Harrison Mooney
Harrison Mooney is a best-selling memoirist and award-winning journalist from British Columbia, Canada. His debut memoir, Invisible Boy, has been shortlisted for two BC and Yukon Book Prizes, the prestigious Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and was the winner of the 2023 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for nonfiction. Harrison’s work has also appeared in the New York Times, the Vancouver Sun, the Guardian, Yahoo and Maclean’s. He lives in East Vancouver with his family and family dog, Bootsy.
Speaking Topic
Black History in BC: From James Douglas to me
Harrison guides his audience through a survey of Black History in BC, beginning with James Douglas, the Father of British Columbia. Douglas kept his Blackness under wraps as best he could, serving as the British Crown and Hudson Bay Company’s primary contact in the new colony, “passing”, in the parlance, for a dark-skinned white man. Nevertheless, he was instrumental in welcoming nearly 800 racialized settlers, B.C.’s Black pioneers, to Vancouver Island in 1858 — an invitation that would set the stage for the development of Hogan’s Alley, B.C.’s first Black neighbourhood, in mainland Vancouver. This community would swiftly be displaced, destroyed to make way for a viaduct, and this erasure echoes through to present-day. Harrison Mooney himself will attest to this, drawing a straight line from Douglas to the present-day experience of Blackness on the West Coast.
Growing Up Black in B.C.
How does a Black child growing up in a white family, immersed in a white community, understand his identity or his place in the world? Harrison Mooney shares the tale of his childhood as a transracial adoptee — a story first told in his memoir, Invisible Boy. Raised by white fundamentalist Christians, separated from his Black family members, and discouraged from connecting with Blackness at all, Mooney spent over two decades searching for a sense of self that remained elusive until he finally found the writing of James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and others. Reflecting on his upbringing and experience as a Black boy in the Bible belt, Mooney illuminates the need to be seen by one’s family, community members, and self.
Everything I’ve Ever Written: What James Baldwin taught me about myself
The first time Harrison Mooney read a book written by a Black author, he was 21 years old. That book, James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, also marked the first time that Mooney felt like a book was speaking directly to him. The experience not only changed his life, but it gave the young, transracial adoptee a new perspective on his own Blackness — an identity he’d never been encouraged to explore.But even in his all-white home and all-white community, Mooney was always exploring his Blackness and identity in writing, by hook or by crook or by accident, and a light-hearted review of his output from childhood to present-day demonstrates how desperate he always had been for the answers he finally uncovered in Baldwin’s famous, fiery 1963 letter to a nephew.
In finding the words that he’d sought his whole life, Mooney also found a firm footing for the identity he’d never fully embraced. The memoirist’s description of the evolution of his mind, his sense of self, and what it says about the way this society fails adoptees and its racialized children, especially as they pursue positive personal and cultural identities, will leave you breathless.
Follow Harrison on Instagram is here, and on X (Twitter) is here.
Selected media
• The Abbotsford News (this one talks about my keynote speech work)
• Global BC presents: Harrison Mooney
• Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize winners announced
• Rakuten Kobo: Looking Ahead with Harrison Mooney
• I’m the permanent host of an open mic for Black poets. Here’s a link to that.
• The Tyee
• Best books of 2022 – The Globe & Mail
• Best books of 2022 – CBC
Harrison Mooney live
Vancouver Public Library Book launch
To book Harrison, please reach out to speakers@transatlanticagency.com
Alejandra Schrader
Alejandra Schrader is an award-winning author, plant-based nutrition certified chef, food TV personality, and activist based in Los Angeles, CA.
She is the author of “The Low-Carbon Cookbook and Action Plan: Reduce Food Waste and Combat Climate Change with 140 Sustainable Plant-Based Recipes.” Her book won the 2021 Gourmand World Cookbook Award for the United States in the Food Waste category.
Ms. Schrader’s message focuses on sustainability, biodiversity, and nutrition as the key for optimal food systems where everyone has access to good food. She has been invited to speak at the United Nations and the World Bank. She has been interviewed by high-profile media including The New York Times and Forbes.
Some of the international events where she has spoken include the Global Nutrition Summit 2017 in Milan, EAT Forum 2018 in Stockholm, Devex World 2020, United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021, Women in Food and Agriculture 2022 in Frankfurt, and AGRF 2022 Summit in Kigali where she also cooked for a dinner hosted by President Kagame.
As an Ambassador for the Periodic Table of Food Initiative, Alejandra spoke at two different launching events of the initiative—the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva and FINUT Conference 2022 in Mexico City.
Ms. Schrader is a founding member of the Chefs’ Manifesto—a program by the SDG2 Advocacy Hub—and she has taken a lead in promoting equity and sustainability in our food systems. She is an Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goal 2: “Zero Hunger,” and has contributed to campaigns by the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Food Programme, EAT Foundation, and Global Citizen.
A Sister on the Planet Ambassador for Oxfam America, Alejandra has traveled internationally to work with ecological farmers and underprivileged communities in developing countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, and Peru. She has also done policy advocacy at the United States Capitol where she has met with elected officials including (former) Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and then US Senator, now Vice-President Kamala Harris, among others.
As a celebrity chef, Alejandra has showcased her passion for planet-friendly food on all major television networks in the United States and Canada. She’s made appearances on national TV shows such as Access Hollywood Live, The Talk, Café CNN, Despierta América, the Marilyn Denis Show, and The Social.
She is an alum of the popular cooking show ‘MasterChef’ with Gordon Ramsay where she earned the title of fan favorite as a top finalist in the competition. Alejandra has competed on other culinary competitions such as Food Fighters with Adam Richman on NBC and ‘El Sabór de Aarón’ with Aarón Sánchez in Discovery Familia.
Ms. Schrader has a Certification in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University. She holds a Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture.
Published Work:
“The Low-Carbon Cookbook and Action Plan: Reduce Food Waste and Combat Climate Change with 140 Sustainable Plant-Based Recipes” – DK Books/Penguin Random House June 8, 2021
– Winner, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2022, Food Waste Category, United States.
– Foreword by Dr. Gunhild Stordalen, Founder and Executive Chair, EAT Foundation
– Endorsements for The Low-Carbon Cookbook by: Dr. Agnes Kalibata, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Food Systems Summit, Abby Maxman, President and CEO of Oxfam America, Paul Newnham, Director of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub Secretariat and the Chefs’ Manifesto, Courtney Hazlett, Executive Producer and Creator, Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge, and Mary Sue Milliken, Chef and Food Systems Advocate.
Selected Media:
- “These Five Cuisines Are Easier on the Planet” by Somini Sengupta, The New York Times
- “More People May Die from Hunger Than from The Coronavirus This Year, Says Aid Group Oxfam” by Shayna Harris, Forbes
- “The Way We Eat: Alejandra Schrader, Food Policy Advocate and Private Chef in Los Angeles” by Lauren Masur, The Kitchn
- “Scream Flavor, Whisper Health” by Jessica Koslow, Playa Vista Direct
- “Chefs Who Cook Well and Do Good: Alejandra Schrader” by Deirdre Appel, Diet Detective
- “Chef Alejandra Schrader: Inspired by Mother Earth, Inspiring Humanity”, Vitamix
- “Cooking Up a Better Food System” by Divya Amladi, Oxfam America
Public Speaking Engagements:
- Society for Economic Botany and Society of Ethnobiology Conference “Human and Planetary Health: Everything is Connected”, Atlanta, GA (June 6, 2023)
- Rockefeller Foundation, Bellagio Convening “Climate Change, Food Quality, and Planetary Health”, Lake Como, Italy (May 8-13, 2023)
- The Periodic Table of Food Initiative Launch, Mexico City, Mexico (October 10, 2022) A side event at FINUT Conference II Keynote Speaker
- AGRF Summit, Kigali, Rwanda (September 7, 2022) Speaker, Presidential Gala Dinner
- Women in Food and Agriculture Summmit (June 14, 2022) Featured Speaker, “Lowering Your Carbon FOODprint”
- The Periodic Table of Food Initiative Launch, Geneva, Switzerland (May 23, 2022) A side event at the 75th World Health Assembly Keynote Speaker
- United Nations Food Systems Summit – Pre-Summit Dialogues (June 30, 2021) Speaker, “Solutions Rooted in Food and Social Innovation”
- Devex World 2020 (December 10, 2020) Speaker, “How Businesses Can Build a Resilient, Sustainable Food System”
- United Nations Food Systems Summit – World Food Day (October 16, 2020) Expert, Roundtable Discussion: “Chefs as Potential Agents of Transformative Change in Food Systems”
- Earth Day Live 2020 (April 24, 2020) Featured Participant – Segment: “Healthy Cooking for a Healthy Planet”
- World Bank, Washington, DC (April 10, 2019) Panel Speaker, On the Menu: Can Food be the Planet’s Medicine?
- Live Interview: Healthy Eating for Better Development
- Live Interview (Spanish): Cómo Una Dieta Saludable y Sostenible Puede Salvar Vidas y Nuestro Planeta?
- United Nations, New York, NY (February 5, 2019) Panel Speaker, Global Launch of the Report: EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health
- EAT Forum, Stockholm, Sweden (June 12, 2018) Presenter, Chefs Manifesto Global Launch
- Global Nutrition Summit 2017, Milan, Italy (November 4, 2017) Presenter, Chefs Network for Global Goals
- Social Good Summit, New York, NY (September 12, 1017) Presenter, Eat for Good campaign
To book Alejandra Schrader, contact Rob Firing at speakers@transatlanticagency.com.