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Marian Wright Edelman

Founder & President of the Children's Defense Fund

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Marian Wright Edelman Biography

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans for her entire professional life. Under her leadership, CDF has become the nation's strongest voice for children and families. The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to leave no child behind and to ensure every child a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

 Edelman, a graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law School, began her career in the mid-60s when, as the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, she directed the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund office in Jackson, MS. In l968, she moved to Washington, D.C., as counsel for the Poor People's Campaign that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began organizing before his death. She founded the Washington Research Project, a public interest law firm and the parent body of the Children's Defense Fund. For two years she served as the Director of the Center for Law and Education at Harvard University and in l973 began CDF.

 Edelman served on the Board of Trustees of Spelman College which she chaired from 1976 to 1987 and was the first woman elected by alumni as a member of the Yale University Corporation on which she served from 1971 to 1977. She has received many honorary degrees and awards including the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize, the Heinz Award, and a MacArthur Foundation Prize Fellowship. In 2000, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, and the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award for her writings which include seven books: Families in Peril: An Agenda for Social Change; The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours; Guide My Feet: Meditations and Prayers on Loving and Working for Children; Stand for Children; Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors; Hold My Hand: Prayers for Building a Movement to Leave No Child Behind; and I'm Your Child, God: Prayers for Our Children.

 She is a board member of the Robin Hood Foundation, the Association to Benefit Children, City Lights School, and Outward Bound and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

Speaking Topics
  • The State of America's Children

  • cradle to prison pipeline (CPP)

  • education

  • poverty

  • health care

Videos
Books
I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children

I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children

I'm Your Child God: Prayers for Our Children

I'm Your Child God: Prayers for Our Children

Guide My Feet: Prayers and Meditations for Our Children

Guide My Feet: Prayers and Meditations for Our Children

Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors

Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors

Stand for Children

Stand for Children

Families in Peril: An Agenda for Social Change

Families in Peril: An Agenda for Social Change

FAQs
  • How do I book Marian Wright Edelman to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Marian Wright Edelman for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Marian Wright Edelman, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Marian Wright Edelman or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Marian Wright Edelman

    Speaking fees for Marian Wright Edelman, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Marian Wright Edelman are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Marian Wright Edelman, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Marian Wright Edelman speak about?

  • Where does Marian Wright Edelman travel from?

    Marian Wright Edelman generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Marian Wright Edelman’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Marian Wright Edelman for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Marian Wright Edelman for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Marian Wright Edelman or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Founder & President of the Children's Defense Fund

Travels From:
Washington, DC, USA
Speaking Fee:

Marian Wright Edelman Biography

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans for her entire professional life. Under her leadership, CDF has become the nation's strongest voice for children and families. The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to leave no child behind and to ensure every child a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

 Edelman, a graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law School, began her career in the mid-60s when, as the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, she directed the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund office in Jackson, MS. In l968, she moved to Washington, D.C., as counsel for the Poor People's Campaign that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began organizing before his death. She founded the Washington Research Project, a public interest law firm and the parent body of the Children's Defense Fund. For two years she served as the Director of the Center for Law and Education at Harvard University and in l973 began CDF.

 Edelman served on the Board of Trustees of Spelman College which she chaired from 1976 to 1987 and was the first woman elected by alumni as a member of the Yale University Corporation on which she served from 1971 to 1977. She has received many honorary degrees and awards including the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize, the Heinz Award, and a MacArthur Foundation Prize Fellowship. In 2000, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, and the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award for her writings which include seven books: Families in Peril: An Agenda for Social Change; The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours; Guide My Feet: Meditations and Prayers on Loving and Working for Children; Stand for Children; Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors; Hold My Hand: Prayers for Building a Movement to Leave No Child Behind; and I'm Your Child, God: Prayers for Our Children.

 She is a board member of the Robin Hood Foundation, the Association to Benefit Children, City Lights School, and Outward Bound and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

Marian Wright Edelman Speaking Topics

  • The State of America's Children

  • cradle to prison pipeline (CPP)

  • education

  • poverty

  • health care

Marian Wright Edelman Videos

  • Reflections from a lifetime fighting to end child poverty
    What does it take to build a national movement? In a captivating conversation with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Marian Wright Edelman reflects on...
  • Marian Wright Edelman, Delivering a Message to Martin Luther King
    Marian Wright Edelman facilitated communications between President Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this MAKERS moment, ...
  • Marian Wright Edelman Commencement Speech
    On May 25, 2015, Marian Wright Edelman delivered the commencement speech to the Oberlin Class of 2015. Read the transcript: ...

Marian Wright Edelman Books

FAQs on booking Marian Wright Edelman

  • How do I book Marian Wright Edelman to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Marian Wright Edelman for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Marian Wright Edelman, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Marian Wright Edelman or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Marian Wright Edelman

    Speaking fees for Marian Wright Edelman, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Marian Wright Edelman are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Marian Wright Edelman, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Marian Wright Edelman speak about?

  • Where does Marian Wright Edelman travel from?

    Marian Wright Edelman generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Marian Wright Edelman’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Marian Wright Edelman for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Marian Wright Edelman for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Marian Wright Edelman or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Marian Wright Edelman is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The State of America's Children, cradle to prison pipeline (CPP), education, poverty and health care. The estimated speaking fee range to book Marian Wright Edelman for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Marian Wright Edelman generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Judge Glenda Hatchett, Hill Harper, Erin Gruwell, Victoria Rowell and Jonah Edelman. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Marian Wright Edelman for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Marian Wright Edelman Speaking Topics

  • The State of America's Children

  • cradle to prison pipeline (CPP)

  • education

  • poverty

  • health care

Marian Wright Edelman Speaker Videos

  • Reflections from a lifetime fighting to end child poverty
    What does it take to build a national movement? In a captivating conversation with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Marian Wright Edelman reflects on her path to founding the Children's Defense Fund in...
    Marian Wright Edelman, Delivering a Message to Martin Luther King
    Marian Wright Edelman facilitated communications between President Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this MAKERS moment, ...
  • Marian Wright Edelman Commencement Speech
    On May 25, 2015, Marian Wright Edelman delivered the commencement speech to the Oberlin Class of 2015. Read the transcript: ...
    Marian Wright Edelman on Children
    Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund ( CDF), has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans for ...
  • The Talk - Marian Wright Edelman on Children Poverty in America
    Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), Marian Wright Edelman talks about American children living in poverty and ...
    Marian Wright Edelman: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know ...

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

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Speakers Similar to Marian Wright Edelman

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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