Brittany Packnett - Speaker

Brittany Packnett Cunningham is a well-known American activist, educator, and writer focused on social change and empowerment, especially in justice and policy. She graduated from John Burroughs School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, followed by a master's degree in secondary education from American University. Brittany started her career as an elementary teacher and later became the executive director for Teach for America in St. Louis. Her activism grew after the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting of Michael Brown, where she became a strong voice on social media. Her work led to her appointment to the Ferguson Commission by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. She co-founded Campaign Zero, a platform to end police violence, and was appointed to President Barack Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing, advocating for policy changes to address systemic racism. Brittany has also made contributions in media, co-hosting the award-winning podcast "Pod Save The People" and writing for publications like Teen Vogue. Her TED Talk on confidence has been translated into 22 languages and has over 7 million views, ranking among the top ten TED Talks of 2019. In 2019, Brittany married fellow activist Reginald Cunningham, whom she met during the Ferguson protests. She has been featured in various media outlets and recognized as one of Time’s 12 New Faces of Black Leadership, with President Obama praising her impactful voice. Currently, Brittany is the Founder and Principal of Love & Power Works, a social impact agency, and serves as Vice President of Social Impact at BET Media Group. She hosts the podcast "UNDISTRACTED" and continues to inspire a new generation of activists through her commitment to justice and equity.