2013 Conference Speakers
- Star Parker
- Star Parker is the founder and president of CURE, the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, a 501(c)(3) non-profit think tank which promotes market based public policy to fight poverty.
- Before involvement in social activism, Star Parker had seven years of first-hand experience in the grip of welfare dependency. Now, as a social policy consultant, Star is bringing new energy to policy discussions on how to transition America's poor from government dependency.
- She is a sought after expert on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and for national radio, television, and print interviews, nationwide.
- Star has a BS degree in Marketing and Business from Woodbury University and has received numerous awards and commendations for her work on public policy issues. She consults with Republican legislators on numerous urban issues, has lectured on anti-poverty initiatives at more than 180 colleges and universities and serves on the advisory boards for several national organizations.
- Star Parker's personal transformation from welfare dependent to conservative crusader has been chronicled by ABC's 20/20; Rush Limbaugh; Readers Digest; James Dobson; The 700 Club; Dr. George Grant; Christianity Today; James Robison; Newsmax, Charisma, and World Magazine.
- Ryan Bomberger
- Ryan has a rather unique perspective of the innate nature of Purpose. His biological mother was raped yet courageously chose to continue the pregnancy, giving him Life. He was adopted as a baby and grew up in a loving, multi-racial Christian family of 15. With siblings of varying ethnicities, he grew up with a great appreciation for diversity. Ten of the thirteen children were adopted in this remarkable family. His life defies the myth of the "unwanted" child as he was adopted, loved and has flourished.
- Today, he is an Emmy® Award-winning Creative Professional who founded The Radiance Foundation, a life-affirming 501(c)(3), along with his wife, Bethany. They have made an unexpected impact in the pro-life movement with the bold TooManyAborted.com billboard/web campaigns. As the first pro-adoption themed ad campaign created to address the disproportionate impact of abortion in the black community, the effort received massive media coverage from The New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, CNN, MSNBC, the Associated Press, Washington Times, Fox News, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, and, seemingly, the entire blogosphere. The extensive media attention enabled The Radiance Foundation, and Ryan's personal story of adoption, to reach millions. Working in conjunction with noted national civil rights leaders like Dr. Alveda King (niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), Ryan is involved in national efforts to expose and defund Planned Parenthood by illuminating this human rights injustice. He is a featured blogger on LifeNews.com and addresses the cultural dynamics of abortion, eugenics, and the beautiful act of adoption.
- Ryan earned his Masters in Communications from Regent University where he was recently named the 2012 Alumnus of the Year. Ryan has several decades of experience in leadership as well as in mentoring and educating young people. As a creative director, writer, designer, motionographer, and public speaker, he has been able to share with hundreds of thousands of people about Purpose and the Hope that transforms. Through ad campaigns, community outreach and live multi-media presentations, The Radiance Foundation addresses a myriad of social issues in the context of individual purpose. Their So Show Justice® initiative encourages their audiences to be active in their local community in efforts that help those in need.
- As Chief Creative Officer of The Radiance Foundation, he hopes to continue to impact millions to embrace their God-given intrinsic value and the incredible possibility with which we are all born.
- There's never a lack of inspiration as every day is full of discoveries with his amazing wife and four children. As adoptive parents, Ryan and Bethany are passionate about supporting adoption and foster care. Every effort is made to connect with churches, colleges, and civic organizations, nationwide, to help build a culture that values Life in all of its stages.
- Eric Scheidler
- Eric Scheidler is the Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League, founded in 1980 by his father, veteran pro-life leader Joe Scheidler, to fight abortion through non-violent direct action. He is the oldest of the seven Scheidler children.
- Eric holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in English studies from the University of Georgia. From 1998 to 2002, he served as assistant director of The GIFT Foundation, an organization devoted to enriching Christian marriage.
- Since August 2007, Eric has headed the grassroots pro-life group Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood, which is dedicated to shutting down the largest abortion facility in the Midwest, opened in Aurora, Illinois under a cloud of deception and controversy. He consults regularly with activists across the country on fighting Planned Parenthood at the local level.
- Eric speaks frequently on pro-life issues to audiences around the United States and internationally. He lives in Aurora, Illinois with his wife April and their eight children.
- Dick Walsh
- A native of Chicago's South Side, Dick Walsh is the founder of Americans for Life, which has been active in recent years in the fight against repeated attempts on the part of pro-abortion legislators in Springfield to enact a statewide "Freedom of Choice Act."
- In 1989, Walsh provided the funding for the first of dozens of what would eventually be dozens of pro-life billboards all across the Chicagoland area.
- Walsh is perhaps best known as the former host of "The Walsh Forum" on WLS Radio, and for the many outspokenly pro-life, pro-family commercials he has provided over the years on WLS and WYLL.
Updated 11/13/12