John Prendergast

John Prendergast is a human rights activist and New York Times bestselling author who has dedicated over three decades to peace and human rights in Africa. Notably, he served in the Clinton White House, the State Department, and on the National Security Council. A former official with UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, and the U.S. Institute of Peace, Prendergast has a rich background in policy and advocacy. He is the Founding Director of the Enough Project, an initiative aimed at ending genocide and crimes against humanity affiliated with the Center for American Progress.

Prendergast co-founded The Sentry with George Clooney, an investigative initiative targeting the assets of African war criminals and their collaborators. He has authored or co-authored eleven books, including "Not On Our Watch," a collaboration with Don Cheadle that became a New York Times bestseller and was named NAACP non-fiction book of the year. His other notable works include "Unlikely Brothers," a memoir co-authored with his first little brother in the Big Brother program, and "The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa's Worst Human Rights Crimes." Additionally, he collaborated on "Congo Stories" with Congolese activist Fidel Bafilemba, featuring photography by Ryan Gosling.

Prendergast's impact extends into film and music. He appeared in the Warner Brothers' film "The Good Lie," starring Reese Witherspoon and co-produced the documentary "After Kony: Staging Hope" with Martin Sheen. He also partnered with Downtown Records and Mercer Street Records for the album "Raise Hope for Congo," which aims to combat sexual violence in the region. His media presence includes appearances in Emmy Award-winning episodes of "60 Minutes" and contributions to character and story development for "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."

An in-demand speaker, Prendergast is celebrated for his engaging style and the ability to connect with audiences. He addresses topics such as genocide, its historical and current contexts, and the importance of human rights and activism. His presentations are not only informative but also deeply personal, often including a call to action to prevent atrocities and promote human rights globally. He is renowned for his content-rich presentations and for engaging personally with attendees at events.