Leslie Odom Jr.

Leslie Odom Jr.

Leslie Odom, Jr. is a multifaceted Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy and two-time Academy Award-nominated vocalist, songwriter, actor, and New York Times bestselling author. With a career that spans all performance genres, Odom has received recognition for his excellence and achievements in Broadway, television, film, and music. Most recently, Odom made his long-awaited return to Broadway starring in, and co-producing, the new Broadway production of the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch by the legendary Ossie Davis, which opened in September 2023 to widespread critical acclaim. Additionally, he stars in the highly anticipated sequel to the original iconic film The Exorcist for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures out October 6, 2023. Odom recently starred in Rian Johnson’s 2022 Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which broke records for Netflix and is currently streaming worldwide. In 2020, he starred as legendary singer Sam Cooke in the award-winning Amazon film adaptation of One Night in Miami…, directed by Regina King. His critically acclaimed and highly lauded portrayal of the soul icon and musical performance of original song “Speak Now” earned him multiple awards and nominations. He also starred in The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to David Chase’s award-winning HBO series The Sopranos, released in October 2021. Well known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom hosted “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!” on CBS in September 2021 (2022 Emmy nomination). Additional film and television credits include Apple TV+’s Central Park (2020 Emmy nomination), Hamilton on Disney+ (2021 Emmy nomination), Abbott Elementary, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Love in the Time of Corona, Harriet, and many more. Co-written with Nicolette Robinson, Odom’s first children’s book, I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know, was published by Feiwel & Friends on March 28, 2023. The book debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #7 in its first week. Odom is a BMG recording artist and has released four full-length albums. His fifth studio album, When A Crooner Dies, is set for release on November 17, 2023.

Watch the Latest Philanthropy Content from T&C's 2022 Summit

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Introduction: Darren Walker | President, Ford Foundation

Thandiwe Abdullah, Charitie Ropati, Harry Sisson, Peren Tiemann, Kellen Zeng

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Christopher Helfrich | CEO, Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation

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Moderator: Brian Stelter | Former anchor of CNN’s ”Reliable Sources”

Busy Phillips | Actress, Activist

Darren Walker | President, Ford Foundation

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Beyond the Museum Gala

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Introduction: Debi Larrison | Managing Director, National Art Credit Executive, Bank of America

Moderator: Salamishah Tillet | Professor of Africana Studies and Creative Writing, Rutgers University

Dr. Elizabeth Alexander | President, Mellon Foundation

Ebele Okobi | Trustee and Chair of the Development Board, Young Vic Theatre

Henry Timms | President and CEO, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

We Need An Intervention

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Aeva Gaymon-Doomes, M.D. | Clinical Faculty, Howard University College of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences

Mitch Prinstein | Chief Science Officer, American Psychological Association

Andrew Solomon, Ph.D. | Professor of Clinical Psychology, Columbia University, and Best-Selling Author, “Far from the Tree”

The Power of Kindness

Jennifer Garner in Conversation with Cynthia McFadden

Moderator: Cynthia McFadden | Senior Investigative Correspondent, NBC News

Jennifer Garner | Actress, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, and Save the Children Trustee

Mark Shriver | Special Advisor to the President; Chief Strategy Officer, Save the Children

The Future of Food

A Lunch Curated by Questlove

Prepared by Chef Tara Thomas and Chefs Annalysse Melendez and Kayla Atkins from Food Education Fund

We Are What We Eat

A Conversation with Questlove and Martha Stewart

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Martha Stewart | Founder, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Welcome Remarks

Stellene Volandes

Editor in Chief, Town & Country

Where Do We Stand?

On the State of Modern Giving

Introduction: David Lauren | Chief Branding and Innovation Officer, Ralph Lauren

Keynote: Darren Walker | President, Ford Foundation

Can Philanthropy Save the Future?

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Dr. Cecilia Conrad | CEO, Lever for Change

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Christina Lewis | Founder and Chairwoman, BFO21; Vice Chair, Reginald F. Lewis Foundation

Sherrie Westin | President, Sesame Workshop

Can Philanthropy Save Our Kids?

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Moderator: Deborah Roberts | Co-Anchor and Senior National Affairs Correspondent, ABC News 20/20

Dr. Warren Ng | Immediate Past President, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Professor, Psychiatry at Columbia Medical Center; Director, Clinical Services, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry NYPH CUIMC

Isaiah Santiago | Commissioner-Elect, Rochester City School Board

Karen Friedman | Director, Strategy and Quality Practices Mental Health, YMCA

Amanda Yarnell | Senior Director, Harvard T.H. Chan Schoo

Can Philanthropy Save the Arts?

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Moderator: Stellene Volandes | Editor in Chief, Town & Country

Drew Watson | Head of Art Services, Bank of America Private Bank

Jody Gottfried Arnhold | Chair of the Board, 92nd Street Y, New York City; Dance Educator and Advocate; Founder, Dance Education Laboratory, (DEL), 92NY

Shanta Thake | Chief Artistic Officer, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Leslie Odom Jr. | Producer; Creative; Entertainer

Can Philanthropy Save a City?

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Moderator: Paul Goldberger | Architecture Critic and Author

Zach Iscol | Emergency Management Commissioner, NYC

William Rudin | Co-Chairman and CEO, Rudin

Oscar L. Tang | Retired financier; Co-Chairman, New York Philharmonic; Trustee Emeritus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Co-Founder, Committee of 100

Agnes Hsu-Tang | Ph.D., Archaeologist, and former International Expert, UNESCO; Board Chair, New-York Historical Society; Co-Founder, Hsu-Tang Library, Oxford University Press

Geoffrey Canada | President, Harlem Children’s Zone

All Guests Please Proceed to the 44th Floor for the Lunch Program

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A Lunch Curated by Jody Williams and Rita Sodi

Introduction: William Li | Contributing Editor, Town & Country; Founder, Armature Projects

Jody Williams | Chef and Owner, Buvette NYC; Co-Chef and Owner, The Commerce Inn, Via Carota and Bar Pisellino

Rita Sodi | Chef and Owner, I Sodi; Co-Chef and Owner, The Commerce Inn, Via Carota and Bar Pisellino

A Special Message from Michael J. Fox

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A Life of Service

A Conversation with Arnold Schwarzenegger

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Philanthropy Begins at Home

Charlize Theron in Conversation with Cynthia McFadden

Charlize Theron | Academy Award Winning Actress

Cynthia McFadden | Senior Investigative Correspondent, NBC News

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