You may recall the incredible story of a Humans of New York post featuring Jonathan Conyers and K.M. DiColandrea (nicknamed DiCo) that raised $1.2 million dollars to support a high school debate team. Stories about the success of the post were published in the Washington Post, NBC News, and others and even landed Conyers and DiCo a spot on the Kelly Clarkson Show. But that HONY post is only a part of Jonathan Conyers’ extraordinary story. In his book, I WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE HERE: Finding My Voice, Finding My People, Finding My Way (sale September 5, 2023) Conyers shares the full story of his journey escaping the precarious circumstances he was born into, and the teachers, mentors, and guides who helped him along the way, and as a motivational speaker it is his resilience what ignites audiences and changes lives.
From corporate boardrooms to high school classrooms, Jonathan equips his audiences with the mindset, methods, and motivation to tackle the challenges that get in the way of a meaningful life.
Using both his personal experiences surviving a harrowing childhood marked by poverty and family addiction, as well as his professional experiences working as a respiratory therapist on the frontlines of the COVID epidemic, Jonathan excels at helping people find the blessings in every burden, and the inspiration to keep fighting for their dreams.
An avid traveler, and a proud citizen of New York City, Jonathan has an unmatched talent for connecting with people from all walks of life. With vulnerability and an intention to create a safe space for people to receive his message, Jonathan delivers keynote addresses, workshops, and panel discussions for adults and teens.
Jonathan Conyers graduated from Stony Brook University. He is a respiratory therapist, specializing in neonates and pediatrics at New York University Langone Hospital. He is also the co-founder of Agbara Health Services, the parent company of several non- traditional rehabilitation centers for young men and women in the juvenile system that allows them to re-enter the real world without the traumas of a traditional juvenile detention center. Jonathan is also the host of The Professional Winner podcast where he talks about his personal journey as a "Professional Winner" and gives tips and advice on what he thinks it take to be successful today.
I first met Jonathan over a Zoom call a few months ago, but knew of his Humans of New York story months prior. I felt Jonathan’s infectious energy and passion as if we were in person. His subject matter knowledge, desire for collaboration, and unwavering spirit inspired our organization to do better, advocate harder, and believe in the power of words and language to make change. One of my favorite Jonathan quotes from our presentation was, ‘In every revolution, there are so many roles to play. There are people who change people’s hearts. That’s the power of stories.’ I would strongly recommend any organization to work with and learn from Jonathan. He left a lasting impact on us.
I first met Jonathan over a Zoom call a few months ago, but knew of his Humans of New York story months prior. I felt Jonathan’s infectious energy and passion as if we were in person. His subject matter knowledge, desire for collaboration, and unwavering spirit inspired our organization to do better, advocate harder, and believe in the power of words and language to make change. One of my favorite Jonathan quotes from our presentation was, ‘In every revolution, there are so many roles to play. There are people who change people’s hearts. That’s the power of stories.’ I would strongly recommend any organization to work with and learn from Jonathan. He left a lasting impact on us.