New York City Councilman; Member of "The Exonerated Five"; Author of Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice
Yusef Salaam: Biography at a Glance
- In 1989, Yusef Salaam was among five boys—four black and one Latino—that were tried and wrongfully convicted of raping a young woman in New York City’s Central Park. They became known collectively as “The Central Park Five.”
- Their convictions were vacated in 2002 after spending between seven and thirteen years of their lives behind bars, and they received a multi-million dollar settlement from the city of New York for its grievous injustice against them.
- Since his release, Yusef has gone on to become a New York City Councilman and committed himself to advocating and educating people on the issues of false confessions, police brutality and misconduct, press ethics and bias, race and law, and the disparities in America’s criminal justice system.
- His book, Better, Not Bitter Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice, is an inspirational memoir and call to action that inspires readers to turn our stories into tools for change in the pursuit of racial justice.
- Yusef has been appointed to the board of the Innocence Project, awarded an Honorary Doctorate, and received the President's Life Time Achievement Award from President Barack Obama.
- Multiple documentaries have been released on Yusef and his cohorts, including Ken and Sarah Burns' The Central Park Five, and Netflix's limited series called When They See Us, with Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey and Robert De Niro.
Media
- NY Times: He Was One of the Central Park Five. Now He’s Councilman Yusef Salaam.
- Book: Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice
- NY Times: We Are the ‘Exonerated 5.’ What Happened to Us Isn’t Past, It’s Presen...
- BET: For Yusef Salaam of the Central Park Five, Justice Involves More Than Money
- BBC: Central Park Five: The true story behind When They See Us
Videos
Biography
On April 19, 1989, a young woman in the prime of her life was brutally raped and left for dead in New York City’s Central Park. Five boys—four black and one Latino—were tried and convicted of the crime in a frenzied case that rocked the city. They became known collectively as “The Central Park Five.”
Their convictions were vacated in 2002 after spending between seven and thirteen years of their lives behind bars. The unidentified DNA in the Central Park Jogger Case, unlinked to any of the five, had finally met its owner, a convicted murderer and serial rapist who confessed. The convictions of the boys, now men, were overturned and they were exonerated. One of those boys, Yusef Salaam, was just 15 years old when his life was upended and changed forever.
Since his release, Yusef has gone on to become a New York City Councilman and committed himself to advocating and educating people on the issues of false confessions, police brutality and misconduct, press ethics and bias, race and law, and the disparities in America’s criminal justice system. In 2013, documentarians Ken and Sarah Burns released the documentary “The Central Park Five,” which told of this travesty from the perspective of Yusef and his cohorts.
In 2014, The Central Park Five received a multi-million dollar settlement from the city of New York for its grievous injustice against them. Yusef was awarded an Honorary Doctorate that same year and received the President's Life Time Achievement Award in 2016 from President Barack Obama.
He was appointed to the board of the Innocence Project in 2018, and has released a Netflix Feature limited series called “When They See Us” based on the true story of the “Central Park Five” with Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey and Robert De Niro, in May of 2019.
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FAQs
How do I book Yusef Salaam for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Yusef Salaam to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
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As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Yusef Salaam's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Yusef Salaam’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Yusef Salaam in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Yusef Salaam's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Yusef Salaam's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Yusef Salaam, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Yusef Salaam's speaking fee?
Yusef Salaam's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Yusef Salaam's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
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Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Yusef Salaam's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Yusef Salaam as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Yusef Salaam as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Yusef Salaam's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
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Email speakers@caa.com for Yusef Salaam's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Yusef Salaam for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Yusef Salaam speaking engagements.
Official contact for Yusef Salaam bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/yusef-salaam
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Yusef Salaam.
Is Yusef Salaam available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Yusef Salaam speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Yusef Salaam's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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Contact CAA Speakers for Yusef Salaam's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Yusef Salaam for?
Book Yusef Salaam for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Yusef Salaam customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
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Yusef Salaam engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Yusef Salaam can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Yusef Salaam booking information and availability
Check Yusef Salaam's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Yusef Salaam for your preferred event date.
Book Yusef Salaam keynote speaker through CAA
Book Yusef Salaam through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Yusef Salaam, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Yusef Salaam for your next event.
Will Yusef Salaam speak at private events?
Yes, Yusef Salaam speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Yusef Salaam's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Yusef Salaam?
CAA Speakers responds to Yusef Salaam booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Yusef Salaam?
Book Yusef Salaam 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Yusef Salaam pricing information?
Get Yusef Salaam pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.