
Reviews Write New Review
Location
Booking Fee
Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
Virtual Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
[email protected]
Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and theatrical producer. A leading voice for the human rights of immigrants, he founded the non-profit media and culture organization Define American, named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. His best-selling memoir, "Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen," was published by HarperCollins in 2018. Most recently, he co-produced Heidi Schreck’s acclaimed play "What the Constitution Means to Me," which opened on Broadway in spring 2019.
In 2011, The New York Times Magazine published a groundbreaking essay he wrote in which he revealed and chronicled his life in America as an undocumented immigrant. A year later, he appeared on the cover of TIME magazine worldwide with fellow undocumented immigrants as part of a follow-up cover story he wrote. Vargas then produced and directed "Documented," an autobiographical documentary feature film that aired on CNN and received a 2015 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary. Also in 2015, MTV aired "White People," an Emmy-nominated television special he produced and directed on what it means to be young and white in a demographically changing America.
Among accolades Vargas has received are the Freedom to Write Award from PEN Center USA and honorary degrees from Colby College and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Passionate about the role of arts in society and promoting equity in education, he serves on the advisory board of TheDream.US, a scholarship fund for undocumented immigrant students.
A product of the San Francisco Bay Area, he is a proud graduate of Mountain View High School and San Francisco State University, where he was named Alumnus of the Year in 2012.
Videos
News
Related Speakers View all
![]() |
Diane Guerrero
Immigration Reform Activist & Actress Known for "Ora...
|
![]() |
Cheech Marin
Stand-Up Comedian, Actor, Writer & Activist; Best Kn...
|
![]() |
Hector Tobar
Pulitzer Prize Winner, Journalist & Best-Selling Aut...
|
![]() |
Mariana Atencio
Peabody Award-Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author...
|
![]() |
Patti Solis Doyle
Political Strategist at CNN; Contributor & Partner a...
|
![]() |
Rosie Perez
Actress, Choreographer, Activist & Former Co-Host of...
|
![]() |
Dolores Huerta
Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers of America; Fi...
|
![]() |
Maria Teresa Kumar
Political Rights Activist, President & CEO of Voto L...
|
![]() |
Spike Lee
Academy Award-Winning Writer, Producer, Actor & Dire...
|
|
J.R. Martinez
Actor, Best-Selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Ad...
|
![]() |
Danny Glover
Acclaimed Actor, Producer & Leading Social Activist
|
![]() |
Noramay Cadena
Managing Partner of Supply Change Capital & Founding...
|
![]() |
Eduardo Briceño
Founder & Former CEO at Wiring Growth, Facilitating ...
|
![]() |
Danny Trejo
Actor, Activist & Restaurateur
|
![]() |
Daniel Dae Kim
Actor, Director & Producer
|
![]() |
America Ferrera
Award-Winning Actress, Producer & Humanitarian
|
![]() |
Anna Akana
Actress, YouTube Star, Filmmaker & Mental Health Adv...
|
![]() |
Wilson Cruz
Openly Gay Actor Known for “My So Called Life,” “Thi...
|
![]() |
Gina Rodriguez
Award-Winning Actress, Producer, Director, Model & H...
|
![]() |
Roland Martin
Award-Winning Journalist & Media Personality, Author...
|