Amanda Lucidon

Amanda Lucidon had the unique experience of working with one of the most admired First Ladies in history, Michelle Obama, including traveling with her to speak to young women across the globe. Since leaving the White House, Lucidon has herself spoken at such empowerment organizations as Young Women’s Leadership Network, Embrace Girls Foundation, and She’s the First, as well as at schools across the country. In this talk, she shares stories that will inspire young women and girls to envision the possibilities of their futures, encouraging them to confront challenges, try new things, and use their voice and their talents to make a positive impact.

Amanda Lucidon is one of few women in history to work as a White House photographer. She was the only female photographer in the final four years of the Obama Administration. Throughout her career, Lucidon has become an inspiring leader in an industry that is typically dominated by men. She speaks candidly about her experiences and how women can lift others as we climb in our professions.

As a documentary photographer and filmmaker, Amanda Lucidon has spent her career focusing on underreported stories and civil rights issues to encourage difficult conversations and create a deeper understanding. Lucidon will share her body of work and talk about the powerful impact of visual imagery on our past, present and future.

When Amanda Lucidon got the call to be a White House photographer, she thought it was a prank. She wasn’t a political photographer or a D.C. insider. In fact, Lucidon came from humble beginnings and worked her way from the bottom all the way to the top. She strongly believes that the gates of the White House opened for her because of the transformative power of the arts, education and mentorship. She now is using the arts to help educate and mentor young people in underserved communities as part of her tenure as a Turnaround Artist, a program sponsored by the Kennedy Center to encourage arts education as a pathway to success for struggling schools.

After leaving the White House, Amanda Lucidon co-founded Grounded, an organization that combines arts and mindfulness practices to reduce violence and address trauma. Grounded is made up of more than a dozen artists who are using their platforms and their art forms to create content (films, photography, music, dance, art) that is inspiring and healing. In this talk, Lucidon talks about the importance of building community through creative engagement. She will also discuss how media influences consciousness and culture and the responsibility of artists to create impact.

Documenting a widely-admired and closely scrutinized individual is an immense responsibility, and one Amanda Lucidon fulfilled to great acclaim. This talk goes behind the scenes of some of the most powerful moments in Lucidon's collection of photographs of the First Lady, revealing the triumphs and challenges of her work and showcasing a new side of this iconic public figure.