Curtis Carmichael, STEM education and Innovation, STEAM education futurist

 

Synopsis

Speaker:  Curtis Carmichael                 

Topic Areas: STEM education and Innovation expert, STEAM education futurist,  Social Entrepreneur,
Author, Certified K-12 Teacher, Founder of Source Code Academy Canada

    Professional Fees subject to change without notice

• $ = under $20,000
  

• Expenses: As incurred
• Travels from: Toronto, Ontario
  

• Expenses for Travel, (air and ground) Accommodations, Meals, Traveling Companion, and Incidentals are not included in the above fees.
• Discounted Fees:  Under rare and special circumstances speakers may discount their fees at their discretion. i.e., booking multiple events with the same client.
•  Non profit organizations may also qualify for a discount.

Biography

Curtis Carmichael works with schools and organizations that want to inspire hope, build a
culture of service, and prepare for the future of work.

STEM education and Innovation expert | STEAM education futurist | Social Entrepreneur |
Author | Certified K-12 Teacher | Founder of Source Code Academy Canada

Curtis Carmichael is an award-winning author, STEM and STEAM education futurist, certified K-12 STEM
teacher, and social entrepreneur focused on the intersections of design thinking, STEM education equity,
and the future of education and work. As the Founder and CEO of Source Code Academy Canada, Curtis
has built a strong global reputation as a dedicated advocate for ensuring all communities—especially
marginalized and underserved groups—have the financial, entrepreneurial, STEM, and STEAM education
skills to thrive in the digital and global innovation economy. Curtis founded Source Code Academy
Canada which is Canada’s first culture-focused STEM and STEAM futurist academy that prepares
under-estimated children and youth for the future of work. Recognized on the 2023 Forbes Top 30 Under
30 list for education, the organization strives to democratize access to technology, STEAM education,
financial literacy, and entrepreneurship programming for those in poverty with a holistic focus on the
creative arts, mental health, literacy, fitness and food security, social emotional learning, and social
justice.

Before education, after sacrificing a professional football career, Curtis cycled across Canada and
fundraised $100,000 in 60 days for Toronto Community Housing after-school programs. He was featured
in the award-winning documentary covering his story of growing up in the Toronto housing projects as a
childhood drug dealer to cycling across Canada and advocating for marginalized and underserved Black
and racialized communities in poverty locally and globally. Curtis is the author and mobile app developer
of the World’s First Augmented Reality Memoir, Butterflies in the Trenches, which is required reading in
K-12 and higher education schools across North America. As a self taught programmer, Curtis built the
mobile app that brings his memoir to life.

As a respected voice in his field, Curtis’ national efforts to promote social entrepreneurship, STEM, and
STEAM education has landed him as a guest expert on CTV, CBC, CP24, ETALK, City News, and Global
News. In recognition of his commitment to STEM education equity and innovation, he was recognized as
the only Canadian organization on 2023 Forbes Top 30 under 30 list in education for North America. He
has received national awards for his incredible work, including the National USPORTS Russ Jackson
Award, Herbert H. Carnegie National Citizenship Award, Robert Sutherland Harry Jerome Award, Best
Indie Book Award for inspirational Non-fiction, and the City of Toronto Spirit of Sport Diversity and
Inclusion Award for community service. Curtis holds a BEd and an MEd in STEM Education and Social
Justice from Ontario Tech University, and plans to pursue his PhD in STEM Education leadership at
Hampton University. He is committed to empowering students, educators, and organizations with practical
strategies to make a real difference in their lives, schools, and communities. Curtis believes with
conviction that every person is gifted, it is just a matter of having the right platform and opportunities to
unwrap and use those gifts.

Topics

Two Keynote speaking topics for Educators,
administrators, principals, school leaders

We Are The Source Code:
From STEM Divide to STEAM Opportunity (Equitable Access for All)

Innovation via STEM and STEAM education is growing at aand educational barriers where they are
not able to fully participate as builders and creators in the new digital and global innovation
economy.

In this keynote, Curtis Carmicn exponential rate internationally but many marginalized communities face complex systemic hael shares practical strategies and evidence-based best practices for educators of today to bridge the educational gaps and digital divide for
children and youth to be inspired and meaningfully engaged in STEM and STEAM fields.

Implementing his practical strategies, schools across Canada and the United States have built
classrooms and school cultures to increase student achievement, support the whole child, and
prepare ALL students for the future of work. With an electrifying call to action and upbeat
storytelling, Curtis will leave an unforgettable imprint on the lives of listeners with his
out-of-the-box approach of bridging the educational gap from the STEM education divide to
STEAM education opportunity.

Reigniting Passion and Fighting Burnout

In Celebration of teachers This is a morale-boosting and uplifting keynote to empower educators
who give their best to their schools and students every day of the week. As a certified teacher
himself, Curtis understands that teachers and administrators are overwhelmed and in many
cases feel burnt out by the end of the day, week, or every semester. In this out-of-the-box and
conversational presentation, Curtis Carmichael shares inspiring stories about educators and
school leaders that created the right environment and opportunity for him to unwrap and use his
gifts and how they encouraged him to make a difference in his life, school, and community.
Curtis’ high energy session will pump educators up for any classroom, school, community, or
personal challenge and will remind them to never give up on our students and to change the
world one student at a time

One Pedal At A Time
Inspiring Hope, Finding purpose, and Making a Difference 

(Keynote for Students, K-12 & post-secondary)

In his upbeat and motivational keynote presentation, Curtis challenges students to look in the mirror and discover their passion and purpose in life. With so many students struggling with anxiety and feeling overwhelmed, Curtis’ message is a breath of fresh air, reminding students that they matter and are destined for greatness.

Rather than pursuing a promising career in professional football, Curtis shares his personal journey of embarking on a challenging mission: cycling across the country to fundraise $100,000 in just 60 days for kids in need. His story is proof that even when the opportunity isn’t universal, talent is. He provides practical strategies and engaging storytelling that show students how they can make a real difference in their lives, schools, and communities. By the end of his talk, students will feel motivated and ready to take on the world, equipped with the principle that it’s not what you have, but what you do with what you have that matters. Curtis’ keynote will leave a lasting impact on students, inspiring them to succeed in both school and life.

Become who you needed when you were younger
Reigniting Passion, Fighting Burnout, and Building Inclusive Communities for the Future

(Keynote & Professional Development for Teachers, Administrators, Counsellors, charities, and front-line community workers)

This is a morale-boosting and uplifting keynote to empower educators who give their best to their schools and students every day of the week. As a certified teacher himself, Curtis understands that teachers and administrators are overwhelmed and in many cases feel burnt out by the end of the day, week, or every semester.

In this out-of-the-box and conversational presentation, Curtis Carmichael shares inspiring stories about educators and school leaders that created the right environment and opportunity for him to unwrap and use his gifts and how they encouraged him to make a difference in his life, school, and community. Curtis’ high-energy session will pump educators up for any classroom, school, community, or personal challenge and will remind them to never give up on our students and to change the world one student at a time.

More than an Athlete
Finding Purpose, Identity, and Meaning in and Beyond Sports

(Athletes)

Curtis’ upbeat motivational session encourages athletes to look in the mirror and identify their passion and find their life’s purpose in and beyond sports. He inspires athletes with practical strategies to make a difference in their life, school, and communities that they call home. Turning down a path to a professional football career to cycle across Canada raising $100,000 for kids in need, Curtis empowers athletes to see that the best way for us to find ourselves is to lose ourselves in the service of others.

Testimonials

“Curtis Carmichael brings you on a ride—literally and figuratively—one filled with love, pain and
resilience. Thank you, Curtis, for inviting us onto your porch, into your home, and along your
journey. This powerful and heartfelt journey is required for all educators, reminding us of the
stories, lessons, and humanity each one of our students brings to our classrooms.”
– Dr. Diana Petrarca, distinguished professor, Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University

“Curtis Carmichael’s vivid, first-hand story of growing up in the poverty and racism of community
housing in Toronto takes a remarkable turn, emerging as a practical guide for encouraging hope
and fostering human potential.”
– Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice Chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan
University (formerly Ryerson University)

“If you come from hardships and trauma, Curtis will provide meaningful and inspirational
signposts on your journey of healing. If you don’t, he will open your eyes to all that a
comfortable existence has hidden from you. There is true wisdom in his story where lived
experience meets philosophy. Ultimately, Curtis will show you if you take steps to ‘become who
you needed when you were younger,’ if we all do, the world will be a very different and a much
better place.”

– Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President and Vice Chancellor of Carleton University
“Curtis Carmichael’s a personal, poetic, and political story illuminates the power of love and
humanity in communities that have long been overlooked and neglected. Curtis shines a light on
the brilliance and ingenuity of all children from all communities. These narratives must inform
our fight for educational justice to remove the barriers that prevent this brilliance from shining.”
– Dr. Vidya Shah, distinguished professor of leadership and education, York University
Faculty of Education

“If “be the change you wish to see” was a person, it would be Curtis Carmichael. This beautiful
story of pain and triumph, setbacks and motivation, is the kind of story our world needs right
now. Curtis’ words will inspire and change you from the inside, so that you have the empathetic
courage to do everything better on the outside.”
– Celina Caesar-Chavannes, MBA, national bestselling author of Can You Hear Me

Now? : How I Found My Voice and Learned to Live with Passion and Purpose
“Curtis’ compelling insight and thoughtful observation, and new way of looking at things isn’t
just a great story: it’s a love song of hustle and motivation, but it’s also a challenge to all of
us to try and match Curtis’ incredible example.”
– Dr. Matt Hern, distinguished professor of urban studies and alternative education,
Co-founder of Solid State Community Industries, and author of On This Patch of Grass: City Parks on Occupied Land

“History, or should I say his story, reminds me of my own. I’ve always known there was untold
excellence, unseen beauty, and brilliance without a platform in marginalized communities:
butterflies in the trenches. Mr. Carmichael has taught me that ‘success is not making it out, it’s
making your life and community better.’”
– Michael Pinball Clemons, six-time Grey Cup Champion, Co-founder of Pinball
Clemons Foundation, CFL and Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and Toronto
Argonauts General Manager

“From pain to perspective, to possibilities to purpose. Mr. Carmichael takes us on a physical,
emotional, and metaphorical journey that is inspiring, energizing, and galvanizing. It left me
feeling that we MUST do something, anything, and everything we can do to change the
narrative. Curtis is a brilliant messenger of hope . . . and he is also the message.”
– Orlando Bowen, professional CFL athlete and Founder and Executive Director of One Voice One Team

“From dealing drugs as a child to becoming an award-winning STEM entrepreneur, Curtis
Carmichael is proof that the lessons learned on the streets can transfer to the boardroom and
beyond. The resilience and resourcefulness that is required for survival in the hood is a
sought-after asset in the business world. Curtis is a reminder that the great leaders of
tomorrow may be living in public housing today.”
– Anthony Mclean, international keynote speaker, host of CBC’s The X, and
featured in the award-winning documentary Colour Me

“Hearing Curtis speak is something all students and educators need to hear. His talk will
change the way you look at yourself, the world we live in, and how we each have the power
and innate gifts to make a difference.”

– Principal, Cathy Wever Public School

“Curtis Carmichael is a reminder that “butterflies can live in trenches”, “roses can grow in
concrete” and that there is “light to be found in the darkness”. Curtis will leave you speechless.”
– Dr. Allyson Eamer, distinguished professor and Graduate Program Director,
Faculty of Education, Ontario, Tech University

“This astonishing life journey by Curtis left me speechless. It takes an extraordinary individual
to share their story in such a vulnerable, expressive, and enlightening way that makes anyone
who picks up their book a better person. The trials throughout life that Curtis encountered,
embraced, and flourished from will leave you feeling inspired to tackle their own grind – whether
that is in sports, social justice, or the importance of giving back to communities. This book is a
call to action for Canadians in a world that profoundly needs it!”
– Kaleb Dahlgren, #1 national bestselling Author of Crossroads: My Story of Tragedy
and Resilience as a Humboldt Bronco

“Curtis shares with relatable nuance why change must start at home and the difficulties in
doing so. He exemplifies perseverance; his journey offers inspiration for young and old alike.”
– William Kamkwamba, New York Times bestselling author of The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind

Video