FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Evelyn Sample-Oates, OIC of America
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (215) 680-2205
OIC OF AMERICA PRESIDENT & CEO LOUIS J. KING II TO DELIVER TED FLASH TALK AT TED DEMOCRACY PHILADELPHIA: FOUNDING FUTURES
National workforce leader to participate as speaker in America’s 250th anniversary celebration
PHILADELPHIA, PA — April 27, 2026 OIC of America (OICA) announced today that its President & CEO, Louis J. King II, has been selected as a speaker at TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, the flagship event of Visit Philadelphia and TED’s multi-year partnership celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. King will deliver his flash talk on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
The daylong event will bring together more than a dozen speakers from around the world to explore the evolving story of modern democracy in its U.S. birthplace of Philadelphia. King’s talk will address several points, including access to economic opportunities for all — themes that are central to both OICA’s mission and America’s next chapter.
“Access to opportunity is the foundation of economic freedom,” said King. “For more than 60 years, OIC of America has been building pathways to the middle class for people the economy left behind. As we mark 250 years as a nation, the question we must ask as we celebrate our progress, is whether we have the courage to build something even better for the next 250 years.”
King’s selection as a TED Democracy speaker comes as OICA continues to expand its national footprint through the Sullivan Training Network, a groundbreaking initiative that provides no-cost, accredited training in the skilled trades to address the workforce gap in the construction industry. Since 2016, OICA has also partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor to expand career pathways for justice-involved individuals through its SOAR Reentry program, serving more than 4,500 participants nationwide.
Founded more than 60 years ago in North Philadelphia by the late Rev. Leon Sullivan, OIC of America has deep roots in the city where both the organization and American democracy were born.
For more information about the event, visit www.visitphilly.com/ted
ABOUT OIC OF AMERICA
OIC of America (OICA) is a national nonprofit with more than 60 years of experience transforming lives and strengthening communities through meaningful participation in today’s economy. Headquartered in Philadelphia and strategically located in the hearts of forgotten places, OICA’s 42 training partners support underserved communities in 15 states throughout the nation. Under the leadership of President & CEO Louis J. King II, OICA is advancing its “A Better Tomorrow” economic agenda through the Sullivan Training Network, SOAR Reentry program, and strategic partnerships that create pathways to economic freedom for all Americans.
