Our People Rise: Inaugural Speaker Series @ UCLA

Inaugural Event — 2026 Speaker Series
Our People Rise at UCLA
Real Stories. What It Actually Takes to Rebuild from devastation.
Most people hear about homelessness, addiction, and mental health from a distance. This event is an opportunity to hear directly from people who have lived it, and more importantly, rebuilt from it.
This is a live, in-person conversation centered on real experience, not theory. The focus is simple, what actually helps someone turn their life around, and what does not.
Featured Speakers
AJ Lovewins
Founder of Our People Rise and Harmonic Humanity
AJ works at the intersection of storytelling and social impact, focused on how people recover, rebuild, and re-enter society with real tools and support.
William De Los Santos
Screenwriter and director of Spun, known for telling raw, unfiltered stories rooted in real life and personal experience.
They first met in Hollywood at a low point in their lives. Years later, they reconnect at University of California, Los Angeles to share what changed, and what it actually took to get there.
What You’ll Experience
Short Film Screening
A brief look into real stories from the Our People Rise documentary.
Live Talks
Honest accounts of failure, recovery, and rebuilding, without sugarcoating.
What Actually Works
Practical insights into habits, decisions, and support systems that make change possible.
Open Conversation
Q&A with the speakers, including direct audience participation.
Resources + Next Steps
Tools and information for those who want to go deeper or support others.
Why This Matters
These issues affect every community, including college campuses.
But most conversations stay surface-level.
This event is designed to go deeper, to show:
What people go through
Where systems fall short
What actually helps people move forward
Who This Is For
Students interested in real-world social issues
Anyone curious about recovery, resilience, or human behavior
People who want a more honest perspective than what’s usually presented
Those looking for ways to support others or get involved
About the Series
This event is the first in a national speaker series by Our People Rise, bringing real stories and practical insights to campuses and communities across the country.
The intention is to make these conversations more accessible, more honest, and more useful.