Dr Joe Kennedy III
Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast and Former US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland
TEDx Talk Title - 'The Peace We Choose to Build: Lessons from Northern Ireland to America'
In a moment when many societies feel dangerously divided, former U.S. Congressman and Special Envoy for Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs Joe Kennedy III turns to an unexpected place for answers: Northern Ireland. In this talk, he tells the story we rarely hear — not just of political leaders who signed the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, but of the ordinary people whose quiet, relentless work made peace possible long before any negotiations began. Drawing from his work with grassroots organizers across the United States, Kennedy weaves together the lessons of Belfast with the challenges of modern American polarization. His message is clear and urgent: real progress doesn’t come from charismatic leaders or perfect political moments. It comes from neighbors choosing dignity over division, community over chaos, and the courage to keep showing up. This talk is a call to rediscover the power we already have — the power to build the future from the ground up.
About the Speaker
Joe Kennedy III is an Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast and a committed public servant who has dedicated his career to advancing social and economic justice. A former U.S. Congressman, Special Envoy, legal aid volunteer, and assistant district attorney, he brings a wealth of experience across public service, diplomacy, law, and advocacy.
Joe currently serves as President of Citizens Energy; a diversified renewable energy non-profit organisation committed to making clean energy more accessible and affordable. Since its founding in 1979, Citizens Energy has provided over $600 million in charitable benefits, helping low-income families and disadvantaged communities meet essential needs, including assistance with utility bills. He is also the founder of the Groundwork Project; a political advocacy organisation focused on supporting community organising in historically under-resourced and disenfranchised regions of the United States.
From 2022 to 2024, Joe was appointed by President Joe Biden as the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, a diplomatic role aimed at promoting economic opportunity and sustaining the U.S. commitment to peace, prosperity, and stability in the region. Joe represented Massachusetts’ 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021, where he was a strong advocate for civil rights and economic equity. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as an Assistant District Attorney and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Born in Boston, Joe earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He is married to Lauren Birchfield Kennedy, and together they have two young children, Eleanor and James.
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