LANSING, MI– The Peckham Community Partnership Foundation will host Cory Richards, Mt. Everest climber, bestselling author, and award-winning National Geographic photographer on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Richards is a world-renowned National Geographic photographer and the first American to summit an 8,000-meter peak in winter. But his most powerful story isn’t about the summits—it’s about what nearly broke him: bipolar disorder, addiction, and a near suicide. Richards will share a powerful story of resilience, recovery, and reinvention in two different sessions.
Those interested can attend this free event in person or online. The sessions take place on Thursday, May 7, at Peckham’s corporate headquarters, located at 3510 Capital City Blvd., Lansing, MI.
There will be a morning session, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. and an afternoon session from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Registration is required for in-person and virtual attendance. Register here.
More About Cory Richards: Cory’s career has taken him to the most remote corners of the Earth, from summiting Everest without supplemental oxygen and being the only American to climb one of the world’s highest peaks in winter, to documenting the complexities of human conflict and culture. His work has earned him global recognition, including being named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
Cory’s most profound journey has been navigating the depths of his own struggles with mental health, including PTSD, addiction, and bipolar. Having survived a near-fatal avalanche and the ongoing battles of inner turmoil, Cory has transformed his personal experiences into a guiding philosophy of adaptation by reframing resilience not as an act of holding on but letting go.
The Peckham Community Partnership Foundation supports Peckham’s biannual Speaker Series, which brings national speakers and authors, disability rights advocates, and individuals who have overcome personal challenges to provoke, motivate and inspire our audiences. Free and open to the public, the Speakers Series raises awareness around disability and other world issues while celebrating ability and diversity.
Peckham is a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organization that provides paid job training opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. For 50 years, Peckham has provided jobs and job skills training to thousands of individuals with barriers through five different business lines throughout Michigan and has operations in Arizona and Kentucky.
Peckham, Inc., is a national award-winning organization, recognized for its achievement in providing exceptional vocational rehabilitation, creating inclusive cultures, and building quality workplaces for employees.
