This strand is designed to highlight the lives of exceptional people from all walks of life who have experienced challenges and overcome them through hope and resiliency. Hear stories that inspire, uplift, and motivate you to become a change agent. You can also participate in a question-and-answer discussion with the speaker.

Wednesday, April 29

10:30AM - 12:15PM

Victorious Underdog
Roosevelt Sargent, Author/Speaker/Pastor, Roosevelt Sargent Speaks, Madison, TN

Victorious Underdog is a raw, honest, and gripping journey of a lived experience where pain is turned into purpose. Roosevelt shares a powerful true story of how God’s grace can reach even the most broken places and transform a life once counted out. Learn the journey that Roosevelt took to escape the darkness that claimed so many before him and how the streets rewrite the final chapter of his story. My goal is to create a space where every person—regardless of background, ability, or circumstance—feels seen, valued, and reminded that their story matters.
M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, DS
Strand: Storyteller’s Cafe; Older Youth
Tapestry

2:45PM - 4:45PM

Hitting Curveballs: The Human OS Upgrade
Dee Hankins, Inspirational Speaker, Dee Hankins Consulting, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Life is going to throw curveballs. If you're working in education or after-school, you're currently standing in the batter's box during a hurricane of behavioral issues, staff burnout, and energy leakage. Most people try to "motivate" their way through it. In this high-energy, high-impact session, Dee installs the 3-Bucket Philosophy, an intertwined mental filter that turns chaos into a standard of excellence. You'll learn how to stop wasting your best energy on the things you can't control so you can hit a home run with the things you can.
E, M, H, ULA, MLA, DS
Strand: Storyteller's Cafe; Staff Leadership; Partnerships & Building Relationships
Tapestry

Thursday, April 30

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Resilience: The Power of One
Shree Walker, Ed.D., Educator, Author, Speaker, Resilient Walker, LLC, Los Angeles, CA

Resilience: The Power of One invites participants to discover how one person’s courage can spark collective change. Through storytelling, reflection, and hands-on activities, participants explore personal resilience, purpose, and the impact of their choices—proving that one resilient heart can inspire hope, healing, and transformation in others.
E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, B, DS
Strand: Storyteller’s Cafe; Program Design, Development & Quality; Staff Leadership; Partnerships & Building Relationships; Older Youth
Tapestry

1:15PM - 2:30PM

From Foster Care to Future Builder - From Unseen to Unstoppable
Janelle Matthews, Regional Partnerships Manager, PLAYWORKS, Oakland, CA

Former foster youth Janelle Matthews shares her journey from the system to success, inspiring youth and adults to create spaces of belonging. This workshop explores how being seen and heard transforms lives, teaching empathy, advocacy, and inclusion across all ages, empowering participants to lead with compassion and purpose.
E, M, H, MLA, DS
Strand: Storytellers Cafe; Partnerships & Building Relationships
Tapestry

3:45PM - 5:15PM

Friday, May 1

9:15AM - 11:15AM

Storyteller's Cafe Contact

Evelyn Barraza, BOOST Leadership Team Lead
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Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events, including meals and workshops