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 gripping, deeply human story of resilience and transformation. Roosevelt opens the door to a life shaped by hardship, difficult choices, and moments that could have ended very differently. But this is not a story about being defined by the streets — it is about rewriting the narrative through faith, responsibility, and hope. Today, Roosevelt's work centers on creating spaces where young people and leaders alike feel seen, valued, and reminded that their story is still being written — and it 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, CB, 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

Glitter & Grit: From Foster Care to District Chair
Nicole "Joanie" Theus, Expanded Learning Coordinator, ABC Unified School District, Cerritos, CA

Everyone complimented her smile, but no one knew the world behind it. Growing up in foster care, she often felt unseen, unheard, and unchosen. In this heartfelt and interactive session, you will step into her journey from growing up in foster care to serving as a District Coordinator for Expanded Learning programming. Through storytelling, conversation, and moments that inspire change, you will explore how grit shapes resilience and how sparkling moments of impact, what she calls "glitter," can help a child feel seen, loved, and inspired to shine! Walk away energized, uplifted, and ready to leave a little glitter and maybe a big smile everywhere you go!
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, CB, DS
Strand: Storyteller’s Café; Staff Leadership; Partnerships & Building Relationships
Tapestry

Friday, May 1

9:15AM - 11:15AM

Storytelling as Pedagogy: Healing, Voice, and Community in the Classroom
Rita Naranjo, M.A., Professor/Business Entrepreneur, Of Many, Oceanside, CA 

This transformative workshop explores storytelling as a powerful pedagogical tool that fosters healing, critical consciousness, and authentic engagement in the classroom. Rooted in culturally responsive and equity-minded teaching practices, this session examines how storytelling moves beyond the assignment, becoming a method of connection, resistance, and empowerment. Participants will explore how narrative work supports students in finding their voice, processing lived experiences, and building meaningful classroom community. As both a college professor and someone who has overcome the profound challenges of growing up institutionalized, I bring lived experience to this work. Telling my story did not just transform my life, but more importantly, it reshaped my understanding of education as a space for healing and liberation. Participants will leave with practical strategies, assignment models, trauma-informed considerations, and community-building exercises that position storytelling as a viable and deeply engaging classroom practice.
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, CB, DS
Strand: Storyteller’s Café; Staff Leadership; Partnerships & Building Relationships
Tapestry 

Storyteller's Cafe Contact

Evelyn Barraza, BOOST Leadership Team Lead
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events, including meals and workshops