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As a speaker, I want to make more so I can give more

It’s funny how my script was flipped after my son’s addiction and death by suicide. My definition of what success is was no longer defined in currency.

Now I don’t want you to think I’m willing to live in a cardboard box so I can support more nonprofit work. I’m not that altruistic. I just want to make a living and make enough so that I can enjoy my family and give back in both philanthropic and an emotionally naked way.

My purpose is to prevent suicide and wash away the stigma by educating people on what suicide is, what … Read more...

I inspire people to break up with mental health stigma

That starts with education through storytelling. With suicide being the number two cause of death on college campuses, I’m going to start there.

So in the fall, I will be targeting colleges, mostly Virginia and North Carolina to start. However, if any of you have a college connection outside of that area, I’m open to it. If any of you have connections locally, please send it. Here is my contact form. That doesn’t mean I am not going to do conferences or other offers that come my way.

Most colleges have a student activities fund or something similar to … Read more...

New speaker website and registered trademark

emotionally naked speaker

#1 – I have a new speaker website at AnneMossRogers.com

Take a look and let me know what you think. It’s a one page site and I would love your feedback.

#2 – Emotionally Naked® is a registered trademark

This means I can use the circle R and no one else can use the phrase as their own. It took about nine months to get the trademark and fortunately there were no objections. No one else can call themselves the emotionally naked speaker.

And a funny. The other day someone in a group I’m a member of asked about logos … Read more...

Nobody wants me

I am in a rejection business on two sides. On the one hand I have been trying to secure some paid speaking engagements. And the other is trying to get a book published.

From the speaking angle, I’m often “not right for their event,” “time isn’t good,” “not a good fit,” and “I think it’s fine to talk about all this. Just not around my audience,” and my favorite, “can you make your story more positive?” If I played some of these scenes back on video, they’d see it in themselves. They would cringe and say, “What was I thinking?” … Read more...

Enjoyed my time in jail

How many can say that?

The men and women in the HARP (Heroin Addiction Recovery Program) at Chesterfield County jail are normal people like you and me. They are sons, daughters. They have aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, and children who are showing signs of addiction. They have a disease called addiction and they volunteered from this program and they desperately want to stay in recovery.

After speaking to the women, to whom I was privileged to address, Sheriff Leonard asked me to speak to the men. So I did!

Men and women told their stories of suicide attempts and regrets … Read more...

I am going to jail

Sheriff Leonard of the much admired HARP (HARP = Heroin Addicts Seek Fresh Start) program in Chesterfield County along with Dr. Gay and the rest of the crew has invited me in to speak to women struggling with substance use disorder. This program is saving lives.

Imagine realizing your disease has landed you in jail. And then go one step further and think about how it feels when you realize some action on your part separated you from your children.

Many of these women struggle to find hope but they are attending the classes and they want to get … Read more...

Dear Cosby High School Health Science Students,

I visited Cosby High School Health Science Students in Chesterfield County and presented on a topic no one wants to talk about: mental illness, addiction and suicide.

I told them my personal story about Charles. Actually, I taught two health science classes. Then we did a skit, “How heroin talked to Charles” and one dr Seuss-like poems on drugs and one on resilience. Voice was still awful but had a grand time.

After, these kids decided they wanted to send me letters to say thank you. Their idea. The most heartfelt, touching letters I have ever gotten. This is my … Read more...

I need testimonials

keynote speaker mental health

I am going to apply at some speaker’s bureaus. Hopefully, next year I’ll get some paid speaking gigs so I can continue my advocacy work.  Because I can’t afford to retire yet and need to make a living.

For my applications, I need quotes from people who’ve seen me speak.

I really hate to ask this. But if you’ve seen me, I would love some feedback and quotes in your words. You can comment below or send a message. Thank you.

 
Read more...

CareTalks Presentation Video

8 minutes

I am so grateful to have a community partner like McShin Foundation and I’m honored to have been invited to present at the Care Talks event focused on solutions for addiction.

I am still quite hoarse from gamma knife radiation (voice slowly improving) in this video and struggling at times to get sentences out above a whisper. But I got it done! Thank you Tim Alexander and team for shooting the videos.

See other inspirational Care Talks here.

Transcript

I had hoped to be standing before you today telling you about my success story, Charles.

But 2 years … Read more...

Upcoming speaking, workshop or panel events

microphone_318-50712Scheduled speaking events are now located on this page.

If you know of someone looking for a speaker for mental health and suicide prevention, contact me.

My speaker proposal is here. … Read more...