Meet Amanda (3 min.)
Speaking Format:
Amanda offers virtual, in-person, or pre-recorded (example here). Topics below can be either keynote or workshop, or moderated Q&A.Amanda has spoken at
Talking Points & Workshops
Topic: Symptoms to Superpowers - Finding Wellness & Connection
Amanda shares her journey from experiencing a mental health breakdown during college to becoming a mental health leader and award-winning documentary filmmaker. Spending three months in a psychiatric hospital hearing patients’ stories of struggle and triumph, she observed from the inside-out how the system works. And more importantly - the power of empathy, stories, and creativity. She shares how hitting rock bottom gave her ‘superpowers’ to channel pain into healing and helping others. While in the hospital, a thoughtful nurse handed Amanda a box of crayons. This small gesture became a pivotal moment in Amanda’s healing, and has become a larger metaphor in her talks for audiences to "Think Outside the [Crayon] Box" about mental health and identity. In this presentation, Amanda weaves in her own personal story, wellness tips, creative exercises using crayons, and short films she's produced featuring people's mental health stories.
"Mental health and wellness is an 'everyone and every industry' topic we can all relate to" - AL
Learning points:
- Translating pain and adversity - into growth and wellness.
- The power of empathy, stories, and creativity.
- "Think Big, Act Small" – paying it forward and the little things.
Topic: The Power of Creativity & Stories in Mental Health
Amanda’s journey to becoming an award-winning documentary filmmaker began in the psychiatric hospital. She was a patient herself, and found healing and empathy in the creative process of storyboarding the stories of patients around her. This kickstarted Amanda's filmmaking and comic book career working with clients around the U.S creating products that raise awareness and education about mental health topics. Having now interviewed over 300 people producing 100 short films and comic books, Amanda has witnessed a range of powerfully vulnerable and diverse stories. In this presentation, Amanda shares short films and behind-the-scenes of her filmmaking and multimedia practices. Plus, the bigger picture of how films and comics can be used to improve systems of care, reduce stigma, and get people into care sooner. And perhaps, most importantly, how filmmaking practices translate to everyday values in life: the power of listening, empathy, and storytelling.
Learning points:
- The power of storytelling in both personal empowerment and systems-change
- Creating person-centered and trauma-informed content
- How films can be used in research studies and digital advertising
Topic: Youth Leadership & Advocacy - Pulling up a Seat at the Table
Amanda is aware that she stands on the shoulders of giants, and is a big believer in the power of mentorship and investing in the next generation of leaders. At the age of 19, Amanda was appointed to the board of the largest grassroots mental health nonprofit in the U.S., the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), making her the youngest board member in the organization's history. She also serves on Google's Mental Health Advisory Panel. These roles catapulted her into navigating the politics and pressures of organizational leadership and responsibility. Amanda shares her full circle journey from being a patient in the psychiatric hospital to becoming an active participant improving systems and content around mental health. She also shares her balance of leading and learning in both the startup and nonprofit space, as Amanda is also a co-founder of two new startups in the mental health field: The Giving Gallery and neuroTree. Amanda challenges people to lean into their passion, and get involved in local to national leadership opportunities around topics they care about.
Learning points:
- Leading with passion, confidence, and humility
- Knowing when to step up, and step down
- Being aware of our bias and agenda
Topic: A New World - #VanLife & Remote Work
Amanda designed and built her own custom van that she now lives in full time while working on the road. Now more than ever, traditional workplaces and lifestyles are being disrupted and challenged. The line between 'personal and business' is more blurred, and the playbook is being written in real-time. Amanda challenges audiences and workplaces to think differently about how they live and work - while also acknowledging issues of access, privilege, and equity. Amanda reflects on working remotely since 2014 after graduating from college, to now living an "off-the-grid" lifestyle while continuing to build her career. From navigating loneliness and mental health, to figuring out remote/mobile setups - everyone's path and journey is unique. In this presentation, Amanda shares insights working remotely, finding community, DIY and #vanlife culture, and statistics on the ever-changing remote/gig economy. Amanda challenges people to think outside the box of how we live and work.
Learning points:
- Work Life Balance - invest in yourself as much as your career
- Taking Calculated Risks - not being afraid to do things differently and build your own lifestyle
- Navigating Remote Work - finding community and dealing with loneliness
Amanda in action at...
Blogs
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