"HERstory" - Two Educational Programs Featuring Music

For more than ten years, Chicago cabaret artists Anita Kallen and Catherine Thomson have been sharing stories of the trials and triumphs of women. In their musical series, HERstory, they celebrate two important struggles. In HERstory: The 19 th Amendment and the Power of the Vote! the fight for women’s right to vote and the ongoing struggle to protect, promote, and utilize that right is presented in song and narrative. They similarly celebrate women’s groundbreaking achievements in HERstory: Trailblazing Female Firsts.

Both talented storytellers and vocalists, Anita and Catherine entertain and inspire with tantalizing tales of amazing women through narrative and song. Their musical repertoire is drawn from Broadway classics, the Great American Songbook, pop hits, cleverly crafted parodies and more. Anita and Catherine have performed in a range of venues from intimate clubs to large auditoriums, libraries, and faith-based and senior centers, with each performance tailored to the requirements of the audience.

Praised both for their solo vocal offerings as well as their tight duo harmonies, Anita and Catherine have been consistently lauded for their “smart with heart” engagement with audiences. They would love to share their unique brand of edutainment with you!

“HERstory honors....the women who were the first....to break barriers in their respective fields of endeavors....with passion and grace. The duo rocked....” Cabaret Scenes magazine, October 2022.

Some Audience Comments:
"Beautiful arrangements, fabulous harmonies, all beautifully interwoven with fascinating stories of the Womens Suffrage movement. An amazing journey told and sung by amazing women!"
“Fantastic show!! I loved learning about strong women and their journeys. Thank you for the music and laughs!”
“ Truly a 5-star show!”
 “Fantastic show!! I loved learning about strong women and their journeys. Thank you for the music and laughs!”
“You get two women with TOP NOTCH performing skills and songs that will bring a laugh to your throat and a tear to your eye.”
"Your show was fantastic!!!! Intelligent and funny with gorgeous music and voices!"
“It made me proud to be a woman!”

---

Gregory "Professor Moptop" Alexander

For the past 20 years Gregory Alexander has been heard weekly on Chicago radio (WXRT) as he portrays a character known as Professor Moptop, who teaches deep and detailed facts about the Beatles. Using audio examples and extensive research he delves deep into the subject of each song and traces it from its origins through its completion. He has recently self published his own book and has been teaching in person classes at Colleges and Libraries on a series of different Beatle related topics, as well as some of his other favorite subjects and people in the world. 

The lessons are focused on one element of the Beatles (a specific album or year, songs they wrote for others, the early Beatles, songs written about them, the Paul is dead mythology, solo projects or who they were inspired by) and The Professor goes into great detail as he offers something for all types of Beatle fans, from the well versed to brand new to the in between types. The Professor is always looking to learn something "new" and his enthusiasm for knowledge is infectious.

---

Meredith Colby

The author of Money Notes: How to Sing High, Loud, Healthy, and Forever, Meredith has successfully taught hundreds of professional and avocational singers to achieve healthy singing since 1989. Specializing in technique for CCM (contemporary commercial music) styles like rock, R&B, metal, pop, and music theater, Meredith created and teaches Neuro-Vocal Method. This ground-breaking vocal method uses brain science to quickly achieve vocal breakthroughs. Using Neuro-Vocal Method, Meredith guides singers to overcome limitations and reveal new possibilities. Described as encouraging, knowledgeable, and non-judgmental, Meredith’s steady, nurturing demeanor is the foundation from which she skillfully guides people through the process of vocal growth. Let Meredith conduct one of her vocal workshops for your group, or she can set up a multi-week course for your community center or music school.​

---

Karen Curtiss

Karen Curtiss, a Board Certified Patient Advocate, is determined to transform her family’s multiple tragedies from hospital errors into better outcomes for others. She gave up a marketing career, consulting to Fortune 500 companies, to scour nursing textbooks, slog through medical studies, and talk to patient safety experts all over the globe to study how hospital care is managed; where cracks in care occur, and; best nursing practices to prevent them. Then she distilled a lot of complex medical information into quick, simple checklists all patients and families can use to partner with clinicians to safeguard their loved ones’ hospital care and recovery at home. Partnering with two nursing leaders, she co-wrote a similar guide for nursed so everyone can, literally, be “on the same page” for safe and sound care for patients. As a frequent speaker, Karen offers insight from her work in hospital quality from the patient and family perspective, as well as from her former career consulting to Fortune 500 companies on customer satisfaction and communication strategy. Combining these skills, Karen is building a network of speakers, all professional patient advocates, to share CampaignZERO’s highly rated patient safety presentation to local community groups.

---

---

David A. Dolak

Faculty, Science and Mathematics Department
​Columbia College Chicago

David Dolak describes himself as an “Educator, scientist, luthier (string instrument artisan), musician, outdoor adventurer and all-around Renaissance Man!” The association of libraries in northern Illinois has often listed Dolak among their most-recommended presenters.

Programs:

Geology Program Fossils in our Backyard: The Story of Mazon Creek, a 300 Million-Year-old Coal Forest in Illinois
Come and learn to read the stories told by fossils. Just 50 miles southwest of Chicago the world-famous Mazon Creek geological site contains fossils of giant fern trees, insects, jellyfish, and the enigmatic Tully Monster, State Fossil of Illinois. The fossils from this long-ago time are preserved in unique, symmetric concretions still found in the abandoned coal strip mines near the towns of Braidwood and Coal City.

The science program is intended for general audiences interested in science. Suggested program: Up to 75 participants in a lecture/workshop setting with an allotted time of 1.5 hours. Each person will leave the program with a real fossils and handout materials. 1.0 hours for just lecture and hands-on observation of fossils.

Fee Range: Starting at $400 for full program, which includes activity to find and keep one’s own real fossil specimen, depending upon travel distance and the number of participants. Starting at $300 for just the lecture, handout materials, and hands-on observation of fossils but without the .

Geology as Destiny: Across the Chicago Portage, a Story of Glaciers, Voyageurs, and Carp!"
Chicago’s pre-eminence as the largest metropolis in the middle of North America is a result of the fortuitous conditions of access across the Mid-Continental watershed divide created by glacial processes over the past 10,000 years. The Chicago Portage water passage has been used by Native Americans, European voyageurs, and was ultimately exploited by the famous reversal of the Chicago River by the Sanitary and Ship Canal, which led to great economic and population growth but also created environmental costs. This one-hour lecture will detail the geologic and human history of the Portage and will conclude with a live performance of an original song which highlights the topics.

---

Catherine Driscoll

Catherine Driscoll is a professional writer and author who speaks publicly about a variety of topics, including summaries of the day’s news, classic cars, branding and marketing, and self publishing. She has been a magazine founder and editor, a book editor, an author of children’s books, an unwitting collector of rare classic cars, and a professional marketer of nonprofit organizations. She is currently President of RED Communications LLC, providing communications and marketing strategy to individuals, nonprofits, corporations and causes. ​

Programs:

Finding Truth in the Age of Fake News
Finding Truth in an Age of Fake News is a non-partisan discussion of the spread of Fake News and the real-world consequences that Fake News is causing around the world, including Brexit, the measles outbreak in the U.S., and fanning racial tensions in developing countries. The presentation examines current examples of fake news and their sources, and includes practical tips and handouts for becoming a smart consumer of news in all forms. Attendees of this presentation have been shocked and riveted, then grateful for the information and tools necessary to navigate the vast information world. Catherine Driscoll has been a journalist and professional communicator for more than 30 years. An astute consumer of news, Catherine shares what she’s learned in her research of Fake News, and updates the presentation daily.

Just the Facts:  A Monthly Summary of Current Events
Catherine provides a monthly summary of current events for groups of all sizes. Well read and always well prepared, Catherine summarizes topics of interests in national and international news, providing multiple points of view, and helping audiences keep up to date with factual information about our rapidly changing world.  Each one-hour presentation is followed by a time for discussion. Offered the third week of every month. 

Visiting Author: The Town Turkey Presentation for Elementary Schools
Children’s book author and writer Catherine Driscoll loves to teach writing to children. In The Town Turkey presentation, she shares photos and recounts the story – of the people she met, the stories and love they had for this strange little turkey, and how she used these actual events to  create this adorable children's book.  

Catherine has developed three age-appropriate presentations of The Town Turkey specifically for prekindergarten through first grade; second through fourth grade; and fifth through eighth grade. She concentrates on word choice and the how the design was altered to better illustrate the book. While being entertained, children learn why words, punctuation, and point of view matters in age-appropriate discussions. Last, she leads the group in a character development brainstorming session that sparks their creativity and encourages them to think beyond boundaries. The Town Turkey presentation is a popular event in the fall months, but is fun for children all year long. (It’s not a Thanksgiving book.)
​
A Wild Ride – Car Collection
Photo Presentation
In 2006, presenter Catherine Driscoll and her husband purchased 20 classic collector cars out of a warehouse in Connecticut, sight unseen. When they opened the doors of the warehouse, they found a collection of one-of-a-kind Rolls Royces, Mercedes Benzs and American muscle cars. In this fun photo presentation, Catherine \ takes her audiences on a wild ride through this collection of rare cars, providing the fascinating history and background of each car, and sharing stories of their famous previous owners and adventures. Audiences of all ages love this fascinating presentation.

How to Write, Design and Publish Your Own Children's Book (or any book!)
Presenter Catherine Driscoll has written and self-published several books, including The Town Turkey  children’s book and Knowledge Is Power: What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Cancer (written by Dr. Dennis Citrin).  In this informative and easy-to-understand presentation, she’ll share what she has learned with aspiring authors, and take them through the process of writing, designing, and self-publishing a book to sell on Amazon as well as in bookstores.  Topics covered include advice on writing and editing, art direction to compliment your manuscript, design best practrices, obtaining an ISBN, and how to use print-on-demand services like Create Space, Ingram Spark and others. 

 Marketing for Nonprofits Workshop
Marketing for nonprofits is decidedly different than marketing for for-profit companies. The organization must develop an engagement strategy that incorporates development and communications, and speaks meaningfully to all levels of donors, volunteers, partners and supporters.
 
In this Workshop, Catherine Driscoll shares best practices for nonprofit marketing strategy and leads a nonprofit group through a discussion of their own brand, target audiences, key messages and communication vehicles. Event marketing and public relations strategies are also shared. This Workshop has been very valuable to nonprofit staff and volunteer groups, development staff, and boards of directors.

(Left) Book cover of The Town Turkey

(Right) Automobile once owned by Queen Elizabeth, from Catherine Driscoll's collection 

---

Lise Eliot, Ph.D

Professor of Neuroscience, The Chicago Medical School of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
​
A Chicago native, Lise received an A.B. degree from Harvard University, a Ph.D. from Columbia University, and a post-doctoral research fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In addition to teaching and writing, Dr. Eliot lectures widely on children’s brain and gender development. She and her husband live in Lake Bluff, Illinois and are the parents of three young adults

Programs: (fees vary depending on time of day and year)

Pink Brain, Blue Brain
“The belief in blue brains and pink brains has real-world consequences…Read [Eliot’s] masterful book and you’ll never view the sex-differences debate the same way again.” –Sharon Begley, Newsweek
“Lise Eliot nimbly refutes the overemphasis on sex differences that has dominated popular thinking in our Mars and Venus age–but without resorting to a facile denial of differences, either. This is a lively, marvelously clear and readable book that combines all the latest research on sex differences with smart, sensible and humane advice to parents on how bring out the fullest potential in both boys and girls.” —Margaret Talbot, Staff Writer, The New Yorker

What's Going on in There?
“A fascinating and masterful account of what science knows about how a baby’s brain grows—and how what we do makes a difference. Every parent of a newborn should read it.” —Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence

“With impressive depth and clarity, Eliot…offers a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge about infant and early childhood brain development…[Her] confidence in the open-minded interest of her readers makes this a good bet for scientifically oriented parents who want to grasp how a child’s mind develops. All in all, this is popular science at its best.” – Publishers Weekly

---

Lynette Foss

Professor of Biology (Human Biology, Public Health), Lake Forest College

All lectures are approximately 60-90 minutes in length, though this can vary based on the number of questions that arise during the presentation. Lynette’s programs are primarily intended for an adult or teenage audience, but some topics in health can be tailored to a younger audience. Questions are welcomed throughout, with more time available at the conclusion. 

Programs:

Diseases: Past, Present and Future Threats
Infectious diseases such as bubonic plague and small pox have had a major impact on history, but were shrouded in superstition and misunderstanding until modern medicine emerged. In the late 19th and throughout the 20th centuries, our knowledge about disease and discoveries of treatments catapulted forward, enabling humans to overcome bacterial infections, eradicate smallpox, and nearly eradicate polio. Yet progress has slowed with the recent “anti-vaxxer” movement, as well as the emergence of novel infectious diseases and antibiotic resistant microbes. These topics will be presented in an interactive slideshow that includes recommendations for further reading.

Sharpen Your B.S. (Bad Science) Detector!
Since the ascent of the internet, we have become inundated with information. How can anyone tell whether or not the information they encounter is fact, fiction, or something in between? In many cases the truth status of the information may not matter (who cares if a Kardashian’s extramarital affair is real or fake news?) But we need facts to make informed decisions about many things, especially our health. Learn the basic tenets of science, and how so many consumer products, especially in the areas of health and nutrition, do not have valid scientific evidence to show that they do what they claim to do. Special attention is given to the supplement industry and the wide variety of “alternative medicine” offered to consumers today. The audience is encouraged to be skeptical, think critically, and to seek answers by consulting valid sources for information. They will leave with a handout explaining how to vet a source for scientific validity, and a feeling of empowerment!

What Everyone Needs to Know about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Despite how sexualized our culture has become, the topic of STIs still remains difficult for most people to discuss. While it is true that the highest new infection rates occur in younger demographics, there has been a surge in new infections among middle aged adults, and even senior citizens. Learn about the infectious agents which cause STIs, the symptoms of each type of infection, long-term consequences of infection, testing and diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The History, Epidemiology, and Warnings of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic
AIDS has killed over 35 million people, and infected an additional 80 million worldwide. It first reared its ugly head in the US in 1981, before many of the tools of modern medicine were available. This limitation and the prevailing societal attitudes of the time made isolating HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, difficult. But there were many other complications that either directly or indirectly contributed to the spread of the disease. The initial responses of science, government and society to this disease has become a model for what NOT to do in the face of an emerging public health crisis. As new infectious agents emerge, we need to remember the lessons we learned from the emergence of AIDS.

Additional Programs Include:
Nutrition and Fad Diets: You Are What You Absorb
Vector-Borne Diseases: Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, and Other Vermin
Lynette can assemble any science or health-related program for your group!

---

Michele Hoffman Trotter

Professor of Marine Science and Sustainability at
Columbia College Chicago, Roosevelt University, and
​The School of The Art Institute of Chicago

All lectures are approximately 60-90 minutes in length, though this can vary based on the number of questions that arise during the presentation. Michele offers programs for younger audiences, families, and adults, and has a range of activities available for hands on experience. Questions are welcomed throughout, with more time available at the conclusion. 

Programs:

Climate Change: Fact, Fiction and our Future
In the long history of Earth there have been ice ages and warmer periods, so how do we know what we are currently experiencing is different from the natural cycle?  Global climate is a complex mix of variables, so can we be sure humans have the power to impact it? This presentation guides audiences through key aspects of physical science used to assess our changing climate, contemporary research questions, and ecosystem consequences. Conversation concludes with an examination of climate change as an economic matter and a tech race that we can’t afford to lose.

Water: Science of a Human Right
Two-thirds of our planet is covered with it, yet only three percent is fresh. It’s the stuff that no human can go more than three days without and has come to be regarded as “blue gold”. In some parts of the world it is taken for granted, while in others the shortage of it has lead to war. Although it is part of a cycle, it is becoming increasingly unavailable. This presentation guides audiences through the enigma that is water and associated science, politics, economics, and outlooks for the future.

Expedition Arctic
With less than 2,000 visitors a year it is truly wild, a mysterious kingdom of ice and snow that is changing faster than any other place on Earth. In this presentation Michele takes audiences on a six-week journey aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter Healy on a mission to explore the biodiversity of the Chukchi Sea. Participants will encounter animals so rare scientists aren’t sure how many exist, witness the work of ice scientists assessing the rapidly changing condition of storied ice sheets, and see species entirely new to science revealed.

The Mysterious Life of Sharks
They are diverse, elusive, sometimes shy, and one hundred percent ancient.  In this presentation audiences learn about the secret life history of wondrous and majestic creatures that predate the dinosaurs.  For 260 million years sharks have reigned supreme in the global ocean, but many species are now living under threat of demise.  Conversation will revolve around the biology, ecology, and conservation matters of sharks, and Michele will share stories of her personal experience with sharks in the waters of Australia, South Africa, the Bahamas and beyond.

Microcosm: A Hidden World Within the Ocean
There is a hidden, alien universe in the ocean and it is the foundation of life as we know it; generating the air we breathe, purveyor of deadly toxins, medicines that may save a loved one, and fuel that might some day power our homes. Most life in the ocean starts out impossibly small, unseen without the aid of a microscope. In this presentation viewers become acquainted with the dazzling residents of the microscopic universe in the ocean, find out why they are important, and learn about ways they might help solve some of our most pressing environmental challenges in the 21st century.

What We Know About GMO’s
Genetically modified organisms (“GMO’s”) have been socially labeled a variety of things from “the future of food” to “frankenfoods”, so what does the science say? Can we meet the demands of an increasing human population without GMO’s? Will GMO’s help us weather environmental changes happening all around us or hasten them? In this presentation audiences will learn about human consumption of GMO’s, raise questions about ecological impacts and ethics, and discuss the variation of social attitudes around the world pertaining to GMO’s and GMO products.

Additional Programs Include (but are not limited to):
Coral Reef Ecology, Marvelous Ocean Mimics, Fisheries and the Future of Seafood, Hawaii Above and Below, Wild Alaska, The Darkened Sea; Diving the Ocean at Night

---

Ben Hollis

You may remember Ben as the host of WTTW Channel 11's "Wild Chicago" back in the 1980s and 1990s, for which he won several local Emmy awards. He has since developed a career in live theater and music, staging several productions over the last few years. Most recently he has delved into film production: writing, directing, producing, and starring in the award-winning film, "The Treasure", which was released in 2021 .

Ben can visit your organization to speak about his career, discuss his movie, perform one of his musical plays, or host a live show called "What's It Like to Be You" during which he calls up members from the sudience to be "guests" at his talk show (a very popular option for which he is alwasy invited back for a repeat performance).

---

Mike Nowak

Mike Nowak has spent more than 20 years discussing gardening, the environment, green living and sustainability on Chicago radio at WGN, WCPT, Que 4 Radio and now at 1590 WCGO. He is an award-winning columnist for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine, founder of the Midwest Ecological Landscape Alliance and former president of the Chicago Recycling Coalition. In 2017, he led a group of horticultural organizations in creating the Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards, which revived a more than 50-year City tradition that had been discontinued in 2011. He is available to speak in any of his areas of expertise, as well as to host your community “green” events. 

Programs:

Everything You Know About Gardening Is Wrong: Myths, Misinformation and Well-Meant but Inaccurate Advice from Mom, the Intertubes and Beyond
Gardeners are generally trusting souls… which can sometimes land them in a heap of trouble. For instance, a neighbor offers you a plant and says, “You’ll really like this.” When the plant covers your garage and holds your dog hostage, you wonder if it was such a good idea. Mike walks his audience through some common misconceptions about plants, gardening remedies and even insects and why you need to check your sources before you grab your shovel. If you don’t laugh at least once during his presentation, it’s because the surgeon accidentally removed your humor instead of your humerus. (You’d be surprised how often that happens.)

I’m Not Really a Garden Expert, I Just Play One on the Radio
This is Mike’s most popular talk, and he’s constantly tweaking and updating it. Except for the fact that he has a radio show, Mike Nowak is probably a lot like you and your gardening friends. That is to say, he stumbled onto gardening somewhere in mid-life and has never looked back (except to see what he tripped over). Since then, he’s interviewed dozens of horticultural experts–some famous, some not, some controversial, some cranky, some strange–who have taught him valuable lessons about gardening, environmental responsibility and life. Like it or not, in the course of an hour he’s going to pound some of those lessons into your head. Even though he does it with humor, you might want to wear a helmet.

Good Planets are Hard to Find
As host of a radio gardening program, Mike has found himself playing a lot of roles in twenty years: interviewer, student, skeptic, advocate, teacher, novice, expert, priest and rabbi. In his talk, Mike attempts to make some sense of what he’s learned and to present some practical advice about the role of nature in urban/ suburban/exurban settings and how each person’s role is much more significant than they can imagine. He looks at gardens, lawns, native plants and sound horticultural practices and muses about where we have gotten it right, where we’ve gone off the rails, how some of us have been brainwashed (ever watch TV?) and why.

Thriving in Hard Soil
Mike’s betting that most of you have never lived five doors from a drug corner in Chicago (and we’re not talking about a CVS). Well, he did for a decade until he and his neighbors figured out that if you put a community garden on the drug corner, the drug dealers might get nervous in the presence of broccoli, kale, tomatoes, beans and all of the folks helping them grow. Mike presents an inspiring look at the possibilities and challenges of creating a community garden, using his experience working at the Green on McLean community garden in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. You’ll learn about soil contaminants, layered barriers, raising funds, and why kids are the key to making a community garden a success.

Guys on Grass (or Natural Lawn Care 101)
As a die-hard gardener, Mike’s philosophy about lawns can be summed up in this phrase: “When in doubt, rip it out”. Yet, as a radio show host, he knows that people love their lawns, so his compromise is to preach the gospel of natural lawn care. In this talk, Mike looks at why the concept of the “perfect lawn” is so harmful, starting with that lock-step mentality and moving on to the use of synthetic fertilizers and pervasive pesticides. He explains how some simple cultural practices can be just as effective as expensive chemicals to keep your lawn green and healthy. He shows you why what’s in your soil is at least as important as what’s above it. And he dares to ask the question, “Why are weeds so bad?” (Hint: they’re not.)

The 800 Pound Banana in the Room: Recycling Organics
Good gardeners have known forever that composting is the key to healthy soils. But until recently, the issue of what to do with organics–which account for approximately one third of our waste stream–has not entered the consciousness of non-gardeners. How do municipalities, large and small, begin to educate their citizens that recycling organic materials–specifically food waste–can not only reduce the size of our landfills but, if composted correctly, replenish the nutrients in our soils and become a source of renewable energy?

That Ain’t No Way to Treat a Tree
Mike Nowak is not really an arborist. He just plays one on the radio. Actually, for the past twenty years on Chicago radio, Mike has functioned more as a clearing house/conduit/confidant/ voice of reason for the kinds of people you run into every day. That is to say, folks who are clueless not only about trees, but about most living plant material. Yes, that can be frustrating, but it can also make you laugh…when you’re not crying or beating your head against the side of a garage. Opting for comedy over tragedy, Mike looks at the funnier side of misinformation, misunderstanding and mis-communication when it comes to the average American’s knowledge of the magnificent plants we call trees.

---

Rusty Schwimmer

You may recognize Rusty from her recent breakout role in the movie "Wild Honey", but she has been an actor for her entire career. From smaller roles in blockbuster movies (she was Helen Hunt's mom in "Twister") to her latest star turn, Rusty has experienced all of the highs and lows you might expect, and some you would never have imagined. Find out about her creative life, what drives her, what it's like to make a movie, and all aspects of life as an actor. 

---

Vivian Ta, Ph.D.

Vivian is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lake Forest College and Mellon Faculty Fellow. She received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington where she was a recipient of a National Science Foundation LSAMP BD fellowship. Her research examines how language shapes the development of common-ground understanding, negotiations, and political discussions. Her other research projects focus on computer-mediated communication, personality, and close relationships.

Programs:
"Why Doing Nice Things for Others is Good for You"
“Personality and Relationship Satisfaction”
“The Role of Language in Mutual Understanding”

---

Karen Topham

Karen Topham recently retired from a four-decade career as an English and theatre teacher. Today, she is an independent writer (books, blogs, stories, etc.), a public speaker, an editor for hire, and an outspoken LGBTQ+ advocate. She has three children, among whom is the first student to transition at Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL, which occurred five years after

Karen became the first teacher in the US to transition and return to her teaching position at Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, IL. She is married and has three cats, whom she spoils rotten.

Programs:

A Unique Perspective: Transgender from Personal and Parental Experience
In 1998, Karen Topham became the first teacher in the United States to transition on the job from male to female. Five years later, her first-born child became the first student at Stevenson High School to transition from female to male.

Karen will discuss her unusual perspective of transgenderism from the point of view of both a transgender woman and the mother of a transgender man in a world that, more than two decades after her own transition, fights acceptance of this misunderstood minority. She can adapt her program to suit client needs, and is available to speak as a panelist.

---