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To Check Speaking Availability or Request a PDF Brochure Attachment, Please Contact:
jo@jofranz-inspirationalspeaker.com
Call (360) 687-1376 Fax (360) 687-1374
Jo's latest book for college students and high school seniors
References
"Jo Franz's dynamic personality and refreshing strategies empower college students to transform every day into an adventure while enhancing every area of their lives."
James Malinchak
Co-Author,
Chicken Soup for
the College Soul
"Two-Time College Speaker of the Year"
www.Malinchak.com
James endorsing Jo's speaking and book:
“From your talk, I learned that we ought to think about the physical challenges faced by those with mental disorders, such as tics or social impairments, as well as the more obvious cognitive impairments. I learned how to communicate facts about a disability in such a way that people will enjoy learning, rather than feel as though they are being preached out. I really enjoyed your talk.”
Katie Anderson, President, Active Minds at Emory U, Atlanta, GA
"Jo is the real deal. Her story and life are nothing short of a miracle. Her determination and charisma shout from her sheer presence. You can’t help but be moved to action by Jo!"
Jonathon Siebert
Trinity Western U, Vancouver B.C.
“I benefited from the fact that some of my students are more aware of people with disabilities now because of your presentation. I have a niece that has spina bifida, so I'm aware but certainly not as aware as I need to be.”
Tim King, Advisor-IMPACT, Student Organizations, & REACH, Division of Student Affairs, Auburn U, AL
"It gave me great under-standing about how I work with my ADHD, how I operate and creative I am. It also showed how people with disabilities need to be incorporated by me as a leader."
David Yakobovitch, Cert. Tutor & leader, Univ. of FL, Gainesville
“I’m going to take the information from your inspiring talk back to my university to encourage students to see what others may be going through and to appreciate others who are different than us.”
Tessa Bryant, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston
"Your talk was great, very inspirational and insightful. It gave me help to know how to broaden my search for members and learn how to incorporate people, including the disabled.”
Kevin Gebo, sophomore, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
"I have heard Jo speak many times, and I think every college student will benefit from hearing her humorous and inspirational talk."
Lynda Libby, mother of four college students, Vancouver, WA
"I love how honest and forthcoming Jo is in her talks. She is very relatable and willing to talk to you about anything and everything."
Karen Knotts, junior, Washington State University, WA
"When Jo speaks, her words overflow from her heart! She motivates students to reflect on their own lives and apply what she says."
Mary Anne Feeney, sophomore, Portland Bible College, OR
"The experiences in Jo’s life allow her to connect with students where they are and the unique challenges they each face."
Megan Knotts, Portland State University, OR
"I really enjoyed your workshops! I learned to be not as afraid to go out into the world and be who I am no matter what obstacle is put forth ahead of me! You taught me to be more inspiring and spread love around all those I come in contact with! Overall, Jo, you are an incredible woman who taught me a lot and I was blessed to have met you at the NCSL!"
Jillian Bzdula, Student Government, Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA
"Jo embodies what it means to be on a road of contin-uous searching, growing, and aspiring to see the light and the positive in every situation. She has been able to SOAR above her own hardships, and she in-spires others to do the same!"
Anna Peters, University of Colorado, Boulder, B.A. Psychology
"Jo has an amazing sense of humor and such a positive attitude. She is really inspiring! She has taught me that nothing is impossible."
Melody Metcalf, freshman, Clark College, Vancouver, WA
"Jo's giftedness is connecting with others through their pain as she is no stranger in fighting for her life. It’s through that connection that she is able to speak confidence, hope and a mission in your life!"
Nathan Peters, B.A. Fine Arts, Chapman University, Orange, CA
"As a high school senior Jo made realize how much I am blessed and encour-aged me to stay positive in my efforts to choose the right college."
Allison Knotts, senior in high school, Vancouver, WA
Jo Empowers Students to SOAR with Hope, Confidence and Purpose No Matter What Life Brings To Be More, Do More, and Achieve More!
"Jo knows how tough life can be, yet how rich and rewarding--let her touch your students' lives!"
Talks:
You CAN S.O.A.R. Through College! ™
(Jo’s Most Requested Keynote for Any Event; Also Great for Orientation / Welcome Week)
In this motivating presentation based on her book, Jo shares time-tested strategies learned from living with multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1977 that will empower students to turn every day—no matter what happens—into an adventure. Based on the acronym S.O.A.R.!
You will learn how to make college life, relationships, and work rich despite the unexpected.
"Your thoughts about how to SOAR through college were important for our new students to hear. Sharing your life experiences, which have certainly presented you with obstacles many would succumb to, helped convey to students that they too can overcome the challenges life presents and conquer their feelings of anxiety and doubt . . . and that all things are possible." Arlene Torgerson, Vice President for Student Services, Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen, WA
Here's what students from Gray's Harbor College said about this talk:
Live the Best Adventure of All™
(Motivational Talk . . . Great for Any Event or Group; Also Community Service and Disability Awareness)
Jo’s dynamic personality fills the room with her heart-warming story-telling about being “The Queen of the Unexpected” and how she’s learned to SOAR. Her worst struggles have been transformed into adventures of all kinds.
As she shares how life can be an adventure no matter what happens, she empowers students with laughter and tears to believe the same can happen in their own lives.
Where's the Fun In That?™ (You Can Have Fun Taking Care of Yourself!) (Appropriate for Any Event or Group)
Having lived with multiple sclerosis since 1977, Jo has a great outlook on life to share with students. Healthy living is crucial to anyone, especially someone in college.
You will learn four basic health tips to empower you for life!
You Can Enable the Disabled and Empower the (Seeming) Powerless!™ (Workshop appropriate for various events)
After being diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) in 1978 Jo learned first-hand that people are dis-abled, society handicaps them. In this experiential and interactive workshop you will discover some of how it feels to be disabled. You’ll experience the attitudes emanated towards those and the words that hurt. But you’ll also discover enriching yet practical truths the disabled want you to know and how you can make an impact in their lives while learning from the vast treasure of resources with which they’ve learned to operate and excel.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand in some part the life of the disabled.
Determine how your own potential biases might be disabling you, paralyzing you with fear from getting to know those with disabilities.
Decide ways to befriend and invite to be co-leaders those who are being handicapped at your school and in the world around you.
Discover exciting new coping mechanisms that you can incorporate in leadership.
Jo presented the above talk at the NCSL (National Conference on Student Leadership) in Atlanta April, 2010.
"Students should never miss this kind of workshop for people with disabilities. I didn't expect this topic and was pleased!" Representative of the Association of Student Disabilities (anonymous attendee)
Here are videos of students' responses:
| Kevin Geo, Exec. Board Member, Sophomore, Wentworth Inst. of Tech., Boston, MA | Jillian Bzdula, Junior, Student Government, Bristol Comm. College, Fall River, MA |
| Tessa Bryant, Louisiana Tech U, Ruston, LA | David Yakobovitch, University of FL, Gainesville |
You Can reUnite, reCreate, and reInspire—but Will You?™ (Keynote or workshop, excellent for leadership)
Jo has been told more than once “You can’t do that.” It’s just one reason why she can inspire you to believe you can. Jo relates from her humorous and heart-touching experiences how she’s been emboldened to reUnite others around her, creating a crucial support-system that benefits everyone. Will you attempt to reunite or go it alone? Her MS diagnosis as well as the cervical spinal cord injury that should have left Jo a quadriplegic or worse showed her how to reCreate herself and her life. Jo has learned that absolutely everything can be turned into an adventure and she will show you how to do the same—if you’re willing. Because of her never-give-up attitude, Jo will prompt you to be the catalyst in others’ lives to dream BIG, achieve more than they thought was possible, making a dramatic difference in their lives while realizing a surprise in the process—by doing so you are more fulfilled and you are the one being reInspired!
Learning Outcomes:
Realize choice makes all the difference in how you view your experiences and therefore live and lead others.
Appreciate the necessity for uniting others around you without embarrassment and see the advantage in doing it regularly.
Realize the potential of recreating your life and that of the group you lead at critical junctures.
Believe that dreaming BIG and encouraging that in others despite anything reaps huge emotional dividends and empowers your leadership.
Why Jo Empowers Students in 45-90 minutes:
Jo walks clumsily onto the stage using two forearm crutches, immediately impressing students with this thought here is someone who understands difficulties and their interest is piqued.
Jo’s exuberance and charisma take her audience by surprise, as laughter erupts with her message.
Your students will take a roller-coaster ride of emotions from sad to hilarious to excited with anticipation while they realize: if this woman can SOAR through anything, so can I!
Jo’s refreshing strategies empower students with tools to transform every day into an adventure while enhancing every area of their lives.
Jo Franz is available for any occasion. (Keynote)
She is commonly booked for . . .
Jo with students, Jillian & Joe at NCSL Atlanta 2010.
Jo autographs books after each talk.
Students learn doing fun exercises!