Positively Speaking

Michael Pritchard is a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker praised by the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Time for his ability to use humor to inspire and educate his audiences on communication skills. He is a big guy with a warm heart who as one student described him, “truly walks as he talks.”He began his career on both the comedy stage and as a juvenile counselor in San Francisco’s Youth Guidance Center. In 1980, Michael Pritchard won first place in the San Francisco International Stand Up Comedy Competition as well as winning the prestigious California Probation Officer of the Year.Michael’s offers from Hollywood rolled in including a guest appearance on an Emmy Award winning episode of “Taxi”. His standup comedy billed him with Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Dana Carvey and Whoopi Goldberg playing venues as Caesar’s, the Comedy Store, Universal Ampitheater and opening for such names as Diana Ross, the Grateful Dead, Kenny Rogers, Mike McDonald and Boz Scaggs. But Michael rejected offers from Hollywood to focus on using his comic talents for inspiring youth and adults. He is prominently featured in the acclaimed documentary "Happy" as he profoundly communicates to an audience of middle school students the impact of bully

WARNING! We experienced some technical difficulties during this show. Please stay with it for the full 60 minutes. You don't want to miss the last segment. It'll be well worth your while! I am 25 and manage a fitness facility in Palmdale. I was born in Lanacaster Ca, and lived here most of my childhood. When I was about 8 years old my parents divorced and I kind of grew up fast. I was at the time the oldest of 3 boys which after my parents each remarried I became the oldest of 7 boys. So living between households and my mother living in Vegas my childhood was hectic. I got in my fair amount of trouble as a kid and up into my 20s. 16 days after my 17th birthday I swore into the USMC and left for bootcamp a couple weeks after highschool graduation. I was a radio operator in the corps and deployed to Iraq in 2006-2007 I served as lead communications for my convoys throughout Iraq and even got hit by lightning. When I returned from Iraq I had my share of problems with life and had to learn to cope... I turned to tons of different things but have come to just believe in Karma. I try everyday to do goodthings so selfishly good things happen to me. Haha. But this is true. I came back from the USMC had a few odd and end jobs that taught me how to be a civilian. Pizza delivery and window cleaning. Than I became a service rep in a fitness facility where I currently manage. I also have started my own window cleaning business and just try to stay busy! Live everyday to the fullest and see where I can do my part.

Sarah Atereth is a #1 hit global recording artist, founder of Beguile Records, inspirational speaker, motivator, coach and consultant.  How did an unknowing kid make her way from her first dance class in a strip mall in Colorado, to becoming a #1 hit recording artist with 5 consecutive hits worldwide in an industry with a 99.9% failure rate?  Armed with only the joy and life’s purpose she found in dance and music, Sarah set out to New York City on her determined path to figure out how to become her passion.  Slammed with struggles and rejection along the way, Sarah continued to pursue her artistic vision and tear through barriers to get her music out to the world. Sarah has been the cover of Radio & Records Magazine, The Future Face of 2012 in Music Week (1 of only 4 artists in the world), a charting recording artist in Billboard Magazine and DJ Times, with 2 #1 UK hits and 4 U.S. Billboard hits. Sarah's music is played on countless radio stations, in clubs and stadiums around the world by the top DJs.  She has worked with such legends as Chris Blackwell (U2), Rick Chertoff (Cyndi Lauper) and Bryan Adams. Sarah is proud to be the face of Until.org with Kevin Bacon, Jessica Alba and Michael Phelps. Sarah is a graduate of Columbia University. As an in demand expert, Sarah finds great joy in coaching and speaking to others on how to live a life fueled by passion, purpose and personal greatness.

Dave is a graduate of CSU Fullerton with a Bachelor's degree in English and credentials in teaching, counseling and administrative services. He has a Master's degree from Pepperdine University in education. His career in public education began as a custodian, then teacher's aide, teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and continuation High School principal. It was at the continuation high school that he came to know one of the graduates, Monica, who had been in the teen parent program. Seeing her struggle with no family, resources or job skills, Dave’s and his wife bought a condo and housed her on the condition she get enough training or education to make herself self-sufficient. Soon they formed Pathways to Independenceand have since admitted 298 young women into their program. Pathways admits young women who come from poverty and severe abuse. They commit to full-time school, a part-time job, weekly therapy and weekly mentoring. In return we give them a housing stipend, pay for their education beyond financial aid, and provide healthcare, automotive repairs, a licensed therapist and more. In essence we remove any barrier that could impede their ability to graduate. Most importantly, it works. Our girls enter Pathways with little or no self-esteem, and graduate as confident contributing members of society. All of this takes place with over 300 volunteers, including 125 dentists, doctors, optometrists, therapists, and mechanics. In addition, we are grateful for pro-bono legal, accounting, and printing. We only have two part-time employees, who also volunteer, and have never paid anyone to manage Pathways in our 22 year history.http://www.pathwaystoindependence.org/

Before becoming a special needs mom, advocate and the president of the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation, Audrey Davidow Lapidus was a journalist and editor. She worked for Los Angeles Magazine and Angeleno Magazine and freelanced for a variety of publications including The New York Times, The L.A. Times, G.Q., and Health. Now, she devotes most of her time and research skills to research and fundraising. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Eric and their children, Sadie (6) and Calvin (2) who's afflicted with Pitt Hopkins Syndrome.  For more information visit: http://pitthopkins.org/