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Evening Speakers (7-9pm)
Jessica Weiner - Master of Ceremonies
Jessica Weiner is an ACTIONIST, one who inspires others to take action in their
lives. For the past 10 years she has been on the front lines of eating
disorder awareness traveling the country as a speaker, performer and as an
author.
Through her work Jessica has helped thousands of people
struggling with eating disorders and other self esteem related problems.
Her first book, A Very Hungry
Girl, records the intimate stories of these
individuals and chronicles her own
self-discovery and ultimate recovery from an eating disorder which plagued
her teen years. Unveiling problems found in unlikely places, the book shows
that a serious eating disorder can hide behind a full figured body and that
a perfect family can house a troubled teen. This eye-opening book forces
the reader to understand that they are not alone.
Jessica started her career as the founder of the ACT Out
Ensemble, a national touring theater company based in Indianapolis. She is the author of
numerous social issue plays covering topics such as eating disorders,
relationships, school violence, date rape and hate crimes.
Jessica has been featured in countless media outlets
including The View, Good Morning America, CNN, Oprah, and MTV. In addition, she is
in development with a major television studio for her own nationally
syndicated talk show and been anointed by the Hollywood Reporter as the
next Oprah Winfrey!
Ron George
Ron
George is a founding member of the Voices
– Not Bodies organizing committee. He spent 30 years in the high-tech
software before retiring to open a printing establishment in Arlington. He and his wife Sally recently
celebrated their 33rd anniversary and live in Alexandria, Va. In 2000 they lost their daughter
Leslie to an eating disorder.
Since
then, Ron has spoken about eating disorders at several college campuses and
rallies. In 2002, he spoke at a
rally on the lawn of the US Capitol in support of the Mental Health
Equitable Treatment Act.
Ron
and Sally have founded the Leslie George Memorial Fund for Eating Disorders
Awareness at James
Madison University,
where Leslie was a student at the time of her death.
Lisa Hunter
With guitar in hand and five albums to her credit, Lisa is a
"song-speaker" offering key concepts about self-acceptance
through song rather than lecture. Her dynamic style has earned her a Lilith
Fair Finalist title and Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Acoustic
Performer, Recording and Songwriter. In addition, her songs have been heard
on the The Discovery Channel, The Disney Channel,
and on commercial radio stations nationwide. Lisa's commitment to women's
empowerment and personal growth has been the guiding light for her music,
and the inspiration to create the Love
Yourself Just As You Are album and concert.
Caroline
Miller
Caroline
Adams Miller has been at the forefront of the eating disorder world since
the publication of her best-selling autobiography and Literary Guild
selection, My Name is Caroline, in 1988.
This was one of the first books published from a survivor's point of
view and is still selling widely and used by many treatment
professionals. Her other books,
Feeding the Soul and Bright Words for Dark Days are meditations on eating
and depression, and continue to sell well in this and other countries. Caroline also contributed a chapter
to Full Lives, which contained the viewpoints of many leaders in the
eating disorder field.
In
the last fifteen years, Caroline has appeared on over 100 television and
radio shows around the world, including Montel Williams, Sally Jessy Raphael, CNN
Live, The CBS Morning News,
and To Tell the Truth. Her work and recovery have also been
featured in numerous magazines and newspapers, including USA Today, US News and World Report, The
New York Times, Self Magazine,
Ladies Home Journal, Family Circle, and many others. Her appearances at symposia,
schools, colleges and professional gatherings generate enthusiasm and
hope. Students and educators
who hear her speak say that her enthusiasm, vitality and credibility spread
knowledge about recovery in ways that are unique and charismatic.
Caroline
currently works as a Sound Mind/Sound Body life coach on the telephone and
in person, and helps men and women create optimal lives of balance, health,
fitness and passion individually and in groups.
Gail Schoenbach
Gai’s story to recovery is a story of hope. Her success in overcoming the
disease that for twenty-four years insinuated itself on her life and
relationships is an example for others to follow. “Recovery is possible,”
she notes, “I am proof of that, and I want to show others just how it
can be achieved.”
Gail spent the last 3 years
in extremely concentrated treatment for bulimia consisting of many months
of intensive outpatient therapy, residential inpatient therapy, and
continuous individual psychological therapy, nutritional guidance and
medical monitoring. Her drive
and focus to achieve wellness and recovery inspired Gail to educate and
provide resources to others suffering from eating disorders. The F.R.E.E.D. Foundation is committed
to assisting others with the difficult and complex issues encountered when
suffering with an eating disorder by providing needed financial assistance
for treatment, advocating for a public awareness campaign, and supplying
educational resources and programs.
Gail and her story have been
featured in national magazines and television programs. She has become an active leading in
the Eating Disorders Coalition, and on the board of directors for the
Eating Disorders Association of New Jersey. She is a lobbyist, expert panelist,
lecturer and tireless advocate for eating disorder causes.
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