I grew up in a small, working class town in northern California. In the 5th grade I ran for school office and gave the worst campaign speech ever! Then as I was leaving the stage I slipped and fell down in front of the whole school. They laughed, I cried and Mr. Brown, my teacher, asked me to stay after. I was only 10 but he challenged me to choose what I wanted to get out of life. Still wiping away tears, I told him - I wanted to be a great orator, write books, make music and travel the world. Years later I paid for college as a scholarship competitor on the speech team going tournaments all over the US. I think of Mr. Forest Brown every time I touch a mic and I've spent my life paying it forward!

Creator

"Her work blurs the line between art, entrepreneurship and social impact."
Rory Verrett, Managing partner, Protege Podcast 

Innovator

"Toni's zone of genius is powerful because she is just as effective leading a session for corporate professionals as she is at a summer camp or with a cohort of young activists. I've witnessed her brilliance and her energy is contagious!"
Brian Williams, Founder/Executive Director, StepAfrika

Storyteller

"The “cypher” at Michigan State opened a door for me and gave me a visceral experience of something that prior to Toni’s session at MSU, was only in my head." 
Adam Somers, PEN CENTER USA

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