Invite Sheldon S. Crocker to Speak
If you are planning a staff day, summit, nonprofit event, school gathering or community program, I offer presentations that are honest, grounded and shaped around your audience and purpose.
My talks draw on lived experience, but they are not only about my life. They open up honest conversations about the assumptions, labels and difficult experiences that can shape how people see themselves and one another.
My Signature Talk
Beyond the Silence: Rewriting Your Story, Rising When Life Tries to Break You
My main talk draws on real moments from my life and invites audiences to reflect on what it means to be silenced, dismissed or underestimated, and to keep moving forward without pretending the road is easy.
I explore identity, the expectations placed on us and what it can mean to find a voice after difficult experiences. My story provides a starting point for a wider conversation about how we understand ourselves and treat other people.
There are no quick fixes in my work. I bring a real story, thoughtful questions and a presentation shaped around the people in the room.
Topics I Speak On
- Resilience when life does not unfold as expected
- Disability, dignity, inclusion and belonging
- Identity beyond labels and other people's assumptions
- Finding a voice after being dismissed or underestimated
- Adversity, addiction recovery and rebuilding a sense of self
- Everyday respect, self-understanding and navigating change
Who I Work With
- Schools, youth programs and educational institutions
- Nonprofits, community organizations and disability advocacy groups
- Workplaces, staff days and professional development sessions
- Conferences, summits, panels and retreats
- Recovery communities seeking a lived-experience perspective
- Government, diversity and inclusion initiatives
I work with organizers who value lived experience, thoughtful reflection and real conversation. I discuss the audience and subject matter beforehand so the presentation fits the setting.
What I Bring to an Event
- A keynote or session shaped around the audience, event purpose and available time
- A presentation grounded in lived experience, honest reflection and practical insight
- Optional panel, podcast or question-and-answer participation when it fits the event
- Workshops, breakout sessions or community programs shaped around the organizer's goals
What Audiences Can Take Away
I aim to give audiences space to:
- Consider how labels and assumptions affect the way people are treated and understood
- Talk more openly about resilience and difficult experiences, without pressure to share personal details
- Recognize everyday ways to show respect and strengthen belonging
- Reflect on what continuing forward can look like in their own lives
My presentations offer lived experience and reflection. They are not counselling, therapy or clinical advice.
Book Me for Your Event
I am available for in-person and virtual events. Organizers can also include my books, including Resilience Redefined: Rising Beyond Adversity, by arrangement.
The booking form on this page is the place to share a few details about the event, audience and any date or format already in mind. I will reply by email to discuss availability, suitability and next steps.
I read every request myself and respond as soon as possible.
Prefer email? I can also be reached at sheldon@sheldoncrocker.com .
Your information will only be used to respond to your inquiry. See my Privacy Policy for details.
Let’s Talk About Your Event
“For me, resilience has meant continuing forward, even when progress is slow and the next step is small.”
Past Speaking Engagements, Interviews and Milestones
This collection includes photographs from my speaking engagements, event graphics, interviews and my Toastmasters certificate. Each image opens a larger version in a new tab.
