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Trisha Meili
Keynote Fee : $5,001 - $10,000 plus expenses Fee Note Travels From: CT |
Topics
- Motivation / Inspiration
- Violence / Abuse
- Disability & Related Conditions
Formats
- Keynote
Products
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Programs
I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility (Keynote based on her book)In her keynote address, Trisha recounts the mesmerizing, inspiring, often wrenching story of human strength and transcendent recovery that involved a family, a hospital, a city — in fact, an entire nation — of supporters. Because of the nature of her head injuries, a well-educated young woman working on Wall Street must relearn to read, write, add, subtract, tell time, and even learn to walk again. Trisha talks about the crime and how it was not the climax but the beginning of her journey. Her indelible, moving, tough-minded self-portrait weaves the stories of ER workers, doctors, nurses, investigators, family, colleagues, friends, and strangers into a haunting narrative of courage, survival, and healing against seemingly impossible odds. Her message is one of courage for herself and others who, for whatever reason, need to reclaim life and focus on what matters most. While physical and cognitive "deficits" linger — her story is one of an event that was meant to take her life and yet it gave her a deeper one, richer and more meaningful.
The Power of CaregiversTrisha stresses how outside support was vital to her healing. Family, friends, coworkers, doctors, nurses and therapists all worked as a team to ensure Trisha's survival. Additional support came from strangers as an outpouring of thoughts, prayers and warm messages provided a critical connection for Trisha, reaffirming that she was not alone in her ordeal. Trisha inspires others about the importance of "joining the team," regardless of the goal.
Attitude: The Power of ChoiceTrisha couldn't change what happened - the attack - but she realized that she could choose how to respond. Beyond her recovery, Trisha chose to use this adversity to offer hope and possibility to others. In everyday life, we make choices quite causally, even carelessly. But when people choose consciously and with precision - choose as though their life depends on the choice they are making, real power flows. Through her speaking and writing, Trisha inspires listeners to experience the power of making conscious choices.
Leadership: The Power of Self KnowledgeSelf-knowledge is a critical element in any leadership practice. After the attack, Trisha was forced to learn to live in a new body with a new mind, to understand herself in an entirely new way. Becoming more acutely aware of her strengths and weaknesses helped Trisha develop confidence, which lead to setting goals and taking action to improve. Trisha encourages others to tap into the power of self-knowledge, take control and move forward.
Personal Growth: The Power of PossibilitiesTrisha's transformation from someone in a wheelchair, who couldn't walk to once again being a determined athlete capable of completing a New York City Marathon, was the result of concentrating on her possibilities. Focusing on what she could do, rather than on what she couldn't, motivated her to keep pushing to the edges of what she thought was possible, regardless of the obstacles. As a best selling author and Chairman of a worldwide organization for those with disabilities, Trisha shows the results of continued pushing and growing.
Speaker Information
On April 19, 1989, a young woman went for a run in New York's Central Park shortly after 9 p.m. Hours later, two men wandering the park found her near death from a brutal beating and rape. In a coma, with 75 percent blood loss, a fierce blow to the head and severe exposure, doctors at Metropolitan Hospital worried that this young woman might not survive. The story seized the headlines, not only in New York, but around the world as people contemplated what the savagery of the attack said about our society.
Trisha Meili, known to the world as The Central Park Jogger, revealed her amazing story of survival and recovery 14 years later in her best-selling memoir I AM THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER: A Story of Hope and Possibility.
Born and raised in Paramus, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh, Trisha was a Phi Beta Kappa economics major at Wellesley College and a double graduate degree recipient (M.B.A. and M.A.) at Yale University. After graduation, Meili went on to work as an associate at the Wall Street Investment Bank Salomon Brothers, until her life was violently interrupted that terrible night in Central Park. Amazing her doctors and colleagues, Trisha returned to Salomon eight months after the attack, became a Vice President and continued her career there for another eight years. She then ran a nonprofit in New York City, The Bridge Fund of New York Inc., before writing her story.
I AM THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER is not a story of an attack, but rather, one of healing. The horror of her attack brought an outpouring of support and love from her family, friends, healthcare workers, co-workers, and strangers. Trisha credits this support as part of the miracle of her recovery as she relearned how to do simple things, such as rolling over, telling time, buttoning her blouse or identifying simple objects. The support allowed her to move from victim to survivor, reclaim her life and become whole.
Trisha gives her time to organizations vital to her healing including The Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI) at Mount Sinai Hospital, Gaylord Hospital, where she did much of her rehabilitation, and the Achilles Track Club that helped her run the New York City Marathon in 1995.
Today, Trisha speaks to groups, including health care providers, businesses, universities, brain injury associations and sexual assault centers about her journey of recovery and healing. With her book and lectures, she offers lessons on how to manage through unpredictable change, whether personal, professional economic or spiritual. Her story has encouraged people worldwide to overcome life's obstacles - regardless of what they might be - and get back on the road to life.
Testimonials
"Trisha is so on target. More healthcare professionals need to hear her talk."
- Mayo Clinic
"She was a great speaker. She was very motivating and uplifting!"
- Mayo Clinic
"The best Spirituality conference I have ever attended. Very Moving."
- Mayo Clinic
"Best lecture I ever heard!"
- Mayo Clinic
"Your presentation was uniquely moving and inspiring. You are very effective in providing an inspirational story related to care, hope and healing...Thank you very much for the outstanding contribution you made to the overall success of the Excellence Forum."
- Providence Health System
"Hearing you speak was very powerful for me. Thanks go to you for being such an amazing spokesperson for both other patients and for the field of psychosomatic medicine. It was thrilling to hear you and see the remarkable results of your brilliance, hard work, tenacity, and resilience."
- American Psychiatric Association
"It was a privilege for us to honor you with the National Courage Award, and it was a real inspiration for all of us to hear from you about your healing journey and the powerful lessons you have drawn from it...Your messages were so thoughtful, and so appropriate for everyone in the audience regardless of our individual circumstances or experiences."
- Courage Rehabilitation Center
"Very touching, personal, inspiring and excellent talk. She is so special and made me feel important as a nurse."
- Allegheny General Hospital