Learn to Practice...
Informative, Inviting, Inspiring & Participatory Public Speaking and Facilitation
Image Credits: Sage Hill School
Popular Topics
Sick Art - Disabled Artist - Chronic Illness Story-telling
Felicia T Perez ("Lucha") is a mixed media durational and modern relief artist grounded in exposing the impact of "crip time" on endurance art. With a focus on challenging audiences to sit with what it means to be chronically ill and therefore betwixt all points of life (living/dying, well/sick, rich/poor, in community/alone), Felicia creates a physical call and response of items, emotions, events, and people, all surrounding issues of healthcare access via "sick art" that is comprised of photography and biomedical waste items. Reach out if you have a panel or are looking for pieces of art or an exhibit that showcases a perspective or voice on this type of art making.
Felicia T Perez ("Lucha") is a mixed media durational and modern relief artist grounded in exposing the impact of "crip time" on endurance art. With a focus on challenging audiences to sit with what it means to be chronically ill and therefore betwixt all points of life (living/dying, well/sick, rich/poor, in community/alone), Felicia creates a physical call and response of items, emotions, events, and people, all surrounding issues of healthcare access via "sick art" that is comprised of photography and biomedical waste items. Reach out if you have a panel or are looking for pieces of art or an exhibit that showcases a perspective or voice on this type of art making.
Live a Good Story
In this moving talk Felicia shares what it's like to live with multiple chronic diseases since childhood while being surrounded by death, debt, and denial. Using various visual mediums, this speech immerses the audience in a world meant to both disturb and comfort in an effort to build a shared understanding of what we all stand to lose and gain from moving simultaneously closer to death and life.
In this moving talk Felicia shares what it's like to live with multiple chronic diseases since childhood while being surrounded by death, debt, and denial. Using various visual mediums, this speech immerses the audience in a world meant to both disturb and comfort in an effort to build a shared understanding of what we all stand to lose and gain from moving simultaneously closer to death and life.
There is No Them
Have you ever heard the quote, "There is no them, there is only us"? In this talk Felicia breaks down the power and potential of genuine community care. From a simply story about two cute dogs she takes the audience on a wild ride breaking down how micro-aggressions are related to systemic practices/policies of exclusion and discrimination. This inspirational talk challenges young audiences to consider where their opinions and choices come from and gives them tangible tools to change the world around them immediately.
Have you ever heard the quote, "There is no them, there is only us"? In this talk Felicia breaks down the power and potential of genuine community care. From a simply story about two cute dogs she takes the audience on a wild ride breaking down how micro-aggressions are related to systemic practices/policies of exclusion and discrimination. This inspirational talk challenges young audiences to consider where their opinions and choices come from and gives them tangible tools to change the world around them immediately.
Story-based Strategy & K-12 Lesson Planning
According to the Center for Story-based Strategy, "Story-based strategy is a participatory approach that links movement building with an analysis of narrative power and places storytelling at the center of social change." Now take this theory and apply it to a classroom and lesson planning. How do the stories we share and tell in a classroom give more or less power to particular groups of people or schools of thought? If we want to change the stories that we hear about outside of the classroom we need first to first analyze the stories we tell students in the classroom. In this talk educators learn how to do a narrative power analysis of their curriculum and pedagogy overall.
According to the Center for Story-based Strategy, "Story-based strategy is a participatory approach that links movement building with an analysis of narrative power and places storytelling at the center of social change." Now take this theory and apply it to a classroom and lesson planning. How do the stories we share and tell in a classroom give more or less power to particular groups of people or schools of thought? If we want to change the stories that we hear about outside of the classroom we need first to first analyze the stories we tell students in the classroom. In this talk educators learn how to do a narrative power analysis of their curriculum and pedagogy overall.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) using The 4th Box
Have you ever seen that image with the three folks of different heights trying to see a baseball game (it's labeled "Equality vs Equity")? Well, have you seen the update to that image with a 3rd box going to liberation and then a blank 4th box? In this talk Felicia breaks down how folks have used this image all around the world to BEGIN a conversation about how we do or don't see ourselves reflected in that image and what underlying values we therefore surface from such a conversation. A popular talk for educators, organization leaders and program staff who are working to implement policy changes that seek to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion overall. Participants gain access to several tools for engagement and practice (printed and digital).
Have you ever seen that image with the three folks of different heights trying to see a baseball game (it's labeled "Equality vs Equity")? Well, have you seen the update to that image with a 3rd box going to liberation and then a blank 4th box? In this talk Felicia breaks down how folks have used this image all around the world to BEGIN a conversation about how we do or don't see ourselves reflected in that image and what underlying values we therefore surface from such a conversation. A popular talk for educators, organization leaders and program staff who are working to implement policy changes that seek to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion overall. Participants gain access to several tools for engagement and practice (printed and digital).
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"It's going to be impossible to forget you and what you shared with us. Thank you for that!"
- Sage Hill Student
- Sage Hill Student
Past Speaking | Training | MC Engagements
- July, 2023 (Reno, NV) Judge, Pops On the River, Reno, NV, July 7
- June, 2023 (Provincetown, MA) MC and Co-Lead Producer of Chorus Foundation Sunset Gathering "Flock Off"
- May, 2023 (Virtual) "Tell Me Why - The Power of Story" for Human Impact Partners
- May, 2023 (Reno, NV) "Visualizing the Vaccine", Lilley Museum of Art, Reno, NV, May 1
- February, 2023 (Virtual) "Movement Memes 101" for SEIU International
- January, 2023 (Washington D.C.) Lead Facilitator for Moving Forward Networks Delegation Gathering for EPA Meeting
- October, 2022 (Virtual) "Narrative Archetypes and Endangered Species" for Endangered Species Coalition
- February, 2022 (Virtual) "The Power of Story in Addressing LA’s Homelessness Crisis" for Social Justice Partners Los Angeles
- December, 2021 (Virtual) "4th Box Training" for 2Life Communities
- December, 2021 (Virtual) "4th Box Training" for American Society on Aging
- January 14, 2020 (San Diego, CA) - "Story-based Strategy, Migration Narratives & Innovation in Action."
- Saybrook University Spring 2020 Residential Conference
- November, 2019 (Reno, NV) "Still Here" Artist Talk, Holland Project, Reno, NV, November 2
- October 9, 2019 (Orange, CA) - "Live a Good Story"
- June 20, 2019 (Culver City, CA) - "How you teach, is what you teach."
- January 17, 2019 (Reno, NV) - City of Reno Arts & Culture Grants DEI Workshop
- June 20, 2018 (Culver City, CA) - "How you teach, is what you teach."
- April 11, 2018 (Newport Beach, CA)- "There is no them."
- January 2017 (Reno, NV)- "Welcome to the Resistance!"
- May 2016 (Berlin, Germany)- "Stories are good medicine."
- Universities Allied for Essential Medicines Spring Gathering, Keynote Speaker & Workshop Facilitator. UAEM is a student-led organization working to improve access to and affordability of medicines around the world, and to increase research and development of drugs for neglected tropical diseases.
- February 2015 (Los Angeles, CA)- "Bitter roots, sweet fruit. Public education & organizing"
- Speaker in the speaker series on "Teaching What Matters." Bard MAT Los Angeles is a master's degree and credentialing program for individuals exploring education through the liberal arts and sciences while building careers in teaching, leadership, and public advocacy.
- Fall 2013-Present/Ongoing (Nation-Wide, Greece & Germany)- Center for Story-based Strategy Trainer
- Center for Story-based Strategy (CSS) is a national movement-building organization dedicated to harnessing the power of narrative for social change. CSS offers training and strategic support to social justice organizations and alliances to change the story on the issues that matter most.
What past clients have to say...
"I've had the pleasure of hosting Felicia as a keynote speaker on multiple occasions at the Wildwood Outreach Center's Systems Thinking Workshop 101 in Los Angeles. She has always tailored her message and presentation to fit the needs of our elementary school teacher audience. Our workshop participants have consistently described their time with Felicia as amazing and it inspires them to affect positive change in the lives of the children they work with. She exudes passion, purpose, and a sense of hope for our participants' work with elementary age students."
-- Steve Barrett, Wildwood School, Director of Outreach
-- Steve Barrett, Wildwood School, Director of Outreach