Come Join Me In Community!
This is where you’ll find upcoming events, trainings, and speaking engagements where I’ll be showing up in person and online. From book signings and workshops to keynotes and community gatherings, I’d love for you to join me, connect, and be part of the conversation.
Upcoming Events & Appearances
The History of Help
A Three-Part Exploration of Volunteerism, Culture, and Self
Presented by The Grove Initiative and designed and facilitated by Brianna Miller of On Paper LLC
Helping is usually treated as unquestionably good. This provocative three-part series looks beneath the familiar language of service to examine the history that shaped American volunteerism, the cultural patterns that continue to influence it, and what each of us personally carries into helping relationships.
All sessions are held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in person at:
The Grove Initiative
Macalester Plymouth United Church
1658 Lincoln Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Each session can stand alone, but the series is designed to move through three connected lenses: History. Culture. Self. Separate registration is required for each session.
Session 1: Who Taught Us to Help?
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Trace American volunteerism through conquest, colonization, religious charity, enslavement, philanthropy, and nonprofit professionalization—while recognizing the mutual aid, collective care, and resistance traditions that formal histories often overlook.
Learn more and register for Session 1
Session 2: Good Intentions, Unequal Power
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Examine how white supremacy culture, saviorism, paternalism, urgency, hero culture, and other familiar organizational patterns can shape helping relationships—even when people genuinely mean well.
Learn more and register for Session 2
Session 3: The Mirror of Help
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Turn the lens inward and consider how identity influences whom we believe, protect, fear, comfort, correct, or excuse—and what happens when our intentions or helpfulness are questioned.
Learn more and register for Session 3
Attend All Three and Be Entered to Win
Attend all three sessions and you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a gift card to a local business.
Session Ended
Previous Events & Appearances
Friday, December 5, 2025, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Virtual
Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement, www.mavanetwork.org
From Microaggressions to Meaningful Engagement: Retaining Diverse Volunteers
Organizations often ask, “How do we recruit more diverse volunteers?” The harder question is: “How do we keep them?” Too often, recruitment efforts bring in volunteers from underrepresented communities only for them to encounter microaggressions, coded bias, or exclusion from existing staff and volunteers. These daily slights erode trust, create feelings of tokenism, and ultimately drive volunteers away. This session will explore the direct connection between microaggressions and retention in diverse volunteer populations. Participants will examine real-life scenarios where inequities push volunteers out, practice language and strategies for interrupting harmful behaviors, and design practical approaches for building inclusive environments that foster long-term belonging.
In this workshop, you will:
• Recognize the link between microaggressions and volunteer attrition.
• Explore how current staff and volunteers may unintentionally undermine retention efforts.
• Practice interrupting exclusionary behaviors in real time.
• Apply culturally responsive recruitment and retention strategies that center dignity and belonging.
🔗 Register now: 2025 MAVA Winter Virtual Conference Registration​​
​
Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Virtual
Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement, www.mavanetwork.org
The History of Help: How Volunteerism Was Built on White Supremacy
Peel back the polite smiles and good intentions. This unapologetic training exposes the untold story of how American volunteerism was shaped by conquest, control, and white saviorism. We’ll trace the legacy from colonial missions to modern-day nonprofits—and name how whiteness became the standard of service. Come ready to rethink who gets to “help,” who gets erased, and how we rebuild volunteerism rooted in equity, community power, and cultural truth. Reflection, truth-telling, and tangible transformation.
🔗 Register now at https://lnkd.in/gKrsfwa9​
Bring Me Out To Your Spot
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
612-388-4096