Storyteller Spotlight: Meet Our May Spark of Hope Cast

This month we’re hosting our second storytelling night at Dave & Buster’s in Virginia Beach. I am so

excited about this show because we have a wide variety of speakers and amazing sponsors.

Our next Spark of Hope Storytelling Night is May 31, 2019 6:30 p.m. at Dave & Buster’s in Lynnhaven Mall. You can snag a ticket to see our show here.

This event is sponsored by #MyStrengthisBeautiful, an organization centered on empowering
survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. You can learn more about them at
www.msibforever.org

Good Girl Chronicles LLC would also like to thank the National Alliance on Mental Illness (COASTAL Chapter), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk Chair Katherine Martinez, and the Peer Recovery Specialists from the City of Norfolk. These three organizations will have resources tables at our event.

Storyteller Spotlight:
Little Lee - This kid is only 5 years old but he’s an author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker.

He makes videos that teaches kids about everything from fire trucks to math. You can follow him on
Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook.

Danita Myanne - Danita Myanne is a woman of all trades. She’s a mother, college grad, author,
artist, and depression overcomer. She jumped out on faith and started her own paint business
called The Fenix Experience. And, today she will tell you about her super power “overcoming depression” and learning to love herself again.

M.E. Hart-   I met our next storyteller at an open mic event  in Virginia Beach.

I heard his soulful voice, and powerful poetry and I knew I had to have him in our show.

He has made a career out of using her trials into a testimony that empowers others.

He was featured on 2 oprah winfrey shows about male sexual abuse in 2010.

And, bravely spoke about his trauma. He also has published a powerful book called

The Thriver’s Quest Healing Life’s Trauma. M.E. Hart is a member of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Networks Speaker Bureaus. He is an actor, attorney and certified executive coach.

Tyler Layne Tyler Layne is a pop recording artist, YouTube creator and influencer,
TV news producer, and former iHeartRadio host. The singer/songwriter posts music videos
and mashups to his YouTube channel weekly for his 170,000+ subscribers. Tyler’s videos have
garnered over 16 million views on the platform. The social media influencer has a Twitter, Instagram,
and Facebook reach totaling over 150,000. Tyler is also a producer for Richmond, Virginia’s news
station WTVR CBS 6. As a personality for iHeartRadio, Tyler hosted the nightly show Tyler’s
Trending on Norfolk, Virginia’s top 40 station NOW 105 for two years.
Upon releasing his original single “Breathe” which details a personal mental health battle,
Tyler advocated for suicide prevention and today volunteers for various philanthropic agencies.

Cora Johnson : Cora Johnson is a 46 years old, a mother of four children two boys two girls and a

grandmother of one grandson AJ.Cora loves to cook especially gumbo. When she’s not  spending time with the family she enjoy reading books traveling and exploring all the beautiful parts of Virginia. After working on a job for 20 years in Texas she retired and move her from Texas. Cora believes it is important and inspiring to be transparent to others letting it be known to not let situations define you just simply keep it moving and God will do the rest.

Danielle McDowell & Ari Boose -

Ari Boose is a senior at Princess Anne High School and a youth advocate/founder of SLAM (Share,

Learn, Aspire, and Mentor) Youth and Young Adult Support group in Hampton Roads. She uses her lived experience of overcoming challenges in life to aspire young people to reach their goals.

Danielle McDowell is a Resident in Counseling, Best-selling Author of Life & Lyrics: Through Danielle's Eyes, and professional speaker. She uses her background in mental health and lived experience of surviving sexual assault, homelessness, and life challenges to educate, motivate, and aspire her community to build the skills needed to live healthy, happy lives.

Danielle McDowell, Resident in Counseling and Ari Boose, youth advocate will be sharing their shared journey of overcoming mental illness and life challenges through a short skit that highlights significant moments in their lives. They will use journal entries that highlight a year in their life and obstacles they have faced reaching their goals. Step back in time with them and experience how life can bring difficulty but provide great joy!

Vernard “The Laugh Therapist” Hines He is a Norfolk native.
Vernard retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years and now serves up
a unique blend of humor on stages, radio shows, and to veterans organizations across the country.
Vernard says it the memories from his second tour in Iraq that helped him get his unique show name

. When Vernard returned home he sought therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and often
used humor to talk to his friends about it. The jokes seemed to give him relief and seemed to
be a ray of hope for others. It was then Hines realized his pain could be turned into purpose.
He decided to call himself ‘The Laugh Therapist’,  a comic who blends mental health, faith,
and humor.