Keynote Speaker

2010 TBA

Current Keynote Speaker | Previous Keynote Speakers

Many thanks to current and past Keynote Speakers for making our conferences memorable experiences

Previous Keynote Speakers

2009 DU Women's Conference: Opalanga D. Pugh Storyteller
A full time professional storyteller, facilitator and keynote speaker since 1986, this Denver native has traveled from the Rocky Mountain West, sharing and collecting stories, hosting ceremonies, and facilitating workshops in the US, Canada, Europe, West Africa, and the Caribbean.

Opalanga’s formal education includes a B.Sc in Communications from the University of Wisconsin.
She completed her senior year as an exchange student at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. Her more extensive informal education
includes studies with traditional Griots in the Gambia, and workshops with Baba Chuck Davis, African
Dance Choreographer, African Shaman Malidoma
and Sobonfu Some; futurist Jean Houston, and motivational speaker Les Brown. She has worked the communication spectrum including public relations, group facilitation, mental health, and outdoor education. Opalanga’s accumulated experiences working in mental health, education, and corporate arenas serve to create culturally rich and educationally sound programs.

Career Highlights
Opalanga has received numerous awards, including:

• 2004--Ambassador of Peace Award, The Conflict Center, Denver, CO.
  
• 2003--Published article on Black Humor in Storytelling Magazine
  
• Featured in Women Who Run with the Wolves, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Black Entertainment Television (BET);
  
• Colorado Home Town Hero KUSA TV (ABC)
  
• Urban Spectrum Newspaper “One Who Makes A Difference” Award
  
• 1996--featured as an “African American Living Legend” by NBC TV.
  
• Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts
  
• 1995--Westword Magazine “Best Storyteller”
  
• Appearances on various local and national radio and television, news, and public affairs programs
  
• Presentations at thousands of schools in 37 states across the country and over 500 corporations and nonprofit organizations.
  
• Resident griot, storyteller and facilitator at the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) at the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies for 10 years.
  
• Worked with the international relief organization CARE to design and present portions of their global conference for over 60 country directors on Gender Equity and Diversity.
  
• Involved with ‘story intervention’ with Columbine High School staff and student assembly programs.
  
• Lived, worked, studied and traveled to nine West African Countries including the Gambia and Nigeria as primary sources of learning the African oral tradition.
  
• Opalanga is native of Denver CO, single, and claims all of the children of her community as her own. She says “When you’re single, it like being married to my community, and what I raise is culture”.