CAN Talks may culminate with speakers taking the stage to share their stories, but the real work happens long before the spotlight comes on. From Story to Stage: Boots on the Ground with CAN Talks takes attendees behind the scenes of the six-month CAN Talks program to explore how the process supports self-advocacy, independence, inclusion, social capital, community involvement, and the identification and integration of individualized accommodations. Through excerpts and video from past CAN Talks speeches, along with firsthand perspectives from speakers, coaches, and planning committee members, attendees will experience both the powerful end result and the process that makes it possible. Each step of the CAN Talks journey, from discovering a story and building relationships to identifying supports, problem-solving, and ultimately taking the stage, offers lessons that can be applied to preparing students with disabilities for life beyond the classroom. Together, we’ll explore how we can create opportunities for students to better understand themselves, build meaningful connections, and develop the skills and confidence to more fully participate in their communities and navigate adulthood.
Keynote Speakers
From Story to Stage:
Boots on the Ground with CAN Talks
Mark Shoop, 2022 CAN Talks Speaker
Mark was born with Cerebral Palsy, but he doesn’t let CP get in the way of being active and involved in Greenville. He is passionate about motivating people in the disability community to be successful and happy in lite because everyone can control the future and make a big impact. Mark is a certified security guard and works at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. He loves meeting many new people every day and seeing the many exciting events at the arena.
Jameka Murphy, 2023 CAN Talks Speaker
Jameka is a brand strategist for small businesses and non-profit organizations, and she enjoys music and volunteering. A native of Brooklyn, Jameka became an amputee after a house fire when she was 17 years old. Her proudest achievement in her life is raising a neurodivergent daughter to believe she can achieve anything. Jameka uses her can-do attitude to approach any obstacle and since she never quits, there is no obstacle too big for her.
Holden Roberts, 2024 CAN Talks Speaker
Holden Roberts has lived in Greenville for 11 years and was born in Norman, Oklahoma. He is an Independent Living Specialist for ABLE SC, primarily working with young adults with disabilities helping them achieve their goals and live more independently. As someone with Autism, Holden recently moved into his own place, which is a goal he helps others achieve as an independent living specialist. In Holden’s free time, he likes modding and playing video games, cooking, writing and playing chess.
Andy Lecture, 2025 CAN Talks Speaker
Andy is a talented musician who happens to have sensorineural hearing loss, which makes sounds muffled or unclear and makes understanding speech difficult. He wants to share his perspective as a hearing-impaired person navigating the world and how it hasn’t stopped him from performing in musical theater, obtaining a Bachelor of Music from Furman and being a semi-professional musician. Andy also works in Furman University’s Disability Office and is currently earning a Master of Science in Innovation and Leadership from Furman. Andy’s proudest moment is earning a silver medal at the World Championships of Winter Guard International in 2015.
