Virtual Family Weekend Presenters
Imani Morris
Imani Sojourner Morris, the daughter of Djenne, was born and raised in Boston, MA. She is the proud older sister of Malik (24) and Zakiya (18). She has always taken joy in the close relationship with her brother, Malik, who is only 13 months younger than her and has CHARGE syndrome. For most of his life, she acted as one of his primary caretakers and interpreter. After moving to Texas to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and Spanish, she currently resides in Austin, Texas. Imani is very passionate about learning about different cultures and finding links that connect us all as humans. She has held positions working with refugees at the IRC and children who are impacted by immigration at Youth Rise Texas. She has a strong desire to help others and continues to as her current role as a nanny. She was named after Sojourner Truth and considers it an honor to continue her namesakes’ fight for equality for minorities and women. She loves to travel and has done mission work in several different countries.
Imani welcomes opportunities to share about her role as a sister, daughter, and individual who has a brother with special needs. Imani loves telling her story through writing and is practicing being extroverted by speaking in public.
DJenne-amal Morris
Djenne-amal Morris brings passion and real-life experience to her role a parent/professional trainer, facilitator, and motivational speaker whose view of the world is not as it is, but as it could be. As a mother of a son who is Deaf-Plus, she strives to build an atmosphere of support and empowerment for families of children with special needs and the professionals who serve them. Djenne provides speeches, workshops, training, and individual coaching and mentoring both nationally and internationally. Djenne currently works as a Parent Educator at BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Raleigh NC. Djenne proudly serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Hands & Voices HQ, and Family Faculty Advisor for the NC UNC-Chapel Hill LEND program.
Visitors are welcome to her website:
www.TodaywithDjenne.com
Djenne is an avid reader and published author:
The Art of Collaboration: Lessons from Families of Children with Disabilities.
Dr. Holly Pedersen
Dr. Holly Pedersen is the department chair of special education at Minot State University. Prior to this, Holly was a service provider for the School for the Deaf for nine years, specializing in parent-infant and outreach services. For the past 8 years, she has been working on the topic of father's involvement with their children who have hearing loss, and other disabilities. Come hear Holly and co-presenter/experienced father Cory MacIver talk about “What’s So Special about Dads?” and learn how fathers who have positive relationships with their children can impact communication, achievement, stronger motivation, cognitive competence, and better social skills.