Sneakers have opened doors to conversations about design, business, identity, and community. I bring those connections into classrooms, museums, conferences, and brand spaces.
Through Obsessive Sneaker Disorder and SOLEcial Studies Community Academy, I’ve used footwear to help young people see creative and professional possibilities they might not have considered. I also work with organizations to turn cultural stories into experiences people can learn from and take part in.
Topics I Explore
- Sneaker culture and the stories behind the shoes
- Creative careers in footwear and beyond
- Using culture to make learning more relevant
- Building meaningful connections between brands and communities
I’m available for talks, panels, workshops, and classroom conversations. If you’re planning something that brings people together to learn and exchange ideas, let’s talk.
The Business of Culture
University of Houston at Sugar Land · February 6, 2025
Chuck Lee and I spoke with media and design students about the business of culture. Using sneakers and examples from sports and music, we explored how cultural stories can shape creative work and open professional possibilities.
Future Focus Media & Youth Training Institute
I co-founded Future Focus Media & Youth Training Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, to give young people hands-on experience in photography and filmmaking. Working together on real projects helped them build creative skills and see where those skills could take them.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette featured our work in its May 14, 2017, story about programs helping teens enter the workforce. Future Focus operated until 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the cooperative’s work to an end.
Celebrate H-Town Artists
Presenter · Houston, TX · 2022
In 2022, I was a presenter for Celebrate H-Town Artists, a youth diversion program in Houston. I spoke with young people about what it means to be creative and introduced them to the many careers within the footwear industry. My goal was to help them see that an interest in sneakers can open a conversation about design, storytelling, business, and their own professional possibilities.
