Photo from local newspaper outlet
Emcee duties for Juneteenth celebration
Guest speaker at City Life Center “High School Night”
Filling many hats from speaker, host, consultant and facilitator, Kent uses the message "using yesterday as fuel today for tomorrow" as his primary message.
Being an adopted, high school drop out, a young co parent who was homeless two times, life taught Kent three things: 1. What you go through creates who you will become if you allow it. 2. Ambition and faith in your goals will determine if you will become that person. 3. Your story is important.
Making sure the audience is left with a full tank of gas and lightened from the burdens they carry to start the new day is the desired result for Kent with whatever task he is summoned for.
12 reviews
Donta G.
March 19, 2017Kent's energy and witty storytelling superceded my expectations.
Hired as: Motivational Speaker
Leslie D.
August 17, 2016Kent's presentation was everything that I expected and more. Lively, engaging, encouraging and motivating. The students said "they could relate to him" and "he spoke from his heart". Kent is welcome anytime!
Hired as: Motivational Speaker
Leigh B.
March 10, 2016We were thrilled and impressed with Kent's talk with our students yesterday. His message resonated with many of them and they seemed to identify with what he was saying. We hope to have him back in the future!
Hired as: Motivational Speaker
Andrea A.
May 21, 2015Kent Wade visited my 3rd grade classroom with a lively spirit that immediately grasped my students attention. He came prepared with a power point presentation, facts, and personal stories that kept my students fully engaged and attentive. Kent's presentation was high-energy and appropriately paced for elementary school children. His relatability made my students feel comfortable sharing their experiences and encouraged to be a catalyst of change.
Hired as: Motivational Speaker
Diane R.
May 20, 2015As a teacher I asked Kent to speak to my students to try to motivate them to work to their best potential. Some of them don't realize the importance of their education. Kent was amazing! He truly connected with the students and they were inspired. When we returned to class, they could not stop talking about how powerful his presentation was and how they were very touched by his stories. This may need to become a recurring presentation to each of my new group of students! Thank you Kent for helping to motivate the junior high students at Montessori.
Hired as: Motivational Speaker
Price range: $500 and up
Languages: English
Gig length: 20 - 180 minutes
With each presentation you can expect:
- High energy
- Applicable points toward self growth
- Real life situations
- Motivation & empowerment
-Interactive dialogue
- Measurable goal creation
- Testing comfort zones
- Boost in self confidence
- Form your own story
Kent Wade is a professional public speaker, facilitator, and storyteller. Currently serving as VP on the Kankakee Public Library (KPL) board of directors, Wade has over 14 years of library and customer service experience.
Despite being a homeless, high school dropout, Mr. Wade obtained an associate’s degree from Kankakee Community College in 2012. Empowered by scholarship writing and interviews, Kent began telling his story. The journey to inspire others to identify, define and work toward their ambitions, led him to work with the United Way in 2009, as Teen Program Coordinator of the KPL from (phone number hidden)7. Mr. Wade has mentored hundreds of youth locally and statewide. Kent’s ability to be a change agent earned him a 40 Under 40 award from the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce in 2016. In the last ten years, Wade has engaged and motivated audiences across the country including, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Las Vegas and throughout Illinois.
During the summer of 2018, Shake the Fear, a workshop aimed at helping participants overcome the fear of speaking, was launched. This workshop was the catalyst to Kent unleashing, Lift With Ambition; a business aimed at helping beginner speakers and professionals enhance their lives by telling their stories, their way.
Wireless mic (if needed or available)
Projector (if needed or available)
Thursday
School Assembly
1:00pm - 2:00pm
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Forrest, IL
Thursday
Shake the Fear workshop
5:30pm - 9:00pm
Tuesday
For the people Open Mic
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Thursday
Kankakee Community College GED Graduation
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday
School Assembly
10:00am - 1:00pm
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Peoria, IL
Projector and Screen. Microphone if needed.
Leadership/Success Speaker