Javonnie is undeniably an effective speaker, she has an unusual ability to propel her audience into taking positive actions. She inspires her audience and provides them with relevant information that encourages confidence and trust in themselves.
“Please continue doing what you're doing, you’re changing lives everyday, bet you didn't know you've changed mine!” - Teacher, Portland Village School, Staff Development Day
“Your inspiration and compassion filled our hearts. Your message of overcoming obstacles, taking responsibility for your actions, and the importance of self reflection and awareness, were incredibly valuable to hear."
- Principal, Albany High School
I have had the honor of witnessing this speaker's greatness at the podium. She is a true professional. Passionate, knowledgeable, well-spoken and someone you can entirely relate too. I've seen and heard her share some of the most intimate moments of her life and experience as a mother, daughter and community member at-large. She has exhausted herself and sacrificed so much of her life for others. And, to hear her compassionately articulate what we have all faced, experienced and felt at some time in our life when dealing with tragic circumstances will move you and challenge you to dig further in resolving your own suppressed trauma. I am looking forward to her next public speaking engagement.
Javonnie Shern doesn't just "talk the talk." She does the actual work that's needed to uplift marginalized communities. I am constantly inspired by her accomplishments and willingness to serve her others. She communicates with authenticity, grace and intelligence. I am interested in supporting more of her future endeavors and speaking engagements.
I still impressed with Javonnie's presentation. She has a way of touching people in a extraordinary way. I would love to have her come speak at any event. Thank you again Javonnie for changing so many lives with sharing yourself humbly.
In one word, captivating. I've had the pleasure of witnessing an artist at work, a person who loves what she does. Javonnie truly has a presence as it dominated a room filled with young teenage inmates at a juvenile detention center as she delivered a passionate and motivating speach on bullying, as each soul in that room tuned in as if she were speaking to each one individually. This was a great experience, and even moved each staffer to make it a point to thank her before leaving. Javonnie, if you ever read this post I would like to say thank you again, as your words spoke to us all.
Response from Javonnie Shearn:
Thank you!
Javonnie is a passionate individual who effectively captures the interest of her audience with her personal stories. While speaking, she exudes confidence and gets straight to the point. As someone who has experienced her own hardships, she is especially empathetic toward young people. I highly recommend her.
Javonnie came to Tacoma Washington and had a powerful 1 hour discussion with a room full of teens. My foster teens were in attendance and they left motivated.
While capturing footage for a mini documentary I had the pleasure of seeing Javonnie in action. Although I knew she was great in personal 1 on 1 conversations this was my introduction to seeing her speak to a group, a group of teens to be specific.
Javonnie was able to keep the interested throughout with her energetic delivery and intentional engagement. I found myself paying attention more to the stage than my camera at moments.
You can tell she has built her confidence and poise through years of experience which translates in her comfort sharing her thoughts and ideas in front the gaze of onlookers.
She asked us to dig deep to seek out kindness and understanding with one another. We brought her to speak to all 9 school sites after seeing her first performance!
On November 8, 2017, Jovannie Shearn gave an excellent presentation that included a lot of real-world, actionable steps for our students to take to understand the impact of mental illness, accountability, and positive leadership. She was able to craft a message for our audience that combined her body of expertise with their immediate needs. Her delivery was exemplary. By combining humor, examples, and an informal but highly focused presentation, she demonstrated her command of communications principles and gave her audience immediately useful take-aways. Her presentation style was interactive, engaging, and thorough. Shearn was friendly, focused, exceptionally knowledgeable, and relaxed.
Shearn challenged our audience’s assumptions by sharing the truth of experience. Our student body was left with insight and motivated to take the next steps to elevating their goals and dreams in life. Shearn’s presentation provided the perfect amount of engagement of the audience - for that, we are most appreciative!
Response from Javonnie Shearn:
Thank you so much for trusting me with your students, they were respectful and engaged which made my job so much easier.
I am writing this review on behalf of the Cultural Diversity Committee at the Juvenile Department for Multnomah County. We’ve had the privilege of having worked on 3 separate events with Javonnie and Up and Over in our Juvenile Detention Center. Javonnie, inspired, and professionally collaborated with our committee to provide an array of uplifting and thought provoking messages to our youth. Some of the stories were personal experiences that are similar to those of the youth in our care and seeking positive change. These shared experiences at the assemblies have helped influence our youth to seek positive social change and engage in their own creative avenues.
Javonnie is professional, personal, and a very positive community
resource that we will call upon for future events. We support her and her organization 100% and encourage anyone who seeks quality presenters that carry a message of change, overcoming obstacles, and encouragement to youth who are looking for a positive message to book her.
Response from Javonnie Shearn:
Thank you so much for the opportunity to come speak with your youth! I look forward to working with you again this year!
Price Range: $800 - $1,800
Gig Length: 45 - 120 minutes
Languages: English
Yes, I tell personal stories but I will do it in a way that is entertaining and fun while still being raw and true. I weave in lessons I've learned and give examples of how I have applied them to my everyday life. This allows them to see how they can as well.
I do understand not everyone will be able to directly related to my stories, nor am I set on telling others what they "need" to do, but I am very conscious of the fact they need to feel connected, in some way, to the experience and I am confident I am able to achieve that.
We know as a conference/event planner, there are a lot of details you have to manage and juggle. The speaker should be the last of your concerns. We’ve worked with hundreds of event planners and are regularly told we were one of the easiest/most low maintenance, professional speaker they’ve ever worked with.
"Hi Javonnie
Thank you for speaking at the Family to Family class yesterday. Your insight was informative and appreciated. The class gained a lot from your presence.
You share your experience in such an open, articulate, calm, and insightful manner; it gives me hope."
-Family 2 Family Instructor, NAMI Clackamas, OR
“Javonnie, you and your team exceeded my already high expectations! The stories and challenges you shared with my kids were so impactful that one student, (name removed), even said she felt changed after” - Vice Principal, Clover Park High School
"The presentation wasn’t simply an anti-bullying message delivered to students. It provided a non-judgmental, reflective and inspirational way for students to love inside themselves and at their own lives. Most importantly it was fun, inviting and allowed the students to participate and be themselves. Some students reported they felt more connected to school after the one-hour presentation than they had all year." - Dean of Students, Alder Creek Middle School
“I don’t know if words can express how wonderful yesterday was for myself, my staff team, and my students, but I am going to try. She was kind, professional, patient, and overall so inspiring. Immediately I saw my students become engaged and hooked into what she was saying..”
- Principal, Lane Middle School
Javonnie Shearn is the Executive Director and Founder of Up and Over, LLC. Up and Over’s mission is to provide youth with the fundamental supports, techniques and strategies to empower them to successfully navigate life’s challenges, thereby achieving and maintaining a position of mental, spiritual and emotional balance. Up and Over was the result of her willingness to start a program for women in recovery but decided she did not want to wait until a young person needed recovery before helping.
As an advocate for youth, Javonnie has worked for six plus years creating and facilitating workshops, trainings and dialogues that support and equip youth, educators and parents. She has also worked with various school districts as a mentor and/or provided mentors through Up and Over’s programs. She has been speaking professionally for five years, covering a range of topics to both large and small audiences. She uses story telling as a way to connect the lessons she's learned and shares them in both entertaining and emotional ways!
Javonnie’s other areas of interests include issues related to youth transitioning out of correctional facilities back into the public school system and/or the workforce and educating and supporting youth and young adults experience mental illness. Being a parent of an adult son with schizophrenia and having to learn to navigate the system, she knows the emotional, mental and physical toll it can take on everyone involved. She recently began developing a program called “Someone’s Someone” which will help parents advocate for their loved ones and in July of 2017 was appointed to the Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board.
Challenging Assumptions :
1 Mic (cordless prefered) if performances to follow, we would also need AUX cord playback, (or CD playback) and adequate speakers for music,
Evolution of a Bully:
1 Mic
Someone's Someone:
1 Mic
Overhead projector (to show images)
Mic
Overhead Projector
New York City, NY 
Motivational Speaker Kim M. said “This was probably the best speaker we've had in the 8 years of our seminar. Very informative and extremely entertaining. Thanks for making me look…”
Seattle, WA
Motivational Speaker 
50 Verified Bookings Mitch M. said “Sharon is clearly very funny, we enjoyed the fact that she kept it very clean and still managed to make us all laugh. Thanks Sharon!”
Austin, TX
Motivational Speaker
61 Verified Bookings Ghidotti B. said “The event was a success. Elizabeth was great. Thank you so very much.”
Lake Oswego, OR
Motivational Speaker
4 Verified Bookings Michelle T. said “He did a wonderful job speaking to the topic we chose, was very funny, and rolled with technical difficulties like a pro. Great job!”
List your services
Log In
