STERLING INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS, INC. - 847.577.5000

Cornelia McDonald

"I Wanna Tell You My Story"
Inspirational Speaker and Dramatist

About Cornelia McDonald
Cornelia McDonald was born in Apex, North Carolina, the daughter of a sharecropper and great-great-grandchild of slaves. Her father, who was a preacher, was a strict disciplinarian whose favorite motto was "spare the rod and spoil the child." He did not hesitate to use the rod on his children whom he raised in an atmosphere of fear and repression. Cornelia was singled out by her father as a target for constant verbal and physical abuse. From the age of nine she was forced into the back-breaking labor of planting and picking tobacco, milking cows, and cleaning the family's shack -- while her father kept up a relentless barrage of insults and beatings.

Not surprising, Cornelia developed into a dysfunctional adult, overwhelmed by feelings of inferiority and insecurity. After her weight ballooned to 320 pounds, she realized that she had to confront her past in order to deal with her present. Her healing process was painful and gradual, but she ultimately reclaimed the person within whom she believed to be lost. It was a hard-won triumph of will.

During this period, Cornelia found herself inspired by an irresistible desire to write. Ironically, she discovered that her impoverished childhood provided her with a rich source of material for poetry and songs. So, she began to express, in a creative way, all her repressed feelings of shame, humiliation and anger. What bean as a therapeutic act burgeoned into the creation of over one hundred poems and songs, a one-woman play and countless performances.

Cornelia see the purpose of her poetry -- to inspire others so that they may overcome the handicaps of their past and fulfill their potential. She believes that each individual should take responsibility for his or her own life, and not blame others. She believes in harnessing the power of love and using it creatively and positively.

First and foremost Cornelia McDonald is a humanitarian. She has taken the art of healing and transformed her pain of abuse and poverty onto the world stage and has inspired thousands to "Never Forget Their Dream." She brings a real-life approach with wit and wisdom, this poet, storyteller, humanist, dramatist and inspirational speaker uses her childhood and life experiences to convey a message of hope.

She chooses the arts as her mode of communication because it is the universal language of healing and hope. Cornelia commands attention and her audiences are able to trust her with their deepest emotions as she reaches her audiences at the heart level.

Her work evokes tears and laughter simultaneously. Whether she is performing for small groups or for audiences of thousands her message is "simple but profound -- you can overcome your past to become a fully realized human being."

Her audiences have included the last United Nations conference of the century on human settlements (Habitat II) held in Istanbul, Turkey and a special performance at the Bosphorus University also in Turkey. She has spoken to several community organizations, secondary schools and university campuses on the east and west coasts.

A Graduate of Durham Technical Institute of North Carolina, where she trained as a nurse, Cornelia McDonald worked for 9 1/2 years in the neo-natal intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles. She now devotes herself full-time to writing, performance art and public speaking.

You can hear Cornelia on her show Live With Cornelia every Saturday on the Mighty 790AM KGHL from 10am - 11am.
"You've got to hear her Encouraging Thoughts"

Workshop and Keynote Topics Include:

Reflections from the World's Humanist
Transforming Anger into Positive Self-Expression: Making Your Work Place Whole
A Journey to Self-Discovery and Healing: How to Make Peace Within
Corporate Risk Management The Bigger the Risk the Bigger the Reward
Reflections from the World Stage: Do You See What I See?

Beyond Television Medicine: Reflections on 20 years in the Nursing Profession
Women's Workshop: Straight Girl Talk -- Do You Know Your Own Worth?
Adolescent and Teen Workshop: Straight Teen Talk
Corporate Diversity and Empowerment Training: Embracing Diversity In Order to Heal Your Organization
Self Confidence and Success Despite Adversity

Cornelia's One Woman Play

"I Wanna Tell You My Story"
Performance Pick Of The Week by Los Angeles Weekly
True-Life Docudrama Combining Poetry, Prose and Song

This personal journey and narration uses illustrative examples, wit and wisdom to heal the world. The question and answer session is one of the most memorable sections of Cornelia's presentation.

"Cornelia is one the three individuals who has changed my life. [She] is a wondrous great-great granddaughter of slaves who has "broken the cycle" and brings courage, strength and self esteem into other lives so they can achieve. Her message is powerful and her ability to impart hope universally brings people to new awareness as well a sense of freedom and ownership of their lives."

--Dr. Mark S. Albion, Ph.D., presenter for 880 delegates of the United Nations, during the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Istanbul, Turkey, 1996.

Employment Consulting Topics Include:

Developing Powerful Customer Relations Skills
Rejuvenating Long Term Employees
Increasing Work Place Harmony
Professional Etiquette

Maximizing Productivity by Boosting Work Place Morale
Encouraging Upward Mobility by Developing Entrepreneurial Skills
Reaching Back (Finding and Promoting a Common Cause)
Specialize in Welfare to Work Employees

Insights from Cornelia

"Attitude is as important as aptitude." Cornelia McDonald

"Getting to the root of all our issues is the road to healing. We are born as pure as complete individuals, then we are subjected to a toxic environment and become subservient and ultimately turn away from ourselves.

My talk is about recognizing what place you are in, identifying your issues and coming forward to climb a mountain. Having climbed out of pain I know there is always another step to take, and yet another mountain to climb. Because I have climbed so many, I am able to reach back and help lift someone else up. . ."
". . .Self esteem and self worth are life's most valued treasures. From my own past struggles, the stories of others, my travels and the work experience of nursing for 20 years, I bring a "Been There -- Done That" perspective to my talk. I found my way to emotional, mental and physical health and then share my journey."
"I recently learned that education has nothing to do with wisdom and experience. The Mothers of the African American community have cultivated the ability to soothe their souls with strength and wisdom, I continue to learn from these women. These women have made it, they take care of themselves by sharing stories and support. If this coping mechanism were transformed to the world stage I am convinced we all would be healed. . ."
"When I speak of physical abuse, people often tell me, 'I got beaten and I turned out all right,' -- but I respond 'How did that make you feel? How do you manifest this experience in your life and body today? How can you empower yourself to change your reaction and live a freer and more healthier life?'"
" . . .Growing up poor, as a sharecropper's daughter in segregated North Carolina I am not only a survivor -- I am a thriver. I have lived to tell about it and have told my story to those throughout the world. Through my abusive childhood and my subsequent healing experiences, I bring the audience to self reflection and hope. My audience obtains the ability to come to grips with their own past and embrace hope on their way toward healing."

KEYNOTE FEE CATEGORY: $3,500 - 5,000 *
(alternative training, educational, and consulting fees available)

* Honorarium can vary depending on presentation length, distance to venue and many other factors. All fees do not include travel, lodging and other related travel expenses and are subject to change, please call for an exact quote.

speakers@sterlingspeakers.com