Speaker

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Mary loves speaking with groups large and small, secular and religious, men and women, students and senior citizens. For decades, she’s been privileged to challenge people to ask big questions–and then provide innovative tools of support and discovery to help each individual journey to his or her own answers. 

“From the moment Mary began her presentation we were hooked! It was not just her gift as an entertaining speaker, but more her disarming honesty, humility, and courage that drew me in and opened me to my own story.” — Sister Joan Penzenstadler, SSND, Vice-President for Mission and Identity, Mount Mary College

Mary’s speaking experience

  • Featured speaker at the Wisconsin Book Festival, Texas Book Festival, Tucson Books Festival, and the Hobart Festival of Women Writers

  • Featured speaker at Elizabeth Sackler Center for Feminist Art, at the Brooklyn Museum, MacDowell Downtown in Peterborough, NH; Pendle Hill Conference Center in PA; and the Columbia County Arts Walk

  • Led the very first Sunday Assembly in Boston

  • Led seven retreats for A Room of Her Own Foundation

  • Led four Spring Celebrations at the Humanist Hub at Harvard and a Winter Solstice Celebration at Yale

  • Taught/presented at San Francisco State University, Lamar University, Boston College, Goddard College, Mount Mary College, Ohlone College, and Rivier College

  • Led multiple panel discussions at Association of Writers and Writing Programs national conventions

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“When I met Mary Johnson at a writers’ retreat, I was immediately struck by her generous, passionate heart and wise ways. When I became program director at the New Hampshire Writers' Project, I knew I wanted to get her involved. Mary’s NHWP classes and workshops are always top-rated, with attendees clamoring for more–literally sending me emails to ask to have Mary teach another class! Mary is an inspiration, and I highly recommend her as a writing instructor, mentor, coach, and friend.” — Carla Gericke, program director, New Hampshire Writers’ Project

A custom experience

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Mary can tailor presentations for a 50-minute slot, several hours, a weekend, or an entire week’s retreat. Feel free to mix and match and to think outside your group’s usual concerns. Her favorite topics include personal growth, interfaith and secular themes, social systems, women’s issues, writing, and creativity. If you’d like a custom presentation for your group on a topic not mentioned here, let’s talk.

“Mary’s courage in speaking to a broad audience, believers and nonbelievers, with equal respect makes her an exception to the freethinking rule. She has the confidence not to look down on others and her ability to communicate is exceptional. She looks people in the eye and tells truths.” — Herb Hartnett

Invite Mary to speak