Susan Badeau

  Whether you are seeking a keynote speaker to kick-off or close a conference, a story-teller for an intimate luncheon or staff retreat, or an extraordinary facilitator, Sue's inspirational and motivational presentations will have the audience at turns laughing out loud, dabbing their eyes with tissues and seeing themselves in her stories and the stories she draws out of others.  Most importantly, Sue's presentations motivate people to change!  "Agencies change the way they do things after Sue's presentations," says Bob Rooks, Director of Florida's Adoption Information Center.  Brooke Jones, MSW from North Carolina relates, "After hearing Sue speak, a staff member had a new perspective on the barriers . . . and how she might be part of the change for her own agency."

Sue also loves opportunities to facilitate panel discussions, particularly when the panelists are youth and/or parents sharing their stories.  "Sue Badeau is a fantastic facilitator. She is capable of creating a safe and supportive atmosphere while maintaining focus and direction in difficult conversations," states Jacob Ham of the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.  

Sue can bring her unique brand of inspiration to your agency, school or organizational training venue, or to your child welfare, juvenile justice, education or mental health conference, youth leadership event, fundraising banquet or other venues both virtually and in-person. 

A few of Sue's Inspirational and Keynote topics include those listed below, although she is always willing to customize her presentation for your specific audience and needs, her workshop topics can be found under the training link:

• Moving from Trauma-Informed to Trauma-Responsive
• Tales for the Journey: Stories Drawn from my Family
• Building Bridges of Hope in Our Families and Communities
• Parenting: It?s a Lot Like Gardening!
• Nothing About Us Without Us: Voices from the Front Lines
• "Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First!" Caring for those who care for others
• Going from NO to YES: Working Through Difficult Conversations

To invite Sue to your next event or to get all of your questions answered, send an email to Sue@suebadeau.com

Sue is joined in the photo above by her friend and fellow inspirational speaker, Sue Harris of Boston, MA.  Below, Sue is pictured with parents and youth at the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Summit in Washington DC and at a Trauma and Grief Learning Collaborative in Chapel Hill, NC. 

Speaking for Faith Communities

"My deep faith, my belief that faith must be demonstrated in our lives and work and my belief that faith, is, at its core relational is at the heart of everything I do in both my personal and professional life. Radical faith means a radical approach to social justice and authentic love that extends to those who would otherwise be forgotten, left out, marginalized or "othered" Sue always tells anyone who asks what motivates her work with children and adults who have experienced grief, loss and trauma in their lives.      

Sue and her husband Hector have imperfectly but steadfastly lived out their faith every day through their family, community, advocacy, service and professional work. They have worked for decades in the trenches with the child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, disability and homelessness communities and Sue draws upon all of these experiences in her speaking and writing.  

Sue invites church ministry, event and retreat planners, and well as organizers of faith-based community awareness-building, educational or social-justice action and advocacy events to contact her regarding the role she can plan in supporting your work.  Whether it is by providing a 20 minute presentation on a Sunday morning, or a full 2-3 days of workshops during a retreat, or anything in between Sue looks forward to making your event a rich, challenging and life-changing experience for all participants.  Sue has a particular heart for helping your church or ministry to better support families caring for children with special needs, children and adults who have experienced abuse or trauma in their lives and families who have suffered the deep grief of losing a child. As a gifted writer, Sue is also available to write materials for your church or faith-based organization newsletter, devotional series or small group training materials.  

A small sampling of topics Sue has shared with church and faith-based organizations is listed below, and she is also willing to customize a topic for your needs. 

• Esther: The Heart of an Advocate
• Naomi and Ruth: Healing from Trauma through Relationships
• Becoming Anti-racist 
• Who are "my neighbors"  and how can I love them? What does it mean to be an affirming ally?
• Strangers, Aliens, Orphans and Angels in our Midst: Christian Hospitality in Real Life
• Building Bridges of Hope in the Church Community
• Building Cathedrals One Brick at a Time
• Clean Heart, Renewed Joy - transformative self and community care

Each of these topics can be presented in a single session such as a guest sermon, luncheon or workshop, yet they also can be expanded as themes for full 2-3 day retreats. Retreats include bible study, practical applications and fun, creative activities. Sue uses a "mind, body, spirit" approach to retreats, providing sessions that engage participants through their intellect and emotions, body and spirit to ensure a rich, memorable experience.  

To invite Sue to speak to your church or faith community event, email her at sue@suebadeau.com

Download Sue's One Sheet. 

Read Sue's sermon, "Tales from the Road," that she preached at Summit Presbyterian Church on Nov. 16, 2014.

Read Sue's "Sermon on Justice," Summit Presbyterian Church, 2004.