therese bartholomew inspirational speaker

8/14/2019 Therese Bartholomew inspirational speaker

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www.theresebartholomew.com 980.228.0240 www.thefinalgiftfilm.com

Therese BartholomewInspirational Speaker Prominent Social Justice Activist

Filmmaker and Author who draws on her personalexperience to take audiences on a journey of faith

and unconditional forgiveness.About Therese Bartholomew

Therese Bartholomew is an inspirational speaker and restorative educator who draws on her personal

experience as living justice to create workshops for victims, offenders, and communities across the country. Her

2009 collection of essays, Coffee Shop God, offers a glimpse into the profound grief that arose when her youngerbrother was murdered. As a continuation of her journey to heal, she embarked on a mission to meet her brothers killer

behind bars. The Final Gift, documentary, directed by Bartholomew, follows her path to that meeting. This compellingstory has garnered the support of universities, faith-based groups, departments of correction, and victims advocacy

organizations and is fast becoming a catalyst for a national dialogue on restorative justice and forgiveness.

Therese, a former high school dropout and teen mother, now holds a BA in English and MS in Criminal Justice

from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She is currently working on her second book and producing a socia

justice film on the topic of race and motherhood; both with expected release in spring 2014. Her writing has been

published in Emrys Journal, Iodine, Main Street Rag, The Charlotte Observer, Raising Our Voices, Sun

Journal,and Compassion.

About the memoir Coffee Shop GodReleased in April 2009, her memoir,Coffee Shop Goddetails her struggle to adjust in the weeks and months

following her brother Steves untimely death. In this collection of essays, Bartholomew questions her spirituality in the

midst of bond hearings, debilitating grief and a new marriage. As she heals, she strives to connect with the family she

has leftthe mother who always has a joke, the father who cannot show affection, the ex-drug-dealing brother who is

now an evangelical Christian and the talking bird she inherits from her brotherwhile learning to forgive the young

man who killed Steve. Pat MacEnulty, author of From May to December and The Language of Sharks, saysBartholomews poignant memoir is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes humorous and always brutally honestThe

evocative rendering of her own grief makes for a moving and gripping read, but it is her irrepressible spirit of love,

laughter and compassion that you will remember long after youve finished the book. Coffee Shop God is thecompanion piece to The Final Gift, documentarythe essays are the victim voice and the film, the survivor.
http://www.thefinalgiftfilm.com/book.htmhttp://www.thefinalgiftfilm.com/book.htmhttp://www.thefinalgiftfilm.com/book.htmhttp://www.thefinalgiftfilm.com/book.htmhttp://www.thefinalgiftfilm.com/book.htmhttp://www.thefinalgiftfilm.com/book.htm


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About the documentary The Final GiftCompleted in 2012,The Final Gift follows the filmmakers pursuit to find meaning in her life after her brothers

murder. Her vision for the film grew out grew out of her desire to meet and understand the killer. In December 2010

that meeting occurred and was filmed in a South Carolina prison. The meeting was the first victim offender dialogue

involving a violent crime in South Carolinas adult system. The film addresses universal ideas of forgiveness

redemption, as well as the larger societal questions how do we make peace with crime, support the victims, andrestore our communities? The documentary shows the impact of violence on a family and one survivors path to peace

and healing. Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, calls The Final Gifta remarkablejourneyintimatein the telling, honest and brave and true.

Prior Speaking Engagements Include:Winston Salem State University: The Final Gift screening, forgiveness and justice discussion

Tikkun Long Island, Healing Week Tour: Forgiveness and Justice

Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing, Indiana Tour: Restorative Justice and the Death Penalty

Month of Forgiveness, Greenville South Carolina

Princeton University: The Final Giftscreening, forgiveness and restorative justice discussion

Harry Frank Guggenheim Symposium on Crime in America, NYC: Restorative Justice, healing the wounds

University of North Carolina Wilmington: The Final Giftscreening and discussion

Capital Restorative Justice Project: The Final Giftscreening, a path to healing discussion

Hope Lutheran Church, Maryland: The Final Giftscreening, faith and forgiveness discussion

Elon Law School: The Final Giftscreening, Restorative Justice: the changing lens discussion

North Carolina Victims Assistance Network Conference: The Final Giftscreening and discussion

New York City Bar Association: Restorative Justice and the Death Penalty Panel Discussion

Riverside Church New York City: The Final Giftscreening, faith and forgiveness discussion

Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte: The Final Giftscreening and discussion

South Carolina Victims Rights Week Conference: Meeting my Brothers Killer

Duke University Amnesty International Annual Meeting: Restorative Justice

Campbell University Law School: The Final Giftscreening and discussion

Johnson C. Smith University: Restorative Justice

National Restorative Justice Conference: Meeting my Brothers Killer

Mecklenburg Ministries: Restorative Justice in Faith-Based Communities

Capital Restorative Justice Annual Gathering: Restorative Justice

Chapel of Christ the King: Faith and Forgiveness

Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation Panel: Victims Voices on Healing and JusticeUniversity of the North Carolina Charlottes Victims Rights Week Panel: Journey to Heal

Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center: Grief

Johnston and Wales: Coffee Shop Godin Discussion

Myers Park Presbyterian Church: Faith and the Criminal Justice System

Girl Scouts: Our Story, journaling our lives

Florence Crittenton Services: Power in Voice

Summit House: Power in Voice


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What people are saying I had the opportunity to not only view "The Final Gift" but also to hear Therese tell her story and read her book "Coffee ShopGod" during our recent conference. I was overwhelmed. After over 25 years of law enforcement one can become cynical and

jaded. This experience restored my hope that there is a role for the criminal justice system to be a healing and restorative toolfor those who have been victimized."

~ Captain Millard Shepherd, Forsyth County(NC) Sheriff s Office"Thereses ease of relating with such plain-spun honesty, undeniable zeal for life, humor and creativity -in total - deliveredsuch a powerful, meaningful message. Hope is such a valuable commodity, and its clear that Therese has it in spades.

~ Rick Spreitzer, Clinical Counselor for Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center"After she spoke at our on-campus event people were contacting me to express that they couldnt get her story out of theirminds, that they wanted to learn more and become involved with restorative justice, and that her ability to share her storywas not only brave, but inspirational and allowed others to begin their own journeys of healing and understanding."

~ Carrie Buist, PhD, Department of Sociology and Criminology, UNC WilmingtonShowing The Final Gift and reading Coffee Shop God was a sobering experience for the juveniles in detention. The

youth were easily able to relate to the Bartholomew family and process their own feelings of victimization. Clients were also

able to identify how their offenses have influenced the community as a whole, effects on the victims and families, as well asthemselves and their own family. The film and book have inspired the youth and staff to take a more therapeutic approach toincarceration in hopes decreasing recidivism and rehabilitating juvenile offenders.

~ Samantha Coleman CSAC, Substance Abuse Counselor Durham Youth H omeAs a law enforcement officer for over 25 years, it is rare that I have seen anything positive come out of tragedies. As Iwatched Thereses journey, I understood the intense healing she received from meeting his killer, and her choice to forgivehim. My goal for life after retirement was to do something totally outside of dealing with people in any kind ofbrokenness.The impact of the film was so heavy so much that I actually could see myself an advocate and facilitator for Restorative

Justice.~ Sgt. Lori Ray, Durham Police Department Crisis Intervention, Victim Services Unit

"Therese chose to use personal adversity to affect positive change in individuals and in the larger community. Hergenuineness cannot be overlooked and will serve as inspiration for those far and near."~ John P. Comer, Communities United"Therese Bartholomew's gutsy journey after her brother's violent murder, from the depths of anger and despair to herdecision to become an outspoken advocate for restorative, rather than retributive, justice is truly inspiring. Her memoir,Coffee Shop God, and her film, "The Final Gift", are incredible testimonies to the transformative healing power of forgiveness.Therese is a treasure. Her book and film should be required reading in every criminal justice program and facility in thecountry!" ~ Melanie G. Snyder, author, Grace Goes to Prison: An Inspiring Story of Hope and Humanity"'The Final Gift' is not the least bit final in that its teaching will live on in your audience members. I know it will in me."

~ Sandra C. Sussman, Prison Teaching Initiative Princeton Universitys Pace Center for Civic Engageme nt This story truly does add the word HOPE to a persons vocabulary.

~ Lauren, Wild Goose Festival attendee


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MediaGreenville News: Film Focuses on Womans Healing through Forgiveness, Lillia Callum-Penso

Todays Charlotte Woman: The Art of Restoration, Allison Futterman

Restorative Justice on the Rise with host Molly Rowan Leach

www.StarNewsonline.comFinal Gift Gives Purpose to Victims of Crime, Cassie Foss

The Seahawk: Final GiftRestores Justice, Hunter Houzer

Current TVs The War Room with Jennifer Granholm: Defining ForgivenessThe Crime Report: Forgiving a Murderer, Graham Kates

WBAI 99.5FMs Wake Up Call with Esther Armah: The Final Gift and Restorative Justice

NPRs The State of Thingswith Frank Stasio: Restorative Justice and The Final Gift

NPRs Morning Editionwith Pam Bunch: The Final Gift

Charlotte Talkswith Mike Collins: Restorative Justice

Charlotte Observer: Thy Brothers Killer, Elizabeth Leland

Raleigh Television Networks The Artists Craft, Memoir Writing

Contact InformationFor interviews film screenings speaking engagements or book signings

contact Douglas Bartholomew at ~

980.228.0240 [email protected] in the membership directory for the National Association of Campus Activities

Follow on @thefinalgift on TwitterLike on Facebook at The Final Gift ~ documentary
http://www.starnewsonline.com/http://www.starnewsonline.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.starnewsonline.com/

therese bartholomew inspirational speaker

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