Communication Across Barriers Speakers
Donna Beegle
Dr. Donna M. Beegle, is an authentic voice who speaks, writes and trains across the nation to break the iron cage of poverty. She is the author of “See Poverty, Be The Difference,” and “An Action Approach to Educating Students Who Live in the Crisis of Poverty.” Donna’s inspiring story and work have been featured in newspapers around the nation, on local TV and on National programs such as PBS. For 23 years, Donna has worked with educators, justice professionals, health care providers, social service agencies, and other organizations who want to make a difference for those living in the crisis of poverty. She was selected 2008 National Speaker of the Year by the New Mexico State Bar Foundation. In 2010, Portland State University's School of Social Work dedicated the Donna M. Beegle Community Classrooms in her honor. In 2011, she won the Oregon Ethics in Business award.
Donna is the only member of her family who has not been incarcerated. After growing up in generational migrant labor poverty, leaving school for marriage at 15, having two children and continuing to cope with poverty, she found herself, at 25, with no husband, little education, and no job skills. What followed were: self-confidence, a G.E.D., an A.A. in Journalism, a B.A. (with honors) in Communications, a Master’s Degree in Communication with a minor in Gender Studies (with honors), and completion of a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership. Donna co-founded Communication Across Barriers with her mentor, Dr. Bob Fulford in 1989. She currently serves as President.
Donna lives in Tigard Oregon with her husband and three children. Something you would not know about Donna: When life gets to be a bit much, she escapes to a hot bath, dark chocolate, a glass of red wine and Donny Osmond music.
Lynda Coates
Lynda grew up without a home. Her Mom could not read or write and her Dad was functionally literate. Lynda and her five siblings lived in cars and campers and rarely attended school. Through the support of mentors, such as her cousin Dr. Donna Beegle, and others, she was the first person in three generations of her family to graduate from high school. Lynda went on to earn her BA and MA in Communication -- all while expanding her social network, studying abroad, and learning how to fit into the middle-class world.
Lynda has worked with Dr. Donna Beegle as curriculum developer, researcher and writer for more then 10 years. She has also worked extensively with the GEAR UP program for helping students in poverty to achieve a college education. Lynda has over seven years of experience speaking and training professionals in education, healthcare, social work, and has a passion for working with programs that support first generation high school and college students. Lynda became CAB's first certified Gold Start speaker in 2011.
Lynda lives in Portland Oregon with her son, Kazdyn.
Something you would not know about Lynda: She has a way of making her entire audience feel like she is personally talking with them.
Elia Moreno
Elia, A bilingual master at assisting organizations and individuals to gain fresh new ways to address poverty. Elia attended West Texas A & M University majoring in Education. She brings passion and insights from years of working with and for people living in poverty. Elia was trained in 2010 by Dr. Donna Beegle and became a CAB Gold Star presenter in 2012. Elia has the gift of providing a different filter for her audience members to address poverty; A filter with out blame or judgment that allows professionals to assist people in moving out and staying out of the war zone of poverty.
Elia also serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Cal Farley’s, the largest private family services organization in the nation. Elia has responsibilities for coordinating CAB's Navigator/Neighbor program which is being implemented by Cal Farley in Amarillo Texas. The program provides training and matches people in poverty with people who are not in poverty for life changing experiences.
Elia and her husband, Jacob, reside in Canyon, Texas, and have four children.
Something you would not know about Elia: She never spends more than $5 on an outfit and always looks as if she stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine.
