ERAHM CHRISTOPHER

TEEN TRUTH Co-creator Erahm Christopher is an award-winning filmmaker who has created content for audiences of all ages that has screened on television and at film festivals across the United States and Canada. His films contain thought provoking messages that inspire thinking and discussion amongst people of all ages. Intent on making a difference in the world, he has traveled with TEEN TRUTH LIVE and spoken to middle school, high school, and adult audiences across North America. He has been featured on several news programs, magazines, various websites, radio shows, and received front-page coverage on multiple newspapers in the US and Canada. In less than four years, he has touched over 300,000 people with TEEN TRUTH LIVE’s message of hope and making a difference. When not speaking or filmmaking Christopher crafts the TEEN TRUTH LIVE presentations and trains each TEEN TRUTH LIVE speaker to ensure the consistency of TEEN TRUTH’s unique message. Since TEEN TRUTH LIVE’s inception, Christopher’s presentations have motivated state legislation, improved school climates, and changed people’s lives.

JC POHL

TEEN TRUTH Co-creator JC Pohl is a filmmaker who has produced award-winning content for companies such as Warner Brothers, ESPN, and Disney. Producing films with Erahm Christopher and creating TEEN TRUTH has led to travels across the United States inspiring students of all ages to make a difference. Through his work with TEEN TRUTH LIVE: BULLY & SCHOOL VIOLENCE Pohl has reached over 400,000 students and has been featured on various news programs, radio shows, and magazines. He has presented both TEEN TRUTH LIVE: BULLY & SCHOOL VIOLENCE and TEEN TRUTH LIVE: DRUGS & ALCOHOL to audiences at the California State Capitol, spoken to crowds at conferences and film festivals, and produced live events of all sizes. JC is committed to presenting passionate, motivating messages to his audiences.

MICHAEL SARICH

California native, Michael Sarich, is committed to tell the TRUTH about his past in order to inspire, educate and empower youth to tell their own truth and change their future. Ever since he joined TEEN TRUTH in 2009 he has shared his gripping personal story with students, parents and educators around the US and Canada. Sarich, once a Major League Baseball prospect, has used TEEN TRUTH LIVE as an outlet to turn his tragic fall into an inspirational platform that uncovers the truth and consequence about drugs and alcohol abuse. Through his work with TEEN TRUTH LIVE, Michael has presented to over 100,000 students across the US & Canada. Michael also serves as TEEN TRUTH’s Booking Manager, and has worked diligently to increase TEEN TRUTH LIVE’s reach to a world wide audience.

STEPHANIE ARMSTRONG

Stephanie Armstrong has reached over 60,000 students as a speaker on the TEEN TRUTH LIVE: BODY IMAGE & SELF ESTEEM tour.  Believing whole-heartedly in TEEN TRUTH’s mission to support teenagers to speak their truths and be the difference in each other’s lives, Stephanie joined the TEEN TRUTH team in August 2009.  Prior to TEEN TRUTH, she worked on large scale corporate marketing efforts for up and coming brands, including on the launch of a Conde Nast publication.

Stephanie loves connecting with students, teachers, parents and administrators first hand on tour and then supporting them by leading the charge to get TEEN TRUTH’s message out to the masses.  In her BODY IMAGE & SELF ESTEEM presentation, Stephanie, once a nationally-ranked swimmer, inspires audiences with her candid account of how growing up the perfect girl she thought she should be led to an illness that would ultimately show her how to live true to the beautiful person that she is naturally.  Stephanie’s mission is to help others know and live their own unique and powerful purpose.

CYNTHIA RUFFIN

Cynthia Ruffin is an actor, writer and theater director who believes strongly in the power of performance to heal. Originally from Montreal, Canada she has worked for the last 15 years as a social justice theater workshop facilitator, performer and writer. Through her work she offers young people creative tools for producing constructive dialogue and action about issues of tolerance and diversity. She trained at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, studied under renowned Brazilian theater activist Augusto Boal and has taught theater for social justice workshops all over the United States. In Santa Fe she sits on the board of New Mexico Women in Film and has facilitated theater for social justice workshops at the SF Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center and the GSA Network at the Santa Fe Mountain Center. Cynthia is excited continue her journey as a TEEN TRUTH LIVE speaker where she will share her TRUTH about her personal experience dealing with bullying as a youth. Having dealt with physical and emotional abuse associated with her race and a physical disability, Cynthia has first hand experience that directly relates to what the nation’s diverse youth are coping with today.

GISELLE RODRIGUEZ

Giselle Rodriguez is an experienced actor from Los Angeles who studies fiction and screenwriting in the University of Southern California’s Master of Professional Writing program. She has appeared in several commercials, TV Movies and provided her voice for several video games. Over the last five years she has worked with brands such as MTV, Verizon and Olive Garden. Having reached almost 30,000 students, Giselle is extremely excited to be a TEEN TRUTH LIVE speaker sharing her powerful message of strength and personal power. Living through the divorce of her parents, constant bullying because of her race and physical disabilities, Giselle is a young woman with the unique ability to connect to students of all backgrounds.

RYAN BELFLOWER

TEEN TRUTH special guest speaker Ryan Belflower is a recent high school graduate and Clovis East basketball player. Ryan is proud to convey his story of how he overcame his autism to fulfill his dream of playing on his high school varsity basketball team. His inspiring story has been featured on HBO Real Sports, in newspapers and on TV news stations around the globe, and is currently being developed into a feature film. A faithful 49er fan and sports fanatic, Ryan now works at Fresno State University, coaches Clovis East basketball, and travels with his mom Shauna to spread TEEN TRUTH’s message of hope and determination.