A former trial attorney, Wilda is a gifted and passionate speaker on issues of social justice. Wilda is available for keynote lectures, panel presentations and moderation, workshops, webinars, and other convenings.

“What the world looks like when we succeed is a world where we are all valued; whether black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor, well or unwell, crazy or not, whether we pay taxes or not, or hold a job or not; a world where people are valued and valuable simply because we are people.”

REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

Keynote Lectures

• State Violence in the Mental Health System, Madness: Fighting for Justice in Mental Health Conference, Disruption Network Lab, Berlin, Germany (November 26, 2022)
• Truth over Resilience, “Peerpocalypse,” 2019 Peer Leadership Conference, Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, Salem Conference Center, Salem, Oregon (May 20 – 23, 2019)
• Crazy Lives Matter Too: Imagining a World Where Everyone is Valued, “On Our Own, Transforming the Future Together,” 2018 Alternatives Conference, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC (July 31, 2018), Catholic University of America, Washington DC (July 31, 2018)

Webinar and Workshop Presentations

• Moderator, “Post-Screening Panel Discussion of CURED documentary, In Observance of International Mad Pride Day, MadFreedom, Inc. (July 14, 2021)
• Panelist, “Can we talk? A series of dialogues on racism, oppression and social justice,” National Open Dialogue Network, Webinar (October 29, 2020)
• Presenter, Narrowing the Gap in Recovery-Oriented Community Services, Vermont Care Partners Annual Conference – Stepping Forward Together Webinar Series (May 14, 2020)
• Presenter, Narrowing the Gap in Recovery-Oriented Community Services, “Better Together: Alliances in Mental Health and Wellness,” 2019 Vermont Department of Mental Health Conference, Killington Grand Hotel, Killington, Vermont (October 22, 2019)
• Panelist, Beyond Coercion, Where Do We Go from Here, “Beyond ‘For Your Own Good’ Conference and Workshops,” Drug Policy Alliance, UC Hastings College of Law, San Francisco, California (May 16 – 17, 2019)
• Panelist, “Keeping It All Together: Navigating Mental Health Challenges,” Vermont Bar Association 61^st Mid-Year Meeting, South Burlington, Vermont (March 23, 2018)
• Panelist, Advocacy in Action: The S.3 (Kuligoski) Coalition, “Powering Up: How to Create Change through Legislation” Statewide Conference. Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Montpelier, Vermont (September 12, 2017)
• Presenter, “Duty to Warn in Vermont,” 2017 National Association for Rights Protection & Advocacy (NARPA) Conference, Portland, Maine (September 7, 2017)
• Presenter, “Reconceptualizing Stigma: Towards an Anti-Oppression Paradigm,” Stepping Forward Together: Advancing Equity and Cultural Competency to Improve Population Health, Vermont Care Partners Conference, Burlington, Vermont (March 27, 2017)
• Presenter, “Mad Lives Matter: From Social Service to Social Justice,” 2017 Disability Awareness Day, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, Vermont (March 2, 2017)
• Presenter, “What the Mad Pride Movement Can Learn from the Gay Rights Movement,” 2016 Disability Awareness Day, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, Vermont (February 2016)
• Moderator, Disability, Race, and Class in the Child Welfare System, “Rebranding Disability Rights Law: The Intersection of Race, Disability, Gender and Class,” Symposium at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, Berkeley, California (March 23, 2012)
• Panelist, Experts Talk Back, Post-Show Discussion about the play “Race,” written by David Mamet, American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco, California (November 10, 2011)