Susie Vanderlip

A Turning Point for Many!

Susie Vanderlip is a PRO! As a theatrical keynote speaker and prevention specialist, she combines acting, dancing, music, and public speaking with a depth of personal experience and valuable prevention education. Audiences, both teen and adult, are immediately captivated as Julio, a restless gangbanger, hip-hops into their hearts. A riveting array of troubled characters follow -- all confronted by real-life problems. As they struggle to find balance and purpose, audiences learn to build their own self-esteem, make responsible choices and, if necessary, find recovery and support. Susie's message crosses cultural, gender, and age boundaries -- from at-risk students to high achievers.




As a Broadway-class professional dancer and actress, Susie can control and wow any audience. Through the entertainment arts she brings to life the real-life drama of drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy, gangs, violence, abuse, and AIDS. Her message of hope and concrete solutions leads to overcoming adversity, finding compassion and courage, and making responsible, healthy life choices. As a prevention educator Susie offers concrete solutions to teens who desperately seek to be understood and mentored. Her guidance and encouragement is deeply rooted in years of involvement with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the International Congress of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Peer Assistance Leadership programs, PRIDE, SADD, MADD, Youth to Youth, Friday Night Live, child abuse councils, domestic violence councils, teen pregnancy programs and a profound respect for the 12 Step support programs. She is a Cum Laude graduate of UCLA.

Susie's teacher inservice programs and parent-teen evenings are filled with encouragement, high-content information and resources. She helps teens understand their feelings, their circumstances and their options. She enhances communication between educators and parents, between parents and teens; helping them support our young people during these challenging years. Her message is a clarion call for value-based leadership, mentoring, sober and drug-free lifestyles, self-help recovery and her Four Keys to Building a Lasting Self-Esteem.



Legacy of Hope
(students, adults)
Susie communicates in the universal language of feelings, music, dance and drama -- about tough times, the painful hurting, and angry feelings of life, and overcoming adversity. Susie builds a unique rapport with teens and many become open to change where it is often desperately needed. Legacy of Hope is presented in four segments:

PERFORMANCE Susie opens her program by hip-hopping right into the hearts of her audience. Through dance and acting, she portrays many characters who face obstacles and choices familiar to all youth and adults.
SPEECH Following the artistic portion of her program, Susie becomes a captivating speaker who hits home by sharing her personal stories of living in an alcoholic, addicted and abusive home. She knows what it is to overcome adversity and reclaim self-esteem, establish personal policies, and to commit to a life of emotional and spiritual maturity, values and healthy choices.
QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD Susie includes concrete prevention information and solutions within her program as well as thought provoking question and answer sessions with audiences, as time allows. Susie is a tremendous resource for schools, leaders, parents, and educators.
ON SITE SUPPORT As a prevention specialist, Susie remains on site 2 to 4 additional hours following her performance to support and mentor students who are seeking her advice -- one-to-one or in small groups. Students who have rarely shared their pain, find Susie's guidance a turning point in their life. She is also available to visit the leadership class, various classrooms and interact with other groups on campus.

De-Stress for Success
(students, adults)
Teachers, administrators, high-achieving students, leaders, and even at-risk teens are coping with an intensely stressful world. Here is an experiential workshop that is better than a good night's sleep! Learn tools and techniques to reduce physical, emotional and mental stress and find a sense of joy and satisfaction, clear thought and a hopeful attitude.

Love Under the Influence
(workshop for students, adults)
Love Under the Influence breaks through denial, opens the door to many long-buried feelings, and brings into the open many questions about family, relationships, and self-esteem. This follow-up workshop allows these questions and concerns to be examined in the light of the truth regarding the diseases of alcoholism and addiction, and facilitates the discovery of positive attitudes and realistic solutions. Great for classrooms and conferences!

Dance for Drug-Free Fun
(workshop for students, adults)
This workshop is outrageously popular among teens because dance and music are the universal language of youth! Here they actually learn to do the current rage in street jazz and Hip Hop dance steps. Every BODY can dance with Susie's tried-and-true approach to making movement fun, fitting in, and enjoying being in their body ... sober and drug free!