Therese Bartholomew

Inspirational Speaker, Prominent Social Justice Activist, Filmmaker and Author who draws on her personal experience to take audiences on a journey of faith and unconditional forgiveness.
An inspirational speaker and dialogue partner for those who want - and often need - to know more about the healing that can come after violence. She is a brave, articulate, and profoundly honest person. People are gripped by her story, and by her candid and insightful responses to the difficult questions that her story surfaces. ~ Douglas A. Campbell, Associate Professor of New Testament, The Divinity School at Duke University Thereses ease of relating with such plain-spun honesty, undeniable zeal for life, humor and creativity - in total - delivered such 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 their minds, that they wanted to learn more and become involved with restorative justice, and that her ability to share her story was 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 Wilmington Showing 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 as themselves and their own family. The film and book have inspired the youth and staff to take a more therapeutic approach to incarceration in hopes decreasing recidivism and rehabilitating juvenile offenders. ~ Samantha Coleman CSAC, Substance Abuse Counselor Durham Youth Home As a law enforcement officer for over 25 years, it is rare that I have seen anything positive come out of tragedies. As I heard Thereses journey, I understood the intense healing she received from meeting his killer, and her choice to forgive him. My goal for life after retirement was to do something totally outside of dealing with people in any kind of brokenness. 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. Her genuineness 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 her

decision 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 the country!" ~ 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 Engagement

www.theresebartholomew.com

336.978.0021

www.thefinalgiftfilm.com

About Therese Bartholomew

Therese Bartholomew is an inspirational speaker and social justice activist whose personal experience provides audiences with an intimate story of living justice, faith and forgiveness in the midst of tragedy and seemingly unbeatable odds. Her 2009 collection of essays, Coffee Shop God, offers a glimpse into the profound grief that arose when her younger brother 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 compelling story 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 creates restorative justice workshops for victims, offenders, and communities across the country. She is currently working on her second book and producing a social justice film on the topic of race and motherhood; both with expected release in fall 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 God

Released in April 2009, her memoir, Coffee Shop God details 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, says, Bartholomews 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 the companion piece to The Final Gift, documentary the essays are the victim voice and the film, the survivor.

About the documentary, The Final Gift

Completed 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, and restore 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 Gift a remarkable journeyintimate in the telling, honest and brave and true.

www.theresebartholomew.com

336.978.0021

www.thefinalgiftfilm.com

Prior Speaking Engagements

Theological College of West Indies, Jamaica: Restorative Justice panelist/lecturer ~ faith, forgiveness, justice The Divinity School, Duke University, NC: The Final Gift screening, faith, forgiveness and justice discussion Johnson and Wales University: Faith and Spirituality Festival University of South Carolina Upstate: The Final Gift screening, victimization and healing: feminist perspective Winston Salem State University, NC: The Final Gift screening, forgiveness and justice discussion Tikkun Long Islands Healing Week Tour, NY: Forgiveness, Justice and Healing Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing, IndianaTour: Restorative Justice and the Death Penalty Month of Forgiveness, Greenville South Carolina Princeton University: The Final Gift screening, 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 Gift screening and discussion Capital Restorative Justice Project: The Final Gift screening, a path to healing discussion Hope Lutheran Church, Maryland: The Final Gift screening, faith and forgiveness discussion Elon Law School: The Final Gift screening, Restorative Justice: the changing lens discussion North Carolina Victims Assistance Network Conference: The Final Gift screening and discussion New York City Bar Association: Restorative Justice and the Death Penalty Panel Discussion Riverside Church New York City: The Final Gift screening, faith and forgiveness discussion Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte: The Final Gift screening 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 Gift screening 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 Justice University of the North Carolina Charlottes Victims Rights Week Panel: Journey to Heal Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center: Grief Johnston and Wales: Coffee Shop God in 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 United Family Services Survivor Fest: Victims Stories of Survival, Sexual Assault Awareness & Education United Family Services Operation Free Fall: Victims Stories of Survival, Sexual Assault Awareness & Education University of North Carolinas Take Back the Night: Victims Stories of Survival, Sexual Assault Awareness University of North Carolina Charlotte: Teen Pregnancy and Future Educators www.theresebartholomew.com 336.978.0021 www.thefinalgiftfilm.com

Media
Greenville 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.com Final Gift Gives Purpose to Victims of Crime, Cassie Foss The Seahawk: Final Gift Restores Justice, Hunter Houzer Current TVs The War Room with Jennifer Granholm: Defining Forgiveness The 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 Things with Frank Stasio: Restorative Justice and The Final Gift NPRs Morning Edition with Pam Bunch: The Final Gift Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins: Restorative Justice Charlotte Observer: Thy Brothers Killer, Elizabeth Leland Raleigh Television Networks The Artists Craft, Memoir Writing

Inquire for Speakers Fees

Full or partial film screening, personal appearance with options of: presentation, facilitated discussion, Q & A following full screening, or combination. Travel, accommodations, and incidental expenses are typically additional costs above speakers fee Traveling from Charlotte, North Carolina

Additional Offerings (rates negotiable)

Therese can "guest lecture" to classes or assembly audiences- typical subjects are: restorative justice overview and discussion, forgiveness, grief, corrections, healing, personal storytelling/journaling, peacemaking, conflict resolution Participate in a "working lunch" discussion with students or faculty Participate in a panel discussion - We also have the ability to facilitate panel discussions and/or provide a panel of speakers Facilitate healing/peace circles Virtual appearance (Skype, teleconference, etc.)

Contact Information
For interviews, film screenings, speaking engagements or book signings, contact Bert Woodard, Next Level Communications at ~ 336.978.0021 bert@nextlevelcom.net Find in the membership directory for the National Association of Campus Activities Follow on @thefinalgift on Twitter Like on Facebook at The Final Gift ~ documentary
www.theresebartholomew.com 336.978.0021 www.thefinalgiftfilm.com