Look Who it Was Random video

Our Personal Stories | Wilson Okello | TEDxYoungstown

4,342 views · Published 6 February 2015 · 10:05 · Indexed 4 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2015 · Nonprofits & Activism

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The direct dividends of his life experience, reinforces the fact that your presence, position, and voice are equal in both legitimacy and importance.

Mr. Wilson Okello was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended Youngstown State University where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education, with certification in Integrated Social Studies Education. Wilson accepted the IRT Fellowship to attend the University of Rhode Island, where he earned his Master’s of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies—College Student Personnel. While in Rhode Island, he served as a Coordinator with the Center for Excellence and College Readiness, at the Community College of Rhode Island.


Currently, he works as a First Year Adviser and Resident Director at Miami University where he advises first year students on their transition to college, decisions about their educational paths and personal and career goals. His vocation focuses on assisting and inspiring youth and college learners, especially those from underrepresented groups, to not only achieve educationally but also to develop as authentic leaders in their professional work, families and communities. He believes in the power of storytelling and spoken word poetry as a platform for education, liberation, and resilience. His exercise of imagery, cadence, and intentionality is inspired by the felt need he believes we all have to authentically tell our stories.


His message, the direct dividends of his life experience, reinforces the fact that your presence, position, and voice are equal in both legitimacy and importance. The strength of his delivery is in the ways in which he pushes us to complicate the myth of single story narratives. Among his most recent accomplishments, the University of Rhode Island has recognized him with the 2014 Rising Star Award, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) named him the 2013 IV East Outstanding New Professional. His deepest desire is to assist others in locating, cultivating and living out their dreams.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

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