"Living Book" JonJon Rivero

Jon Jon Rivero will share the story of how a promise to his dying father to visit the Philippines not only was a promise to learn more about his own Filipino Cultural Heritage but took on a new form of identity shift as he embarked on a life-long project to return with service. After returning to the Philippines 10 times since 2006, the term “balikbayan” has taken a new meaning and has created a sense of belonging, connection, and family not only to his immediate family members but with hundreds of children, students, and staff of Streetlight Philippines in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines. He will share of the journey that regardless of background, we are all the same. We all need human connection, we all need love and healing. This is a journey of trauma and of resilience, of disadvantage and of privilege, and of brokenness and of rebuilding. From the streets to the basketball courts, from public begging to public performance and from being insignificant to being part of a loving surrogate family are the themes of this true living story.

Jon Jon Rivero was the 2016 TED Summit Talent Showcase Winner, a Spoken Word Artist who is member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the Global Speakers Federation, co-author of the International Children's Book, My Name Is Trauma, Beatboxer Philanthropist, Martial Arts Black Belt Master, musician and an award-winning filmmaker who is the founder of the Balikbayan Project Philippines (www.balikproject.com). His feature documentary film Balikbayan: From Victims To Survivors has won numerous awards at international film festivals around the world. In 2006, he was the recipient of the Alberta Rehabilitation Coordinating Council Sunrise Therapist Award, which recognized him as the top clinician contributing to rehabilitation medicine within their first 2 years of practice. Jonjon is the founder and CEO of Qi Creative Inc. (www.qicreative.com) where he integrates his creative talents and passions to inspire children, adolescents, families, and schools living with special needs and trauma by celebrating their talents and strengths to overcome challenges.