2027 Keynote Speakers
Kaelynn Partlow was diagnosed with autism at the age of 10. She is best known for appearing on the Netflix series Love on the Spectrum, where she became a recognizable, relatable voice for autism advocacy. Through her social media platforms, Kaelynn reaches millions with a message of meaningful inclusion, practical strategies, and systemic
change.
She is the author of Life on the Bridge, a book that draws from both her
personal experiences and professional expertise to bridge the gap in
understanding between autistic and non-autistic people.
Since joining Project Hope Foundation in 2015 as a Registered Behavior
Technician, Kaelynn has played a key role in leading therapy sessions,
mentoring staff, developing training materials, and providing nationwide
autism education as a public speaker.
Scott J. Prendergast is a Philadelphia-based Professional Speaker, Author, Adjunct Professor, Certified Life Coach, and Mental Health Advocate. Dedicated to helping individuals move past everyday mental obstacles that hold them back, Scott speaks to inspire audiences to find light, hope, and purpose, even in life's darkest moments.
Scott’s work is rooted in the belief that true resilience begins with self-validation and empathy. Before we can dismantle the barriers that limit us, we must first acknowledge and understand our struggles. By embracing vulnerability as a strength, Scott guides others through compassionate self-reflection to build lasting inner peace amid life's strongest storms.
Through his empowering keynotes and advocacy, Scott equips individuals with the mindset needed to transform challenges into opportunities for personal growth. His ultimate mission is to foster deeper self-connection, promote mental well-being, and empower people everywhere to lead authentic, fulfilling lives.
Catelin:
Catelin McCarriston is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She holds a B.S. in Psychology, a B.A. in Philosophy, and a Master's in Social Work from Simmons University. Catelin comes to Minding Your Mind with an extensive background working with children and adolescents across various school settings. As a school social worker in the Greater Boston area, she provided one-on-one counseling for students and led groups on gender and sexuality, as well as mindfulness and stress reduction. Catelin also worked with The Home for Little Wanderers as a child and family therapist. Catelin’s commitment to these experiences, along with her mental health expertise, fuels her dedication to the Minding Your Mind mission.
Kaysha:
Raised in South Florida in a large, close-knit Haitian American family, Kaysha learned early on to be hardworking, dependable, and attentive to others. However, after experiencing a childhood medical emergency where her concerns were dismissed, she adopted a pattern of minimizing her own needs. Growing up in a household affected by untreated mental health challenges and trauma, she became the family's emotional "glue"—mediating conflict and learning to fawn to maintain the peace.
In school, Kaysha coped by striving for perfection, pouring her identity into academics, leadership, and social media validation to mask her internal struggles. Navigating bullying, racism, and the weight of family hardship, she carried an overwhelming guilt for being unable to fix everything around her. Leaving for college in hopes of an escape, she quickly realized that unaddressed trauma follows you wherever you go until you are forced to face it.
A severe panic attack in early adulthood became Kaysha’s turning point, compelling her to finally prioritize her own mental health. Through therapy, boundaries, faith, and writing, she transitioned out of survival mode and transformed her pain into purpose. Today, as a speaker and advocate, Kaysha shares her journey with anxiety, trauma, and identity to remind others that worth is inherent, healing is not linear, and where you start does not determine where you go.
Joshua Wayne, MA, has worked with kids in nearly every setting imaginable since 1996: drug and alcohol treatment, at-risk foster youth, community mental health, private practice, and as Director of Special Education at the District of Columbia Public Schools.
As a former struggling teen himself, Joshua deeply understands what they are going through. He inspires teens to courageously face the challenges before them and build the skills & confidence they need to find the right path in life. He also teaches parents, teachers, and other caring adults how to best love and support them through this process.
With teens, he addresses mental health & getting the support they need, saying “no” without losing face, and building healthy relationships.
With adults, he addresses topics like getting them to both “listen up” and “open up”, warning signs there may be a deeper issue, and when to hold the line vs. give them room to figure it out.
Joshua holds a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. He has been featured as a Life Coach on the Style Network and co-created the One Caring Adult online community with Josh Shipp.
