Meet Erin Patrice

" '𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚,” 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚. I𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚.' — 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙩 If you’ve met Erin Patrice, the Creator & Founder of 4steps2theSun and The Breaking Bread Village, you know what I mean when I say that her light is contagious. In her presence, you feel seen, understood, and reminded of your own powerful ability to overcome, heal and rise above. Her compassionate nature has grown from her unique life experience and extended into her community through projects that uplift and inspire such as 2012’s “Love Sessions” for Women’s Empowerment and her 2014 film “Light Up The Darkness.” Over the years I have witnessed her service evolve into community outreach for At-Risk + Juvenile Youth Mentorship. There's no doubt that her authenticity and deep empathy- can reach the kids- who need it most. Erin keeps her life lessons close — and teaches in a way that touches the core of our humanness. She is living proof of our ability to choose love over hate, faith over fear, and to rise above the most challenging of circumstances." -Alana Everett Hartman Founder of Aura Organic Beauty Studio and a Healing Chronic Illness Coach

"Erin is a conversationalist, blogger, reporter, teacher, speaker, and creative. She is the founder and creator of The Breaking Bread Village. She is a wildflower and continually learns from life experiences. She'd rather sit with Buddist than read about them."- Anonymous

A Little About Erin

Erin has an incredible gift of storytelling and connecting with others of all ages. She shares her story in a way that draws people closer rather than apart. She has a unique teaching style that resonates with all who experience it. Erin has years of life experience, training, and facilitating conversations through empathy, strategy, and storytelling.

She’s worked with various families in different capacities, for example, as a visitation supervisor by mediating family structures and as a life coach at an alternative education facility and a juvenile detention center. Erin is a trained Behavior Room Coach dealing with severe behavioral, social, unique, cognitive, and impaired needs. Erin shares her teachings as a community engagement ambassador by facilitating workshops, keynote speaking, panels, and conversations nationwide. She won the MLK Drum Major award based on her work in the community. She also was nominated Midland Daily News' 2023 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR for her work and footprint she's leaving.

Erin is a conversationalist and a Midland, MI, resident and native to Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the creator and founder of The Breaking Bread Village, a space intentionally created for people to come together and have transparent conversations with no judgment so ideas and perspectives may be heard respectfully. Erin is a mother and wife and has been a community advocate for twenty years. She worked as a life coach for the Midland Public Schools with the at-risk youth and alternative education program.

She is a member of the Midland Housing Commission, Cultural Awareness Coalition, and other boards throughout the community. Erin is also a certified Health Coach. Erin is dedicated to being a voice for those with no voice and helping the unseen to be seen. She believes that everything we do within our small communities changes the world because every good deed causes a ripple effect that will eventually impact the world.

Invite Erin

Conversation has always been meaningful to Erin due- in part- to her experiences of being told not to share, feel, or speak as a child and young adult. This instilled in her a desire to advocate for voices to be heard and for safe spaces to exist where people feel comfortable simply being themselves. As a life coach working with students in the school system, Erin witnessed firsthand the need to foster healthy dialogue and create safe spaces. By engaging in conversation, Erin was able to help students feel seen and heard, which allowed them to trust her and be vulnerable enough to receive the support they needed to excel.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, The Breaking Bread Village was born out of the need for empathetic and transparent conversations about complex topics. With people’s shared experiences at the table, Erin aims to create psychological safety, connection, engagement, and a sense of community. The goal is to encourage reflection, inner self-work, and humane practices. Erin wants participants to leave her sessions with a better understanding of themselves and others, recognizing that everyone has a story and a mirror.

Invite Erin to your school, organization, or community as a keynote speaker, facilitator, or conversationalist. Trust me- you won't regret it! Erin's energy will leave you feeling warm, loved, seen, and energized to change the world- one conversation at a time!

Heart of Leadership

How was it birthed and developed? Erin spent years "creating space" and helping people of all ages discover their "Heart of Leadership" through organic connections, speaking engagements, one-on-one sessions, classes, and self-awareness sessions. In 2020, Erin was invited to talk to a local high school's Leadership group for the day and was invited back for several other classes that year and then the next school year. Erin realized that the course was impacting the students and teachers, which led her to develop the experience called The Heart of Leadership Experience. Since then, many have sought her to share her expertise and method.

The Heart of Leadership Experience has quickly gained traction, becoming a sought-after program not only in schools but also in community organizations and corporate environments. Erin's approach is unique; she combines traditional leadership principles with mindfulness and emotional intelligence, creating a holistic and inclusive experience for all participants. Testimonials from students and professionals alike poured in, praising the transformative power of the experience. Erin's vision continued to expand, and she enhanced the curriculum. Workshops were designed to be interactive and dynamic, ensuring each participant felt heard and valued. This experience incorporates activities such as group discussions, role-playing, and reflective journaling, which helps individuals connect deeply with their leadership potential.

The Heart of Leadership Experience has grown into a movement, with Erin at the helm, guiding and inspiring others to unlock their true potential and revisit their why. Her dedication to fostering a generation of empathetic and effective leaders is unwavering, and the ripples of her work can be felt everywhere she's left her footprint. Erin's journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the profound impact that one person can have on the world.

TBBV Heart of Leadership Experience aims to cultivate a leadership style mindset using the art of storytelling, team building, empathy, self-awareness, and authenticity through activities, lessons, and conversations. This experiential session will surely grow your understanding and a shared sense of belonging that you can take back to your school, organization, or community. "Self Awareness causes Global Awareness; It's a Ripple Effect." Participants will leave asking themselves, "Is my heart still beating?"

This powerful question is a metaphor for examining one's passion, purpose, and impact on the world. Through immersive storytelling, participants will delve into their personal narratives, uncovering strengths and areas for growth. Team-building exercises will forge bonds and highlight the importance of collaboration, while empathy-driven activities will deepen understanding and compassion for others' experiences. Self-awareness modules will encourage introspection, guiding individuals to recognize their values, motivations, and emotional triggers. Authenticity will be emphasized, empowering participants to lead with integrity and genuine connection. The Heart of Leadership Experience is more than just a workshop; it's a transformative journey that fosters a culture of inclusivity, respect, and shared vision.

By the end of the session, participants will have deeply reflected on their leadership skills and carry forward a renewed sense of purpose and community spirit. They will be equipped to inspire and lead with a heart-centered approach, making a positive ripple effect in their schools, organizations, and communities. This experience promises to leave a lasting impression, reminding everyone that true leadership begins from within.

Testimonial From An Educator

Over the course of the last few months, my Student Leadership 2 class at Dow High has had the pleasure of welcoming Erin as a guest speaker. We “met” Erin last year when she was the guest speaker during a Midland County planning conference for Kindness Week. The group of students who attended the conference with me knew right away that Erin was someone that we wanted to work with and learn more from. We reached out to her, and she became an invaluable resource to our class during the time in which we had to switch to virtual learning due to Covid. As a class used to being out in the school and community actively working on projects, the switch to virtual learning was not an easy adjustment. Erin’s visits to our virtual classroom gave us all something to look forward to during the difficult months of being online. She also began to instill important aspects of being a leader in both myself and my students. When we returned to a more normal school environment in the Fall of 2021, I knew that I wanted to give my Leadership students the opportunity to learn more from Erin. Erin shared with me that she was looking to create a leadership course for students and hoped that we would be able to test run her ideas in my class.

Starting in early 2022, Student Leadership 2 began their journey as the first cohort of The Breaking Bread Village Heart of Leadership course. During her weekly visits, Erin pushed my students to genuinely think about themselves as leaders and what drives them toward that path, in addition to how empathy and compassion are key components in being successful, inclusive leaders. She did this through a variety of methods that involved students to spend time thinking deeply about themselves and what shapes them, but also through fun activities that required them to think creatively and work together efficiently. She taught them not only how to lead others but how to also show up for themselves in the best way possible. In many ways, students were pushed outside of their comfort zones when thinking about themselves and through some of the group activities she asked them to do. However, this helped many of them grow as leaders by becoming more confident in themselves within our own small group. I know that Erin’s visits have positively impacted my students already, as demonstrated by their work. In their weekly reflections, many of them reference ideas that she has discussed, and a student who applied for an important leadership position at the state level was also influenced by what they’ve learned from Erin and used insight from her in their application interview.

My students were not the only ones positively impacted by the time that Erin has spent with us. While completing many of the activities alongside my students, I know that I have also grown and become more conscious in the way that I lead the Student Leadership 2 class. Erin’s lessons have helped me better understand what does and does not work in achieving success in a program like we have at Dow High. She also pushed me out of my own comfort zone, at times, which I feel helped establish a stronger connection with students in my class. Finally, I’m also inspired by the leader that Erin is in our community. Having spent time with her just talking or observing her lessons, I know that anyone who might be able to have the same experience would benefit greatly. Overall, I sincerely express my gratitude for Erin volunteering her time with my students and, without a doubt, recommend that any other leadership program that has the opportunity to learn from her does the same. Erin’s work with my class has impacted myself and my students in the present, but I know that benefits will also be apparent for many years to come. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions.

Sincerely, Chelsea Berg

Create Space At the Table

This presentation- Create Space at the Table- strives to create bonds and relationships that allow people to form bridges they can all walk across to achieve a common goal motivated by peace. The shared experience of Create Space at the Table encourages thought, reflection, inner self-work, and humane practices. At the end of the session, the goal is for participants to leave the shared space, understanding that everyone has a story and a mirror. The hope is that with this understanding, the participants will better connect with themselves and others. The creator Erin Patrice believes, “When people feel they have no voice, love, creativity, and hope can take a back seat to indifference, malice, and disdain.”

The overall objectives and benefits are:

To share how to create transparent, vulnerable, and open safe spaces for people to share and listen to each other's perspectives in an organic and non-judgemental manner.
To show how to engage and serve the community through education, service, and construction of intentional-diverse spaces.
To teach the “Give and Recieve” method of The Breaking Bread Village and how to put it into practice.
Participants will be exposed to different perspectives of thought that will encourage them to broaden their thought processes and become better leaders and advocates in the community and workspaces.
Participants will be given tools to begin the process of challenging their biases and individual paradigms.
Participants will be given tools on how to accept/value differences and other experiences. They will also grow in capacity regarding active listening and engaging with different opinions and perspectives.
Participants will be better equipped to "create new spaces" in the workplace or other community areas where they function.
To help participants become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Testimonial From A Participant

"Erin, I just wanted to take this time to say THANK YOU for facilitating such PHENOMENAL sessions! I learned so much professionally about myself in your sessions and also learned about the unhealed parts of my “being” from a plethora of childhood traumas. I learned in your sessions why I’m wired the way that I am with being stoic and how I mask so many emotions in the name of so-called strength. Your pureness and authentic self exude both confidence and honesty that connects to people’s souls.

I totally understand now why you are so successful because your ability to truly CONNECT is definitely your SUPERPOWER! Anyone who can effortlessly connect with my inner child and open this “closed book” as you did when it came to me in your sessions, is truly both someone special and magical. THANK YOU ERIN!

Erin, you don’t have to cover my name at all and I would be honored to share my testimonial with the world. I am sitting here on my couch still introspective of everything you imparted. When I get alone, I know that it will be both emotional and uplifting with what you taught me over these past few days.

Erin, I’m sure that you were placed on this earth for a myriad of other reasons, but I’m also sure that you were placed on this earth to reach a place in “KEENAN’S SOUL” because I have never let anyone in -especially during professional development sessions.

I sing these praises about your work because you touched me personally in a way that was both honest and gentle. As a grown man in a world where there is still so much hegemonic masculinity and masking even in the professional world, we are still taught to be this beacon of strength in the presence and expense of others and ourselves as well. I can’t say THANK YOU enough for who you are!" - Keenan

Be Your Yes!

Erin is an experienced and compassionate professional who is dedicated to helping organizations, communities, and schools through keynote speaking, professional development, motivation, and facilitation. She takes pride in the quality of care and perspective she provides and is committed to making a positive impact.

Erin thrives on championing and encouraging others to believe in her words, "BE YOUR YES!" She believes that when we start there- there's no limit to our potential and opportunities. She believes you must be your first 'Yes' and cheerleader.

Erin first delivered her "BE YOUR YES!" keynote speech in front of a filled auditorium at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University as a commencement speaker for a Michigan Online School. To say the speech was 'crowd-moving' would be an understatement. But this isn't the first time she believed in being your YES! Her whole walk has reflected this very mindset which is why she's so passionate in sharing this message.

The overall objectives and benefits are:

To allow the audience or participants to hear Erin's story- her "WHY & HOW."
To show how to be vulnerable and open.
To empower and uplift.
To paint a picture of success through "seeing before you see it", writing it down, and walking with clear unwavering intention.
Participants will be given tools to begin the process of seeing things through a different lens.
To help participants become comfortable with being uncomfortable in life- while they wait to see the change.
To leave the audience or participants leaving energized and ready to "conquer the world!"

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INVITE ERIN TO SHARE SPACE: If you'd like to invite Erin to your school, organization, or community, please contact us here. She offers keynote speaking, facilitation, and simply sharing her story- her "WHY & HOW."

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