Panel: How We Show Up - Friends Who Stutter Virtual Convention June 2020

Panelists:
Akaiya Bryant: Hi everyone! My name is Akaiya Bryant. I live in Indianapolis, Indiana. This upcoming fall, I will be a senior in high school. I am an avid animal lover! Some of the things I enjoy doing is biking and hanging out with friends. After high school, I plan majoring in Deaf Education and minoring in Special Education.
John Hendrickson is a Senior Political Editor at The Atlantic, where he recently wrote about
former Vice President Joe Biden’s journey with stuttering. John previously wrote and edited for Esquire, Rolling Stone, and The Denver Post.
Gianna Parisi: My name is Gianna Parisi, and I’m a 20-year-old from New York. I’m an upcoming senior at Boston University majoring in Environmental Policy and minoring in Deaf Studies. (Unfortunately, the Zoom recording starts after Gianna has already spoken. Sorry Gianna!)
Onur Tekiner is 28 years old and has stuttered since the age of 3. After moving to Chicago to improve his English skills, he read Van Riper’s books which subsequently changed his life. He wanted to challenge himself because he always hid his stuttering from friends and family, so he began voluntarily stuttering with people all over the city. These open conversations with over 200 random individuals helped him realize that stuttering isn’t something to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. Onur graduated from the University of Thrace in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Econometrics.
Jackson Hunter is a college student living in Denver. He and his family have attended Friends for years.