Meet Heather + Julian [Founders]

Hi, we're Heather and Julian. We are a couple in life, in love and work! We are two Northern Cali natives living in San Francisco. We are fascinated by how authentic personal stories can transform a room, a relationship, an organization or the world. We believe that now more than ever, we must bring our full selves to the work that we're most passionate about. Helping people find the role of their story in that process is what gets us fired up every morning.

We've had the true privilege of coaching and training all over the world and it's informed our belief that this work is for everyone. The beautiful thing about stories is that they are truly universal. With that in mind, we recently published our first book titled, How Your Story Sets You Free, so that we can reach as many people as possible!

When we aren't working we are learning how to become parents to our most important addition of 2019, our son Roman, listening to music and dancing (because Julian is an awesome DJ), having a great meal, or hanging with our friends and family.

We have witnessed first hand how much freedom comes from being all of who you are and we are so excited to help you find the same freedom and excitement.

Heather loves: 

• writing exceedingly honest articles that she is now putting in a book.

• Her alter ego named Joan who is a sommelier.

Meet Amy [Narrative Specialist]

Hi! I’m Amy, and I am a super nerd on all things story. I think in words, I wake up with poems in my head, I even host storytelling nights on my front porch in Missoula, MT. I have been fascinated by stories of all genres and mediums my whole life, but I really came to understand their power in healthcare and healing. Much of what I know about story today, I learned from people in pain. Stories set people free. There is no quicker way to someone’s heart, no quicker way to connection, no deeper way to understand someone, yourself, than to share story.

Working with the Million Person Project has been a dream come true – working with people to excavate their truth and claim their power has been one of the great honors of my life. I love to tell stories. But what I love the most? Is seeing people soar with their stories. This world is so thirsty for truth, for vulnerability, for story. This work is inclusive, everyone has what it takes, and everyone needs what it yields. Stories have this ripple effect on the world, and believe me when I say: we are only just starting to make waves. Story on!

 Amy loves:

• Wine tasting with Joan the sommelier

• Skiing, biking, running, rafting

• Writing songs + playing guitar

• Deep conversations at inappropriate times

Meet Victor [Story Coach]

Hi! I’m Victor, and I’m a poet, speaker, and writer who performs under the name V. Billione Frē (pronounced vee-bil-LEE-ahn-free). I began my storytelling journey as a child in Detroit, reading my mother’s journals when she wasn’t around. Through them, I learned how she had thoughts, experiences, and dreams aside from simply being my mother. For the first time, I considered my own thoughts, experiences, and dreams.I began to account for them in my own journals. Through journaling, I developed ways of turning trauma into trajectory, and how to use my words to inspire and liberate. I live by the wisdom offered by the legendary musician Nina Simone who said “An artist’s duty is to reflect the times.” As a queer, Black, writer, living during revolutionary times, I feel it is my duty to chronicle my experiences, connect with others, and effect change.

I began my journey with the Million Person Project in 2018 after seeing an ad on Facebook promoting the 5-Day Tell Your Story Boot Camp. That led to my participation in and graduation from the Million Person Project Story Academy 2018/2019. Through the support of my cohort, and the MPP team, I learned how to get crystal clear clarity on my story, and submit my writing to journals like Elephant Journal and Thrive Global, where my most popular article to date, “In Search of Unconditional Love: 5 ways loving myself shaped my love of others,” was published. As a story coach, I want to help others find their freedom through their story. I currently live in New York City, where I’m focused on writing my first book proposal. I feel more free than I’ve ever been, and am confident it’s because I liberated my voice.

Victor loves:

• The sun, moon and stars

• A hot cup of tea, and a good book

• Movie theaters and popcorn

• Mickey Mouse and anything Disney

Meet Sean [Staff Trainer]

Sean A. Watkins (he/him/they | IG: @seanieboyy) is a communications consultant, master storyteller, writer, and owner of Watkins Agency of Joy LLC. With almost a decade of experience across the nonprofit and social justice movement worlds, he is a dedicated believer in a better world and leads with wholistic instincts, matched with a keen eye and ear. As a consultant, he implements holistic strategies to help organizations and groups bring their visions to life and engage audiences online. As a facilitator and public speaker, he taps into the energy of any audience connecting story and purpose to inspire action for all involved.

After first finding his voice as a high school foreign exchange student in Brazil, he joined the workforce as a millennial content creator and social media specialist. The former Campaign Manager for The Solutions Project, a clean energy nonprofit and media campaign co-founded by actor Mark Ruffalo, he was responsible for seeking out everyday champions across the country and celebrating their leadership with surprise billboards, Hollywood shoutouts, and videos over social media. Working with groups of all sizes, he has supported dozens of organizations around the world to harness the power of social media in new and sophisticated ways to establish their digital footprints. A graduate of Michigan State University's James Madison College, he also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the movement-building organization, Center for Story-based Strategy, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Sean loves:

• Learning Beyoncé choreography

• Seeing new places around the world

• Laughing with friends

• Deep conversations with people he just meets

Meet Lydia [Staff Trainer]

Lydia D. Avila is from a working-class suburb of Los Angeles County, a first generation Mexican-American, and an organizer first and foremost. Lydia has spent most of her career immersed in the US climate movement and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Power Shift Network. Lydia attended UCLA for her undergraduate education where she was involved with student-initiated, student-run social justice service organizations. After college, she was a community organizer for the Sierra Club in Texas where she led two major “Beyond Coal” campaigns. In 2015 Lydia earned a Master of Public Administration degree at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, specializing in nonprofit management. Lydia is currently a freelance consultant focused on training, facilitation and capacity building for mission-driven organizations. She works from her home in Los Angeles accompanied by her plump cat, King Louie.

Lydia loves:

• Cooking for and feeding loved ones

• A cold, spicy-rim margarita on a patio

• Traveling to places with breathtaking beaches

• Oldies music