Conversations with the Inspiring Kari Sleezer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kari Sleezer.

Kari, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in the East Valley of Arizona and have long considered Gilbert home. During junior high and high school, I attended a charter school in Gilbert. One of the core values of my school centered around giving back to the local community. Each semester, there was a school-wide Service Day where every student volunteered with a local organization for the whole day instead of learning inside of the classroom. I looked forward to this day each semester and loved tangibly giving back to the community. Those Service Days laid the foundation of my passion for the local community and formed a deeper understanding of what it meant to be a global citizen.

I pursued a degree in English Literature at Arizona State University, while also volunteering at my high school to help schedule those service days I loved. Simultaneously, I took a position as Outreach Coordinator at a local church I attended at the time, developing outreach projects and programs.

After graduating with my Bachelor’s in English Literature in three years, I took a position teaching high school English at the high school I attended. I taught high school English for six years. While teaching, I worked several part-time jobs to make ends meet. One of the positions I worked in addition to teaching, was being the event coordinator for an organization called Gilbert Talks. The mission of Gilbert Talks is to foster constructive community dialogue around issues of importance in Gilbert for purposes of enriching understanding, motivating engagement, and promoting effective policymaking. I deeply value creating space for community dialogue to spark connections, conversations, and ideas. After several years, I was then promoted to Executive Director. Gilbert Talks now manages the TEDxGilbert license and I co-organize events bringing people in Gilbert together to share ideas worth spreading to inspire change and innovation in a different capacity. I strive to invest in the future by creating pathways for others to make contributions and connections.

Along the way, I think one of the most significant contributors to my value of the local community is traveling. Often, I am off exploring a new part of the world and learning about other cultures. Through these experiences, I have seen the remarkable impact and profound influence a local community has on history. Observing different communities inspires me to be actively involved in my own and create a culture I am proud to be part of.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is not a smooth road and I would not have it any other way. I think problems challenge people to think about new or innovative solutions. If there were no problems, there would be no ingenuity or imagination. Problems lead to purpose. I learned earlier in life that the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity is your perspective.

I firmly believe that it is vital to seek leaders or mentors that invest in your personal and professional growth. I would not be who I am or be where I am today without those leaders in my life. Primarily, the obstacles I have faced have been internal. However, the leaders in my life have provided direction and support to empower me to work through those challenges. In addition to having a good support system, I challenge myself to be out of my comfort zone on a regular basis to continue growing personally and professionally. Being out of my comfort zone is a good way to refresh my perspective and reassess my priorities. If I could impart any advice to someone, it would be to always assume positive intentions of those around you. Assuming negative intentions leads you down a slippery slope and creates more problems than solutions.

What should we know about Gilbert Talks? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As the Executive Director of Gilbert Talks and Co-Organizer of TEDxGilbert, I create space for community dialogue and curate events that spark ideas. I am proud to be part of the work Gilbert Talks is doing amidst a political and social climate that can be volatile. I am passionate about developing programs that promote civil discourse and providing others with the experience to expand their perspectives and still walk away respecting and understanding people they may not necessarily agree or align with politically, religiously, or socially.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I’ve always had a reputation as a rule follower. During a creative writing class assignment in high school, I struggled to write outside of an academic and research style. I had a solid draft but knew the paper lacked spark. Standing in front of my desk, my teacher, Lauren Gray, read my paper silently to herself. I figured I would still get a good grade since the writing followed all the conventional writing rules. I was very wrong. Once she finished the last page, she looked at me and then ripped my paper. I gasped as she tore along the edges of each page and then gave the disheveled remains of my assignment back to me. “Give me the gray in your writing. This paper’s too black and white. You can do better,” she stated. She’s been my mentor and friend ever since. After graduating from high school, we kept in touch and then became co-workers just three years later when I accepted a position to teach English. She still imparts so much wisdom and insight especially when it comes to leadership, education, and marriage. In fact, Lauren was my wedding officiant when I got married. Her heart and passion for people and doing what is right by others is what I most admire about her.

Contact Info:

• Email: ksleezer@gilberttalks.com
• Instagram: kasleezer

 

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