Speaker Series

Community. Commitment. Collaboration.

Meridian’s Speaker Series was developed to bring community leaders, professionals, educators, and the general public together to discuss and identify issues surrounding community health. Through poignant guest speakers immersed in experiences related to identified topics and a discussion panel following, we enable and engage in conversation and discuss potential collaborative opportunities where people within the community can work together to build healthier outcomes for those in need.

The 2021 Speaker Series featured Ryan Leaf, October 20 in Lafayette and October 21 in Richmond, and Chris Herren on November 11 in Muncie.

Guest Speakers

Chris Herren

An extraordinary basketball player, Chris Herren was a celebrated star before graduating high school. He went on to play at Boston College, Fresno State, and in the NBA – including one with his hometown team, the Boston Celtics – and seven seasons overseas before losing it all to the disease of addiction. His recovery journey has been documented in the bestselling memoir, “Basketball Junkie,” the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary, “Unguarded” and in countless local, national and international stories by The New York Times, The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated.

Ryan Leaf

Ryan Leaf is a former NFL QB whose career was full of expectations he didn’t live up to. That failure accompanied by his inability to live life on life’s terms found him in a prison cell both literally and emotionally. Ryan has become a symbol of peace and inspiration for those who struggle with substance abuse and mental illness. Ryan currently is the Program Ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community as well as a College Football and NFL Analyst for ESPN & SiriusXM.