Public Speaking
A Voice Rooted in
Lived Experience
Red Conrad brings something rare to the platform — the perspective of someone who has navigated homelessness firsthand, built coalitions from the ground up, served as a pastor and peer specialist, and spent decades in executive leadership. His talks don’t traffic in theory. They carry the weight of real experience and the clarity of someone who has done the work.
Red speaks to recovery and peer support conferences, nonprofit gatherings, faith communities, government audiences, and academic settings — anywhere people are serious about meeting the most vulnerable where they are.
What Red Brings
More Than a Talk
Lived Credibility
Red has experienced homelessness personally. That is not a footnote — it is the foundation of everything he says on stage.
Pastoral Depth
As a Matthew 25 pastor, Red brings a theological grounding that speaks authentically to faith communities without alienating secular audiences.
Peer Specialist Training
Working toward his CRPS credential, Red understands the recovery landscape from both sides — as someone who has needed support and as someone who provides it.
Coalition Experience
Co-founder of PCHSC with over 20 years of executive experience — Red knows how systems work, where they fail, and what it takes to change them.
Speaking Topics
What Red Speaks On
Signature Talk
Myths of Homelessness
A direct examination of the assumptions, stereotypes, and policy failures that shape how communities respond — or fail to respond — to homelessness. Drawn from Red’s 14-part blog series, this talk challenges audiences to see past the myths toward real, workable solutions.
Best for: Nonprofit conferences · Government audiences · Community organizations
Faith & Justice
Faith & the Unhoused — A Matthew 25 Perspective
What does faithful response to homelessness actually look like — beyond charity, beyond pity, toward genuine solidarity? Red draws from scripture, pastoral experience, and personal story to call faith communities into practical, transformative action.
Best for: Churches · Faith conferences · Denominational gatherings
Peer Support
Peer Support & Lived Experience — The Power of the Inside Voice
Why lived experience isn’t just a credential — it’s a different kind of knowledge. Red speaks to the unique value peer specialists bring to recovery and social services systems, and what it means to serve from a place of shared humanity rather than professional distance.
Best for: Recovery conferences · Peer support training · Behavioral health organizations
Recovery
Recovery & Resilience — Finding Solid Ground
An honest, hopeful exploration of what recovery actually looks like — not as a destination but as a daily practice. Red speaks from personal experience about resilience, community, faith, and the slow, real work of rebuilding a life.
Best for: Recovery conferences · Faith communities · Peer support events
Coalition Building
Building Coalitions That Last — From the Ground Up
How do you bring nonprofits, government entities, and community organizations into genuine alignment around a shared mission? Red draws from his experience co-founding the Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition — building its full infrastructure, partner network, and public presence from scratch — to offer practical, hard-won lessons in coalition leadership.
Best for: Nonprofit conferences · Community organizers · Government & municipal audiences
Policy
Florida Homeless Policy — What the Law Gets Right and Wrong
An on-the-ground analysis of Florida’s approach to homelessness — including HB 1365 and its implications for counties, municipalities, and the people most affected. Red cuts through the political noise to examine what current policy actually does, what it misses, and what real solutions look like in practice.
Best for: Nonprofit conferences · Government & municipal audiences · Policy forums
Who Red Speaks To
Audiences
Recovery & Peer Support Conferences
Organizations and events focused on recovery, behavioral health, and peer specialist training.
Nonprofit Conferences
Social service organizations, housing nonprofits, and community coalitions working on homelessness and poverty.
Faith Communities & Churches
Congregations, denominational gatherings, and faith-based organizations called to serve the margins.
Government & Municipal
County commissions, municipal governments, and public agencies working on housing, homelessness, and social services policy.
Academic & Universities
Social work programs, public policy departments, and academic conferences where lived experience voices are essential alongside research.
Book Red
Invite Red to Speak
Red is available for keynotes, panel discussions, workshop facilitation, and community events. Speaking engagements for nonprofit organizations and faith communities are offered free of charge. For all other inquiries, contact Red directly to discuss your event and needs.
When you reach out, include:
Your organization and event name · Event date and location · Expected audience size · Topic preference · Any specific themes or needs
William "Red" Conrad | Community Advocate 