Storyteller Odd?Rod

4x-winning Spokenword Artist of the Year, Storyteller Odd?Rod has a journey that parallels that of Alexander Hamilton. He became a ward of the courts at age five because his mom suffered from a drug addiction while his father denied and left him. Although his grandmother and aunt intervened to become his caretakers, it didn’t prevent his exposure to abuse and neglect that typical foster kids face. He wrote his emotions in poetry and eventually used the poems as his therapy. Despite his triumphs, he managed to earn a fully-funded scholarship to college and became a first-generation graduate in his family. After a TED talk performance, he earned another fully-funded scholarship to the University of Alabama where he graduated with awards and is now a scholar and a hero to his community. Much like Hamilton, he writes like he is “running out of time” and his writing has not only saved his life, but it has also paved the road to his success. In his presentation, Storyteller Odd?Rod uses real inspirational stories, award-winning poetry, and photography to motivate his listeners to persevere.