Come hear Jeanne Pepper, the co-founder of Blaze it Forward speak at her first speaking engagement of 2026 in Irvine, California.
What to expect
Join us for an evening of inspiring talks, bold ideas and shared courage.
We Are: The Power of Collective Courage
Join us for an outstanding event with incredible speakers who will be diving deep into how coming together sparks courage and unstoppable energy. It's all about sharing stories, connecting and building change through relationship. Our event speakers:
To honor her father's legacy, Michelle Della Penna built a foundation for young girls to be introduced to the world of motorsports, including racing, engineering, business, and marketing. The Della Penna Foundation gives these girls a life-changing opportunity with access, mentorship, and the chance to pave the way for future generations.
A mother's truth is not dangerous, but ignoring it is...Aasia Stormm has walked through unimaginable loss and made room for grief without surrendering to it. She is driven by a commitment to turn pain into purpose-and to bring truth, compassion, and
responsibility back into how we listen.
Andrea Suchin is an entrepreneur and caregiver advocate, and the founder of Wuggle, a wellness company focused on sleep and nervous-system health. She partners with nonprofit organizations to support caregivers and their loved ones, and today she's here to share her story.
Our next speaker, Lorna
McFarlane, reflects on a profound personal journey, recognizing longstanding relationship dynamics and unhealthy boundaries that no longer served her, as she finds the courage to choose her own growth and wellness, instead.
Jeanne Pepper is our next speaker whose journey to this stage was forged in a fire no parent should ever have to endure. Many of you know her as the heart of the #BlazeitForward movement and the host of the PeppTalks with Jeanne podcast. In the wake of her son Blaze's death, Jeanne is proud to be here today to share how it was the community-the human connections, the radical kindness, and the unwavering support of people like you —who sustained her family through a grueling, six-year marathon for justice. She reminds us that when we nurture our connections, we don't just survive; we create a legacy that can live forever.
Rachel Hernandez shares her story of how unhealed wounds shape us and the courage it takes to heal and choose yourself.
Melissa Reiner comes to us as a behavioral expert who has
unlocked the key to replace anxiety with a revolutionary way to connect in with our most authentic interpersonal social-emotional relationships. Melissa builds a genuine sense of competence in the world of neurodivergence, one conversation at a time!
Ariel Wilson Gbenedio places faith and trust first, as she guides us on a meditative experience to help us step into our best life as we reach our truest potential.
Don't miss out on an inspiring evening filled with strength, community and connection. See you there!
You must show your ID upon arrival.
Please arrive early as there will be light snacks served prior to the show with NO INTERMISSION and the show will start promptly at 6:30 PM.
A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the JCC.