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Voices of Hope - Meet Your Summit Speakers

We’ve curated a powerful lineup of speakers, faith leaders, grief experts, and women who know the depths of loss and the strength of Hope. 

Natasha Smith is a certified grief educator and certified pastoral counselor, author, speaker, and podcast host. She shares from a place of 30-plus years of lived grief experience, research, and biblical study. She lives near Raleigh, NC, with her husband and children. Her books Can You Just Sit With Me: Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life (2023) and Black Woman Grief: A Guide to Hope and Wholeness (2025) are available wherever books are sold. Connect with her at imnatashasmith.com.

Meet Aubrey Sampson, whose work and presence are a gift to grievers everywhere. Aubrey (MA, evangelism and leadership) co-planted and serves as a teaching pastor at Renewal Church, a multiethnic congregation in Chicagoland.
She also speaks regularly at churches and conferences around the country. She is an award-nominated author, a coach with Propel Cohorts, the cohost of The Nothing Is Wasted Podcast, and host of the What We Find in the Dark Podcast.
Aubrey is the author of several books, most recently What We Find in the Dark: Loss, Hope, and God’s Presence in Grief and a children’s book Big Feelings Days: A Book about Hard Things, Heavy Emotions, and Jesus’ Love. 
Connect with Aubrey on her website, aubreysampson.com, and on social media @aubsamp.

Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is President & CEO of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc., and the Visionary Founder of the nonprofit, Leadership LINKS, Inc. She is a graduate of the Naval Academy, and served as a U.S. Marine Corps Captain and federal government employee of the Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Robinson is a consultant and Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). A graduate of Gordon-Conwell and North Park Theological seminaries, she is a sought-after international speaker with more than 25 years of leadership expertise in the military, federal government, academic, and nonprofit sectors. Dr. Robinson intentionally serves as a credible witness of the gospel to equip people to live and lead on purpose. She is the author of several books including Voices of Lament (editor), Journey to Freedom Exodus Bible study, A Sojourner’s Truth, Hope for Us Nicene Creed Bible study, and Mentor for Life.

Ashley Abercrombie is a skilled writer, strategic thinker, and clergy leader based in Durham, North Carolina. She spent two decades as a pastor, advocate, and chaplain in Los Angeles and New York. On the side, Ashley nurtured her writing career as a ghostwriter on nine books, plus two of her own, Rise of the Truth Teller and Love Is the Resistance, and traveled the world speaking, teaching, and training leaders.

After an intentional midlife career pivot, Ashley serves as the Editorial and Culture Lead at Spotlight & Co, Ashley serves as a consultant in higher education focused on organizational culture and narrative integrity. She is also the Executive Board Chair of Treasures, a survivor-led anti-human trafficking organization. Ashley is a recovery specialist with her Masters in Justice and Advocacy from Fuller Seminary. She loves good coffee, mall walking to 90s music, and raising three children with her husband Cody.

Quantrilla Ard, PhD, is a Grief Coach and Lived Experience Expert with over 20 years of navigating personal loss. Her journey includes a tapestry of varied and complex grief experiences, giving her a unique depth of empathy and insight. Today, she helps others reframe grief—not as something to “move on” from, but as a sacred invitation to healing, purpose, and spiritual growth. Rooted in faith and lived wisdom, Dr. Ard offers compassionate support to those carrying invisible or long-held grief. Her approach blends gentle truth-telling with soul-deep encouragement, guiding grievers from silent survival to meaningful transformation. Through coaching, speaking, and storytelling via the It’s All Grief to Me community and podcast, she creates safe spaces where loss is honored and witnessed, hope is rekindled, and purpose is rediscovered. Whether addressing individuals, communities, or fellow grievers across the internet, Quantrilla speaks with the authenticity of someone who’s walked the path—and now walks beside others as they find their way forward.

Jodi H. Grubbs is a slow-living advocate and the author of Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale. She is the host of Our Island in the City Podcast and is a spiritual director-in-training. Jodi lives in the Raleigh, NC area and loves to have deep conversations over coffee.

After completing internship and two-year post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Mekel Harris, a licensed psychologist, served in higher education, along with community- and hospital-based mental health programs. She is currently CEO of Harris Psychological Services, LLC, offering individual therapy, education, and consultation to organizations around the globe, targeting an array of mental health themes. Dr. Harris is also co-founder of Bloomwell Partners, LLC, a consulting firm focused on equipping leaders with grief literacy skills within the workplace. Throughout the past decade, Dr. Harris has presented at >30 domestic and international conferences, interviewed on several podcasts, and been featured as a mental health expert across popular magazines. Finally, she has authored both a memoir, Relaxing Into the Pain, and a forthcoming grief devotional, Riding the Waves: 52 Devotions to Anchor the Grieving Heart. In her personal time, Dr. Harris enjoys spending time with family, traveling the globe, writing, and collecting all things butterflies.

Chelsea Ohlemiller is an author and speaker passionate about the awareness of grief’s impact. She has an active and engaging social media presence and is well-known for her blog, Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities. Her first book titled, “Now That She’s Gone” released in August. She has been featured in the national bestseller “So God Made a Mother” and two Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She’s also been published online by platforms such as Her View From Home, (in)Courage, Love What Matters, Scary Mommy and more. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband and three children, which are the driving force behind all that she does. Connect with Chelsea here.

Christina Patterson is a Bible teacher, author, and entrepreneur passionate about helping women flourish in faith and business. She is the founder of Beloved Women, a global ministry reaching millions with video Bible studies and resources, and Beloved & Co., where she equips content creators to build profitable businesses with peace and purpose. Christina holds a Master’s in Theology and a degree in Business Management, blending faith and strategy to inspire women to live out their God-given calling.

Liz Newman is a poet and author from the Midwest who writes primarily about grief, faith, mental health, and hope. She is the author of the “Mourning Sky” series. Her book “I Look to the Mourning Sky” earned a Readers’ Favorite Bronze medal in 2022 in the Inspirational Poetry category. Her words have been shared on “Her View From Home”, “Read Poetry”, “Love What Matters”, “The Mighty”, and “Be Still Magazine”. They have also appeared in the London Underground. She believes in the power of words to comfort, connect, and bring light. She writes with the hope that her words can meet people right where they are and make them feel seen in their own difficult seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions.

The Grief Grows Here Summit is a one-day, faith-rooted gathering for women navigating grief and those who support grievers. Hosted at the Titmus Theatre, NC State University (Raleigh, NC), it’s a carefully curated space to pause, be seen, and find hope. Planting Seeds of Hope After Loss.

Our intentionally paced four-hour program includes worship, TED-style talks, intimate garden-side chats, a panel with grief and faith leaders, and curated moments of reflection. VIP guests are invited to a pre-event brunch for added connection and community. The Summit is designed with care for reflection, connection, and meaningful engagement, in a rhythm that allows for depth without overwhelm.

The Grief Grows Here Summit is designed for women navigating grief and those supporting grievers, including:

  • – Grieving women
  • – Ministry leaders
  • – Healthcare and mental health professionals
  • – Counselors and therapists

– Caregivers and supporters

Whether you’re seeking personal healing, professional insight, or a supportive community, this summit offers a safe, faith-rooted space to connect, reflect, and be encouraged.

The Grief Grows Here Summit is a one-day, faith-filled gathering where women can pause, reflect, and find hope together. The day begins with worship, creating space to center hearts on God and experience peace amidst life’s losses. Through TED-style talks, short yet powerful messages inspire and encourage, while garden-side chats offer intimate conversations sharing real stories of grief, resilience, and faith. Thoughtful panel discussions with grief and faith leaders provide guidance, perspective, and practical insight, and curated moments of reflection, a sacred time for collective healing. VIP guests will enjoy an exclusive brunch, offering an additional opportunity to connect, share, and be celebrated within this nurturing community.

VIP Brunch (optional): 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
VIP guests enjoy a curated brunch experience to connect and settle in before the summit begins.

Doors Open / Check-In: 12:00 PM

Program / Summit: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM

The Summit is designed with care to offer moments of reflection, connection, and meaningful engagement without overextending your day, in a rhythm that allows for depth without overwhelm.

Location: Titmus Theatre, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
Theme: Planting Seeds of Hope After Loss

Plan Your Trip to Raleigh, NC

We’re so excited to welcome you to Grief Grows Here on May 2 in Raleigh!

To make your travel easier, we’ve put together a PDF guide with all the details you need:

  • Venue location & parking
  • Nearby hotels & accommodations
  • Transportation tips
  • Things to do in Raleigh

We can’t wait to see you there and share this meaningful day of grief support, reflection, and community.

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Become a Sponsor
The Grief Grows Here Summit is more than an event, it’s a movement of hope, healing, and faith for women navigating grief. By becoming a sponsor, your organization will stand alongside us in creating a safe and transformative space for grievers and those who support them.
 
Interested in partnering with us? Learn more about becoming a sponsor for the Grief Grows Here Summit? 
Thank you for partnering with us to plant seeds of hope to grievers around the globe! You will now be redirected to the Sponsor page with more info and ways to partner!

Your story matters. Your healing matters. Come sit with us at the Grief Grows Here Summit.

Raleigh NC | May 2, 2026

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