The Barbara Stone Foundation to host ‘CAN Talks’

The Barbara Stone Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting and creating visionary programs for individuals with disabilities, will host CAN Talks, a powerful event where six individuals with disabilities, living in the Upstate, will share their unique stories and insights to spark new conversations, challenge outdated stereotypes, and broaden perspectives.

CAN Talks will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 6:40 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., at Centre Stage, located at 501 River Street in downtown Greenville. The 2025 speakers are Andrew Angalet, Daniel Battle, Andy Lecture, Kathleen Stoller, Alex Wallace and Chrystal Washington. Jake Kellett and Betsy Knowles, two 2024 CAN Talks speakers, will be the 2025 emcees. CAN Talks coaches are Caroline Avinger, Dana Gantt Moore, John Moore, Dann Publicover and Leigh Whitaker.

“The Barbara Stone Foundation created CAN Talks so that individuals living with a disability could share the contributions they have made to our community despite the challenges and barriers they face every day,” said Lara Ceisel, executive director of the Barbara Stone Foundation. “The 2025 speakers have developed their speech from a place of vulnerability and share deeply personal information to broaden our community’s perspectives about disabilities, showcasing their self-advocacy skills.”

Admission is $30, and tickets can be purchased at www.GVLCANtalks.org. Virtual tickets are also available for $10. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a cocktail reception, and CAN Talks starts at 6:40 p.m. with Barbara Stone Foundation’s Fall Community Innovations Grants check presentation. A sign language interpreter will be available, and accommodations will be made for guests upon request. Seating for individuals using a wheelchair is limited to eight.

Contact Lara Ceisel for more information about CAN Talks at lara@barbarastonefoundation.org or call 864-214-5798. For more information about the Barbara Stone Foundation or to donate, visit www.barbarastonefoundation.org.

About The Barbara Stone Foundation

Since 1991, the Barbara Stone Foundation’s primary focus has been to influence community systems, policies, and culture to result in equitable opportunities for individuals with disabilities in South Carolina’s Upstate. We do this by identifying gaps in services, investing in or creating our own innovative programs, leveraging partnerships in the community, and through our signature initiatives Greenville CAN (Collaborative Action Network) and the UP (Upward Professionals) Employment Initiative. To learn more, visit www.barbarastonefoundation.org or find the organization on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.