ABOUT

Gwendolen McCloud’s life exemplifies a profile in courage. Having grown up in north St. Louis, Missouri, under some of the most spiritually, psychologically, and physically challenging circumstances for the first 21 years of her life,  she not only survived many of life’s most painful episodes, but emerged from the trenches to define her own voice. High-energy and very uplifting, her vision-focused messages not only motivate and empower her audiences, but entertain and educate as well. To date, she has given a total of 61 presentations for colleges/universities, nonprofits, and at various professional venues. As a result of her life experiences, she has transformed into a speaker who can genuinely relate to a variety of life experiences, and is supercharged about helping others to develop authentic lives because she knows the power that is birthed during the process of overcoming. In addition to being a motivational speaker, Ms. McCloud is an entrepreneur and fantasy writer who is the author of Cake Tales: 10 Deliriously Delicious Stories of the Surreal, a book of fantasy food tales that will soon be available on Amazon.com, nook, and other literary platforms. Ms. McCloud’s talents also include acting (comedic and dramatic), singing, doll-making, drawing, cooking, and dancing. She graduated from Smith College in 1992, with a degree in Government. Her mission now: To Change Lives!

In 2016, she founded her nonprofit, “A Pathway to Hope and Home, Inc.,” which provides services for the homeless, veterans, low-income families and individuals, and other sectors of society. You can visit her nonprofit’s website at 1hope1home.org.