2018-19 BTC Calendar: Jennifer Killi Marshall

When Jennifer Killi Marshall was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, telling stories became her way of healing. After writing her award-winning blog anonymously to avoid judgment, she decided to drop the pen name for her first paid writing assignment and was met with an outpouring of support. This was the catalyst for the launch of Marshall’s nonprofit organization, This Is My Brave, which works to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues through storytelling. Since 2014, the marketing graduate has produced 35 shows across the country (and two in Australia), with nearly 500 individuals sharing their experiences. “One day we will live in a world where we won’t have to call it ‘brave’ when talking about mental illness,” Jennifer says. “We’ll just call it talking.”