Book Talk with Jill Chalsty: The Journey That Changed Everything

At 63, Jill Siegal Chalsty boarded a ship alone, grieving her husband’s death, facing breast and lung cancer, and unsure what the next chapter of her life would hold. What began as a 107-day voyage around the world became a journey of healing, rediscovery, and renewed purpose. In this book talk, Jill shares the story behind her debut memoir Packets of Hope: A Journey of Healing and Rediscovery, inviting participants to travel alongside her through the ports she visited, the people she met, and the reflections that transformed personal adversity into strength and global impact. She also shares her “packets of hope”—envelopes filled with free life skills resources from her nonprofit, Overcoming Obstacles—that she delivered along the way. Jill also talks about her second memoir, Packets of Hope: The Journey Continues, which recounts her travels across Europe, expanding her mission to educators and ministers of education while facing cruelty, disdain, and prejudice that tested her resolve. Through storytelling and reflection, Jill demonstrates how one person’s courage and service can create ripples of hope that span continents and generations. Participants are encouraged to read her first memoir, available for free at www.packetsofhope.com, before the presentation.This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.