CAN Talks inspire hope and, in one case, even marriage

When Greenville CAN Talks came to Centre Stage theatre in 2019, it was a chance to support and raise awareness for people with disabilities. An unexpected side bonus was two of the speakers, Chris Sparrow and Callie Sharon, met, fell in love and got married.

The CAN Talks are an extension of Greenville CAN (Collaborative Action Network), a collective of advocates, service providers, families, caregivers and professionals dedicated to increasing employment and other opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Greenville CAN was created in 2013 by a grant from the Barbara Stone Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting creative programs for those with disabilities.

At the 2019 event, a group of disabled people, including former America’s Got Talent contestant Ryan Niemiller, told attendees about their lives, disabilities and hopes and dreams. The talks were designed to change people’s perceptions of the disabled and what they can contribute to the community as a whole. Sparrow and Sharon both spoke about their disabilities and their daily lives.

“There are stereotypes and stigmas for people with disabilities. And a lot of times, it becomes something that seems very limiting.” – Chris Sparrow

Sharon, who has epilepsy, first met Sparrow, who has been in a wheelchair since a rare neurological event left him paralyzed below the waist, as they prepared their speeches.

“I thought he was super-handsome,” Sharon says. “I was a speaker and Chris was kind of the speaker in charge, and I was assigned to Chris, as one of his coachees. And so we just spent a long time together working on our speeches.

“I like to think that I coached him on his speech a little bit,” Sharon adds with a laugh. “But we just got to know each other through that. We’re able to just really kind of understand each other through our disabilities, though they’re vastly different. We’re able to really identify with one another. And I think that kind of catapulted us into a different direction.”

“I think it’s excitement that we have this opportunity to go out and talk and kind of bring a different perspective,” – Chris Sparrow

“We kind of understood each other in ways that most people don’t and so it created instant chemistry,” Sparrow says. “We felt safe with each other.”

Now, after skipping 2020, the CAN Talks are back, this time at the Greenville ONE Center on Oct. 26. And the happy couple, who married in August, will be serving as emcees for the event, which will include another America’s Got Talent contestant, Mandy Harvey, as the keynote speaker.

“We’re just really excited,” Sharon says. “We had a great time, obviously, both in giving our speeches as well as meeting one another and getting married. We’re working also with some of the speakers and coaching them, and there’s some really awesome stories to be told, so we’re thrilled to be part of that. We’re also super-excited just to be back on stage together as the Sparrows.”

“I think it’s excitement that we have this opportunity to go out and talk and kind of bring a different perspective,” Sparrow says. “There are stereotypes and stigmas for people with disabilities. And a lot of times, it becomes something that seems very limiting. So we’re just excited for the opportunity to show people how much more we can bring to life in the community.”