Presenter: Dotti Berry
SO Lounge, on Mon May 12 at 9:00AM
Message from Dotti Berry, Facilitator
This year’s theme, “Walking on Sunshine...Together!” is a perfect next step from last year’s theme, “Loving Who You Are!” There’s no better place to embrace this journey than in Port Angeles, WA — a truly remarkable community that has supported Esprit for over 30 years. This town’s warm embrace allows you to love who you are because they love and welcome you first.
The beautiful visual of this year’s theme captures the essence of “Walking on Sunshine...Together” — a celebration of joy, love, and that amazing feeling when
things finally start falling into place. As the song goes: “I’m walking on sunshine, and don’t it feel good!”
As I share every year, this experience is about the joy of tapping into your authentic self. I’ve had the privilege of serving as facilitator of the SO/Couples program for 22 years (and yes, I’m counting the two years we missed due to the pandemic — I was with you in spirit!). Esprit is an extraordinary opportunity for self-discovery and growth — whether you’re learning how to love and accept yourself more fully as an SO (Significant Other), someone who is transgender or questioning, or as a couple navigating this journey together.
But here’s the truth: tapping into your joy and love — walking on sunshine together — isn’t a final destination. It’s not a place you arrive at and stay forever. It’s an ongoing process — a beautiful, sometimes perplexing journey (and trust me, your facilitator feels this too!). You’ll never reach a finish line when it comes to self-love and self- discovery because there is no finish line. Life is fluid. Growth is continuous. The magic lies in embracing the journey itself.
I invite you to “Enjoy the Ride” — because it’s your ride. Your unique, evolving, sometimes bumpy, but always transformative journey. And that’s why Walking on Sunshine...Together is a lifelong experience. Every day really is a new day — and that can either work for you or against you. Whatever you believe shapes your reality. So why not choose the belief that life works for you?
One day you’ll wake up feeling unstoppable, ready to say, “Wow, I finally get it! I’m truly on my way to loving who I am!” And the next day, you might wake up, look in the mirror, and wonder, “Who ARE you?” I’ve been there myself — like when I moved 2,300 miles across the country to live with Robynne. One day, you feel like Ms. Popularity — confident and self-assured — and the next, it feels like the whole world thinks you’re falling short. But this isn’t about them — it’s about you and how you feel about yourself.
The key is learning how to quiet the voices of your inner Saboteurs — those critical, fear-based thoughts that try to derail you — and turning up the volume of your Sage, your authentic, wise self. The truth is, nobody else has the authority to determine your worth or your right to love yourself. If you’ve been giving that power away — stop it! It’s not anyone else’s job to hand you a magic wand and tell you you’re okay. That’s your job. You hold that magic wand — and it’s time to tap yourself on the head and declare, “Who I am is okay. And I love who I am!”
The most important part of Walking on Sunshine...Together is embracing the joy and love within you — because only then can you invite others to love you and truly accept
their love. This is especially important when it comes to your spouse or partner. That self-love becomes the cornerstone of a beautiful, evolving, and respectful relationship.
Many of you may already understand that being transgender is not a choice. But choosing to live authentically — to be honest with yourself and those you love — is a choice. Loving yourself and loving others is a choice too, even when it takes time. And part of that choice is inviting your spouse, partner, friends, and family to walk this journey with you.
Our program provides a safe, supportive space to reflect, explore, and empower yourself as you navigate this path. As an SO, as someone who is transgender or questioning, and as a couple, you’ll face choices — sometimes ones you don’t feel fully prepared for. This week is a chance to gain clarity, find support, and take steps forward with greater understanding and confidence.
Every relationship is unique. While we may share common threads, no two stories are exactly alike. Both the SO and the person who is transgender need empathy, patience, and space to explore their evolving selves and their relationship. Through this program, you’ll find the support you need to move beyond isolation and rediscover the you who may have felt lost along the way.
For those returning to Esprit and the SO/Couples program, you may find that your family’s story has continued evolving — and that growth is part of your journey too.
Whether you’re married or partnered with someone who’s FtM, MtF, a crossdresser, transgender, nonbinary, or genderqueer — and whether your partnership involves two people or more — Esprit’s SO/Couples program is here to help. This is a space where you can find answers to your questions, build meaningful friendships, and feel truly seen, heard, and supported.
At Esprit, everyone is welcome — whether you’re attending for the first time or the tenth. Because everyone has value. And that’s worth celebrating. Message from Dotti Berry, Facilitator
This year’s theme, “Walking on Sunshine...Together!” is a perfect next step from last year’s theme, “Loving Who You Are!” There’s no better place to embrace this journey than in Port Angeles, WA — a truly remarkable community that has supported Esprit for over 30 years. This town’s warm embrace allows you to love who you are because they love and welcome you first.
The beautiful visual of this year’s theme captures the essence of “Walking on Sunshine...Together” — a celebration of joy, love, and that amazing feeling when
things finally start falling into place. As the song goes: “I’m walking on sunshine, and don’t it feel good!”
As I share every year, this experience is about the joy of tapping into your authentic self. I’ve had the privilege of serving as facilitator of the SO/Couples program for 22 years (and yes, I’m counting the two years we missed due to the pandemic — I was with you in spirit!). Esprit is an extraordinary opportunity for self-discovery and growth — whether you’re learning how to love and accept yourself more fully as an SO (Significant Other), someone who is transgender or questioning, or as a couple navigating this journey together.
But here’s the truth: tapping into your joy and love — walking on sunshine together — isn’t a final destination. It’s not a place you arrive at and stay forever. It’s an ongoing process — a beautiful, sometimes perplexing journey (and trust me, your facilitator feels this too!). You’ll never reach a finish line when it comes to self-love and self- discovery because there is no finish line. Life is fluid. Growth is continuous. The magic lies in embracing the journey itself.
I invite you to “Enjoy the Ride” — because it’s your ride. Your unique, evolving, sometimes bumpy, but always transformative journey. And that’s why Walking on Sunshine...Together is a lifelong experience. Every day really is a new day — and that can either work for you or against you. Whatever you believe shapes your reality. So why not choose the belief that life works for you?
One day you’ll wake up feeling unstoppable, ready to say, “Wow, I finally get it! I’m truly on my way to loving who I am!” And the next day, you might wake up, look in the mirror, and wonder, “Who ARE you?” I’ve been there myself — like when I moved 2,300 miles across the country to live with Robynne. One day, you feel like Ms. Popularity — confident and self-assured — and the next, it feels like the whole world thinks you’re falling short. But this isn’t about them — it’s about you and how you feel about yourself.
The key is learning how to quiet the voices of your inner Saboteurs — those critical, fear-based thoughts that try to derail you — and turning up the volume of your Sage, your authentic, wise self. The truth is, nobody else has the authority to determine your worth or your right to love yourself. If you’ve been giving that power away — stop it! It’s not anyone else’s job to hand you a magic wand and tell you you’re okay. That’s your job. You hold that magic wand — and it’s time to tap yourself on the head and declare, “Who I am is okay. And I love who I am!”
The most important part of Walking on Sunshine...Together is embracing the joy and love within you — because only then can you invite others to love you and truly accept
their love. This is especially important when it comes to your spouse or partner. That self-love becomes the cornerstone of a beautiful, evolving, and respectful relationship.
Many of you may already understand that being transgender is not a choice. But choosing to live authentically — to be honest with yourself and those you love — is a choice. Loving yourself and loving others is a choice too, even when it takes time. And part of that choice is inviting your spouse, partner, friends, and family to walk this journey with you.
Our program provides a safe, supportive space to reflect, explore, and empower yourself as you navigate this path. As an SO, as someone who is transgender or questioning, and as a couple, you’ll face choices — sometimes ones you don’t feel fully prepared for. This week is a chance to gain clarity, find support, and take steps forward with greater understanding and confidence.
Every relationship is unique. While we may share common threads, no two stories are exactly alike. Both the SO and the person who is transgender need empathy, patience, and space to explore their evolving selves and their relationship. Through this program, you’ll find the support you need to move beyond isolation and rediscover the you who may have felt lost along the way.
For those returning to Esprit and the SO/Couples program, you may find that your family’s story has continued evolving — and that growth is part of your journey too.
Whether you’re married or partnered with someone who’s FtM, MtF, a crossdresser, transgender, nonbinary, or genderqueer — and whether your partnership involves two people or more — Esprit’s SO/Couples program is here to help. This is a space where you can find answers to your questions, build meaningful friendships, and feel truly seen, heard, and supported.
At Esprit, everyone is welcome — whether you’re attending for the first time or the 4th, 10th or 20th time! Because everyone has value. And that’s worth celebrating.
Dotti Berry, CEO of Training2Transform Global Communications, was truly “Born to Coach.” This year marks her 22nd year as the facilitator of the Esprit SO/ Couples Program, where she works with both Significant Others and Couples in a journey of understanding, growth, and connection.
As a Consultant, Coach, Trainer/Facilitator, Speaker, and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach, Dotti brings a wealth of experience and heart to her work. She pursued her doctorate in Human Sexuality and studied with Brian McNaught — called the “Godfather of Gay Sensitivity Training” by The New York Times — at the Thornfield Annual Conference on Sexuality, where she completed a specialized track on corporate diversity and LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace. Dotti is a passionate advocate for the acceptance and inclusion of transgender, gender-diverse, gender- questioning and gender queer individuals, often saying: “Not only should they not be left behind — we must invite them to lead the way and take a place at the head of the table.”
In 2017, Dotti and Brian McNaught co-created “Talk With America”, a series of live hangouts designed to foster authentic, transformative conversations across divides. Their mission was to:
• Create a space for meaningful dialogue rooted in wisdom, grace, and humor.
• Compassionately listen and engage with those who hold differing attitudes and opinions.
• Respond vs. react, taking actions that reflect our deepest values. • Embrace transformation over adversarial interactions.
Dotti often reflects on the connection between Talk With America and the work done at Esprit, highlighting the importance of listening, understanding, and building bridges.
Throughout her career, Dotti has coached individuals across the expansive spectrum of gender diversity and has served as a keynote speaker at conferences. She’s facilitated groups for SOs and couples at major events like Fantasia Fair, Southern Comfort, and the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE), in addition to her long-standing commitment to Esprit.
An accomplished author and facilitator, Dotti has worked with both youth and adults since 1985 — leading seminars and workshops for organizations, universities, corporations, religious institutions, and leadership programs. Some of the diverse groups she’s collaborated with include Sodexo, Info Quest Clinical, the Girl Scouts, NCCJ (National Conference of Community and Justice), the University of Kentucky, Women Out Front, and Soulforce. Her areas of expertise range from executive coaching, Positive Intelligence, and personal transformation to LGBTQ+ issues, diversity, team-building, and non- violent communication.
I
n 2005/06 Dotti, her spouse Robynne Sapp, and their beloved standard poodle Rylee Joy embarked on a year-long journey called Gay Into Straight America, dedicated to engaging hearts and minds, creating authentic connections, and transcending the differences that separate us. In 2012, they traveled throughout Washington state, speaking about the importance of the Freedom to Marry for ALL. Though they lost Rylee Joy in 2016, their family grew again with the addition of Baylee Joy, a red standard poodle who made her Esprit debut in 2017, and Willow, Baylee Joy’s mother, who joined their family in 2018. The four of them continue to bring love and joy to every adventure — including Esprit!