The Willow Experience
Book us at meetwillow@gmail.com
Desiree Fleming is a devoted wife, loving mother, and the second oldest of thirteen children. A powerhouse storyteller, author, educator, and speaker, Desiree’s journey is one of resilience, rising above the challenges of peer bullying she faced growing up. Despite her remarkable achievements, if you met her today, you would never guess she once struggled with crippling self-esteem, lack of confidence, and poverty.
​
As a young girl, Desiree was relentlessly bullied by both her peers and older students, beginning in first grade and continuing through eighth grade. She felt small, silenced, and intimidated, unsure of how to speak up for herself or find her own voice. But the hardships she faced only fueled her determination to break the cycle of self-doubt and empower others.
​
One of Desiree's deepest beliefs is that a strong sense of identity is the cornerstone of a child’s well-being. Without it, a child’s spirit is stifled. She knows this from her own life experience—she once believed the cruel words others hurled at her. But Desiree refused to let that define her, and when her daughter, Elisa, began grappling with similar struggles regarding her own identity, Desiree made a vow to rewrite that story. She would give Elisa the tools to confidently embrace her voice and her individuality.
​
Through the fictional character Willow, Desiree passionately brings to life the struggles of peer pressure, finding the courage to speak up, and building the inner strength to be comfortable in one’s own skin. Willow’s journey is a reflection of Desiree’s unwavering commitment to helping others—from children to adults—uncover their unique strengths. With her “Willow” puppet, music, and heartfelt discussions, Desiree leads interactive assemblies at schools, where she tackles bullying, self-awareness, and the power of embracing one’s true self. Her presentations resonate deeply with audiences, who consistently rave about their transformative impact.
​
Together, Desiree and Elisa form an unstoppable mother-daughter team. In 2018, they embarked on a national tour to share their powerful books, Meet Willow and Everybody Gets It Except Willow Or So She Thinks. Their mission is nothing short of revolutionary: to ignite a movement that empowers young students, ages 6 to 13, to stand strong against bullying, develop unshakable self-confidence, and proudly embrace their unique voices. With Willow by their side, Desiree and Elisa are inspiring children everywhere to let go of fear, believe in themselves, and shine brightly in their own authentic light.
Elisa Fleming, a recent high school graduate studying Early Childhood Education, is a passionate advocate for children who experience bullying. She also choreographs dances for kids at Willow Camps. A young author, go-getter, and trendsetter, Elisa is full of energy and brings joy to everyone around her. At just thirteen years old, she’s creative, compassionate, and has a big heart for helping others. As the youngest in her family, Elisa is the pride and joy of her parents, and she absolutely loves spending time with her brother and young nieces. Family means everything to Elisa, and spending time with them is one of her favorite activities.
​
Elisa’s story is one of strength and resilience. She was bullied from kindergarten through her junior year in high school, enduring relentless taunts and isolation. Growing up in an environment where many students didn’t look like her, Elisa struggled with her identity and felt increasingly disconnected from her peers. For years, she battled with her self-esteem, unsure of how to stand up for herself in the face of such cruelty.
But Elisa is an overcomer. Despite the years of bullying, she never let it define her. She learned to embrace her uniqueness, finding strength in her individuality. As a young girl, Elisa once asked her mother if she could paint her face a different color, not realizing that her own skin tone was already beautiful. This moment sparked her mother, Desiree, to create an empowerment group for “brown girls” to help them value their identity and embrace their differences.
​
Today, Elisa uses her voice to help other children facing similar challenges. Together with her mother, she travels the country leading workshops to empower kids to stand up to bullying, find their voices, and celebrate their uniqueness. Elisa encourages both girls and boys to be confident, embrace their individuality, and overcome the pressures they face from their peers.
​
Elisa’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience. She shares her story with children to inspire them to rise above bullying and embrace who they truly are. She gifts the "You Rock Aprons," which she designed, to the children she meets as a reminder that they are special, worthy, and unique.
Through she and her mother's partnership, Elisa is on a mission to build self-esteem, foster confidence, and help children become the authors of their own stories.