Interviewer’s Note: Meeting John Ferron, you’d never guess this humble gentleman was at the center of transformative social change in Baltimore or that his life was threatened for standing up against discrimination. He carries himself with a quiet confidence that naturally commands respect. His clever sense of humor catches you off guard. What resonated most…
Dear my beloved family and friends, I wanted to take some time to share with you the things that have been most important to me in my life. One of my fondest memories is being adopted by Alfred Holt, whom I remember with deep love and gratitude. I grew up with cerebral palsy, which shaped…
Interviewer’s Note: Speaking to Joan was an absolute pleasure. She’s just so funny in the way she’s completely honest about everything she says. You can tell she’s a woman with nothing to prove and nothing to hide. Her singing is a great example of the fact that if something is really important to you, you…
Interviewer’s Note: This remarkable woman possesses a calm wisdom that comes from decades of adapting to life’s challenges with grace. She has a real clarity of thought and practicality. It’s unique the way she assesses situations, determines what can and cannot be changed, and finds her way forward with resilience and dignity. Throughout our conversation,…
Interviewer’s note: Cathy Baer is an extraordinary woman. She doesn’t give herself nearly enough credit for the life she’s lived. Writing this legacy letter was a challenge because she just wouldn’t acknowledge all of her accomplishments and the impact she’s had on others. That unwavering humility is what amazes me most about Cathy. It has…
Interviewer’s Note The excitement that this anonymous speaker has when she talks is rare. Excitement for her family and their future as well as her own future to continue learning and growing. We don’t have to stop at school. We really can always keep growing and keep improving. I think that’s a powerful sentiment. Growing…
Interviewer’s Note This man has the most remarkable life story of anyone I’ve had the honor of writing a legacy letter for so far. You name it, he’s probably done it. He is a natural storyteller–I couldn’t stop smiling through my mask because he always knew what to say next, and I could hardly keep…
Interviewer’s Note: It was an absolute pleasure speaking with this patient. I’d never met anyone with so many siblings. And out of all of them, she’s one of the only two left. I found it so powerful that no matter the situation, no matter the size, family is always family. You’ll still be there for…
Interviewer’s Note It’s a shame that I only had a half-hour with Phil; however, I think we made the most out of our one conversation. I learned so much about a man who committed his life to one of the most noble professions, education. As a high school social studies teacher and volunteer ESL teacher,…
Interviewer’s Note Patricia Orlando showed her resilience from the very beginning of our conversation. She was determined to share her story with me despite struggling with severe back pain that repeatedly caused her visible discomfort during our interview. Several times during our conversation, she fought through pain, refusing to let her physical challenges hold her…
