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Browse your way through American Portrait. Explore stories, prompts and featured collections.
- To me, work means invention. creation. innovation.
- To me, work means learning to listen and listening to learn. No matter where you are in life or who you're with, you never stop learning, and learning takes work. Just like nothing in life is guaranteed, neither is freedom of or from anything. Things don't...
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- I took a risk when I boarded a segregated midnight Greyhound to Atlantic City, N.J. I knew no one, no place to stay, only a two way bus ticket and ten dollars that my younger sister added to my ten that I had hidden away for...
- I took a risk when I started my own company around creating a more inclusive world.
- I took a risk when 1 5. I rode the Greyhound at night to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to find work. I heard that I could clean rooms and earn money for college. With only twenty dollars in my pocket and a one way bus ticket...
- I took a risk when I spit into the glass tube and sent off the DNA test. I had only a little information on my mother's history. She was born in 1935 and raised by her grandmother. She didn't know her own mother or father. She's...
- I took a risk when I switched jobs in a middle of a pandemic. I was scared. A lot of people had lost their jobs, and times were getting harder. I didn't feel safe in my role and knew I had to find a new job...
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- Now is the time just like it says now it's time to express myself and tell my story my name is Sarah Luiz I'm a world-famous post-op transgender woman I became world famous suing my insurance company 1989 for my sex change operation from there I...
- Now is the time that we empower ourselves for a better future. I'm excited about working with inspiring people to uncover their passions, and help them integrate those passions into holistic happiness in all areas of their lives. If Covid taught us one thing, it's that...
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FEATURED COLLECTION
“My philosophy of education is that anyone can learn…”
Jessica from the American Portrait documentary series joins teachers from across the country sharing their classroom stories, inspirations, struggles, and joys.
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In “I Work,” the second episode of the American Portrait documentary series, Jessica struggles with finding a new teaching job in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For Jessica, and for teachers across the country, being in the classroom is the American Dream.
- To me, work means creativity and love. A place to grow with my students.
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- The tradition I carry on is my Jewish identity. An often-overlooked “perk” of Judaism is the global community. In virtually every place I have visited, from a remote Costa Rican surf village to my university's campus, I have found a Jewish community offering warmth and welcoming...
- The tradition I carry on is that it's worthwhile to do something well. My dad is a craftsman in the old-school sense, and my mom is an artist. So I kind of got it from both barrels, so to speak. Happy Mother's Day to Margaret Louise...
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- Looking ahead, I Hope the world will change for our children to be full of love and understanding. We need to learn from our mistakes and history and be fair and kind. We need courage to express our feelings and we need to do so in...
- Looking ahead, I see a bright future for me and my family. To me work means being able to help people. At this point of my life I see myself being able to reach my dream. I see myself being able to be successful with my...
- Looking ahead, I was asked to share a story about letting go of something, regrets, etc. I often felt I did not plan ahead well for retirement. Never worked anywhere that I get a pension besides Social Security. Wished I had gotten a job working for...
- Looking ahead, I plan to share my learning and experience in life . I hope to reflect to the world my enthusiasm and dreams as well as fun things to enjoy all life has given me . To have gratitude for what I have, cherish what...
- Looking ahead, I want to be ready for anything. I want to be ready for the challenges ahead. I also want to know everything I can for the future.
- Looking ahead, I hope to find my new way after the pandemic. I made the decision to close my law practice in 2018. It has taken me @ years to close. It has been tough trying to find my way in a global pandemic. I have...
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- My greatest challenge is accepting myself reassuringly and truly with love and cucumber confidence.
- My greatest challenge is being first in almost everything I've ever done. I was the last of 5 children but the first to have grown up in the most beautiful house I've ever seen, before it was ruined. The first 6 year old to start public...
- My greatest challenge is working on and eventually accomplishing all the things I want to do with my time here on Earth in order to make the world a better place in every way I can. I'm aware of the sheer number and complexity of problems...
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FEATURED COLLECTION
“Now is the time for young people to use our voices...”
Hear stories of America’s youth coming together to advocate for change.
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America’s young people are coming of age in a world of climate change, political upheaval, school shootings, and a renewed civil rights movements. In these stories, they are putting idealism to work and fighting to make the United States a better place. Hear these tech natives share inspiring and urgent stories reminding us that the next generation is tough, smart, and ready to lead us towards the next chapter in the great American experiment. What changes are you hopeful for?
- .I was raised to believe that everyone deserves to have their rights represented. When I was a senior at Clifton High School, I decided to start with representing the rights of my community. I led the effort to declare Eid al-Adha ( a Muslim...
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