What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?

We wake up, get work, go back home and rinse and repeat – or at least it feels that way sometimes. In truth, there are a million moments in between where we interact with others and we can’t help but wonder what folks will think about us once we aren’t showing up, perhaps once we are gone. Some very thoughtful members of the community share their thoughts on this with us below.

Renita Pagan

I hope people say that I was resilient. That despite the odds stacked against me and the narratives society tried to write for me, I chose a different path. Coming from a family where both my parents and grandparents struggled with untreated mental health challenges and addiction, I refused to let their battles define my future. Read More>>

Tamika V. Johnson

When I think of who I am, it is not just being an Author, Entertainer, or Social Media Influencer with three college degrees: I am a Minister, and these interactions have allowed me to influence and reach many people in broader ranges than one specific location. Read More>>

Soheyla Rashidyan

I hope people remember me as someone who built a space where creativity felt like home. Not because of titles or accomplishments, but because I created places, both through my art and through MOCVA—where people felt seen, welcomed, and inspired. Read More>>

Kristi Dance-Kinkead

I hope they’ll say I was a woman who built things—not just businesses, not just venues, not just weddings, but people. I hope they’ll say I had a way of walking into a room & seeing potential where others saw problems. I could take a scattered dream, a struggling vendor, a stressed-out bride, or a half-finished venue & breathe life into it. Read More>>

Shan McFarland

I hope people will one day say that I did it anyway. Despite my shortcomings. Despite depression. Despite suicidal thoughts. Despite losses, heartbreak, rejection, and disappointment, I kept going and I kept my faith. What most people don’t realize is that many of my content videos were recorded after I’d already wiped my tears. I struggle just like everyone else. I fall short sometimes. Read More>>