Those of us who were lucky to have someone see something in us long before we saw it in ourselves know how impactful it can be. We are thrilled to highlight some of those stories and honor some of the OG heroes.

Grace Bell

My dad bought me a camera when I was 12 for a birthday+ Christmas present because I was always asking to use his little point in shoot camera. I would just go outside in the yard and take pictures of butterflies and the waterdrops on leaves after the rain. Read More>>

LaShanda Poteat

I can’t give the credit to just one human. This truly goes to two individuals that never doubted me in the beginning and that push me beyond what I think I ever could accomplish. First my fiancee’ Kendall Boone, without his support ,love, patience, kind heart and his grounded personality Blkbeermom would have quit everyday. Read More>>

Sheree Rabinovich

My husband definitely saw me clearly before I ever saw myself. I’ve shed many skins to become who I am today, and through it all, he seemed to recognize the potential beneath it all. He believed in me when no one else did, including myself, and constantly pushed me to grow into the best version of who I could be. Read More>>

Yanni Papanikolaou

My wife, Maria, saw me clearly long before I fully saw myself. She has this quiet, unwavering way of reflecting back the parts of me I used to overlook—the strength, the tenderness, the creative fire. She believed in my potential even during the times I was just trying to keep things afloat. Read More>>