Hi, my name is Maria

The idea for this project was embedded in the ending of my career, living through a global pandemic and writing a book about how pieces of strangers’ stories gave me a glimpse into my own.

Spending time on my small ranch at the end of a career and in the middle of a pandemic helped me recognize how my story was changing. I believe stories are how we connect, how we listen, how we understand ourselves and one another. I can’t help but notice how best selling books, political messaging, and online posts are narrating the story of our country. Yet, conversations with family, friends, and even strangers are telling a story that sounds different from the one being told to us across media.

So I started this project with one question and an invitation to join the voices of everyday people in telling our greater American story. I hope you will join me!