Here's why our office is closed today 💛

"This is going to impact people in so many aspects." 10/4/19 A Letter From the Head of Great Big Story When it comes to serving the community, Great Big Story knows we all have the ability to make a difference.   Our staff come from all different places, backgrounds and cultures—from international cities like Lisbon, Lima and Seoul to small towns like Colchester (England), Ada (Michigan, not Oklahoma!), Vancouver Island and beyond—but the one thing we have in common is we all take pride in where we come from, and we want to continue giving back as we set roots in new places.   Great Big Story is a place where the people believe in their potential to make a positive impact on the community. That's why, for the third time this year, we're closing down the office to organize a day of service.    Read more from our letter from the head of Great Big Story, Courtney Coupe.  Meet 5 Brave People Building Lasting Communities This School on a Bus Is Bringing Education to Everyone Shelia Hill grew up in San Francisco's Sunnydale Projects. It was a rough neighborhood. She got into trouble when she was young and dropped out of school. She thought it wasn't for her. Hill's attitude changed after she had her own children. One day, her son asked why he should bother going to school since she didn't. It was a lightbulb moment. Hill realized that she had to do better for herself and her family.  How Jazzercise Turned Into a Viral Sensation This year marks the 50th anniversary of everyone's favorite fitness phenomenon, Jazzercise. The fun and funky leotard-clad aerobic sensation was the brainchild of Judi Sheppard Missett back in 1969. Her goal was to incorporate cardiovascular and strength training into a dance class that was fun and accessible to everyone. In the 1980s, it blossomed into a full-fledged cultural phenomenon—Jazzercise dancers even performed at the opening ceremony for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. And today, the Jazzercise community is alive and thriving.  Check out Judi's tips for building your own lasting community. How this Woman Is Saving Migrant Lives Along the Border Maria Ochoa is providing a lifeline for desperate people in the desert. For 17 years, the co-founder of Tucson Samaritans and other members of the group have been providing food, water and medical supplies to migrants traversing southern Arizona. It's harsh, hot terrain. People can only carry so much water. Finding a bottle left on a trail by Ochoa can mean the difference between life and death for a migrant from Central or South America. For 27-Time Hopi High Cross-Country Champs, Running Is Tradition Rick Baker runs the cross-country program at Arizona's Hopi High School, and he is one of the most successful coaches in sports—period. His runners have won 27 consecutive state cross-country titles in a row. Winning is great, of course—it's a source of pride for Baker, his runners and the Hopi community. But he has a bigger mission: keeping running alive and making sure every generation is aware of its significance to the Hopi tribe. After Losing His Legs, He Discovered Wheelchair Boxing Donahue Fields had planned to enlist in the Marines. But at 19 he was hit by a stray bullet one night in the Bronx, New York. He lost both his legs. Doctors told him he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He could no longer go on to serve in the Marines. Then he took up boxing. And everything changed.  Copyright © 2019 Great Big Story, LLC, All rights reserved.You are receiving this message because you subscribed to the Great Big Story newsletter. View this email in your browser.  Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list