Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Deezil Greezil

Yes — absolutely. As a comedian, speaker, and creator, my work often mixes humor, honesty, and cultural commentary. That blend can be misunderstood, especially by people who only hear the joke and miss the intention behind it. One example was a piece of content I posted that went viral. It was funny, but it also challenged people to think deeper about discipline and accountability. Read More>>

Jason Klotz

Yes. My work with SkateAC has been misunderstood many times, and almost always for the same reason. SkateAC was born from a simple idea: kids needed a safe place to skate so they would stop getting chased, arrested, and pushed out of public spaces. I started by building ledges illegally on Sovereign Avenue because nobody else was doing anything. Read More>>

Whitney White

I’ve always thrived on creativity, but for much of my career I worked in environments that didn’t really support it. Because of that, I was often labeled “the dreamer.” I was told I was too loud, too much, and that my creative priorities were distractions from what I “should” be focusing on. Read More>>

Lucas Essman

I think people misunderstand me when they only look at the surface. I present myself in a polished way, so some assume I have it all figured out or that I am trying to be someone I am not. The truth is that everything I do comes from growth, not performance. Read More>>