In our experience, talking about legacy is often subtly discouraged by society and we find this to be deeply unfortunate. Thinking about the legacy you would like to build can help you better align your work, life, time – your sweat and tears – with your values. Below, we’ve tried to create a space for folks to start conversations about they legacies they are hoping to build.

Ayana Gordon

The legacy that I am building and would like to leave behind will be; that ANG Model Management or any of my other companies always provided a comfortable environment for you to be great and explore your creativity. My legacy will be known for giving opportunity to the underdogs. Read more>>

Brandon Carnes

I am God’s toughest soldier. Regardless of my circumstances, or having less than others in the sport as far as resources go, I still was and will continue to perform at the highest level and achieve my goals. Read more>>

Antoinette Adefela

The first thing I think about when considering my legacy is family. Being able to show love to my family and be there when they need me matters the most. I moved away from home but visited throughout the year. It wasn’t the same. I felt like my parents aged every time I came back and visited. I dealt with the struggle of being ambitious and going after my dream while losing time with the people around me who cared and supported me. Read more>>

Whitney Barkley

I hope to build a legacy that empowers and uplifts Black girls and young women to harness the incredible superpower that is their voice. After I’m gone, I hope people will remember me as someone who dedicated her life to helping Black girls break free from the societal constraints that often limit their potential and self-expression. I want to be remembered as a champion for the belief that every girl is powerful, capable, and worthy of speaking up for herself, her needs, and her future. Read more>>

Robert Madriaga

My hope is that people enjoy the music we make as much as we enjoy performing it. Our main goal in this band is always have fun and perform shows that leave an impact on the audience. Read more>>

MJ Heart

Inclusivity, vulnerability, and authenticity are the words that come to mind when I think about leaving behind a legacy. As a yoga teacher, spiritual guide, and intuitive healer, my work is my life and my life is an expression of my inner work that moves out into the world. I strive to create a space where people can come together, regardless of their background, and take down some of the walls built up against the world to reveal the rawness, the realness, the humanness of the journey we are all moving through. I honor that there are many ways in which we find healing, and that one of the greatest gifts we can provide for each other is the ability to be exactly who we are – without fear or judgement of being seen. Read more>>

Demetrius Williams

By creating content and actively participating in creating and planting over 100,000 Spirit Bombs (milkweed wildflowers in seed bombs) in North America, I’m striving to build a legacy deeply rooted in environmental stewardship and positive impact on the world. Here’s a few things I believe represent my legacy: Read more>>

Katy Rey

I am hoping to build a legacy that empowers people to own their stories and release any shame they have been carrying. I want people to wholeheartedly love who they are and walk in their truth. Rejecting labels and releasing shame from the judgment of society and others. I hope my legacy is one of hope, love and acceptance. Read more>>

Betsy Hernandez

As a young girl, I always saw my mom work as hard as she could to have all the things we did. She is my entire motivation & inspiration do to the most I can with the time I have here. The legacy I’m hoping to build is one reminds women to join forces, to build each other up, & to support each other. There is room for all of us at the top. If we work hard together, we can accomplish so much more. I want to inspire women to not feel threatened or jealous of one another but to encourage them to mention each other in rooms of opportunity. Read more>>

Helle Urban

Art has always been my passion even from a young age. I graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. I earned a BFA in illustration. Early in my career reality set in with the difficulties of being a freelance illustrator. Back in the early 80’s, I felt I couldn’t compete against successful illustrators where men dominated. I decided to open an art gallery focusing on my fine art. I also painted commissioned portraits of people, pets. After several years I struggled to stay in business. I worked in the animation industry and also became a children’s book illustrator. All in all, I feel grateful for the work I have accomplished. Read more>>

Katie Dobies

The natural world is changing day by day, year by year. I like to think that I am documenting a few of those precious moments in time, creating a legacy not for myself, but a remembrance of the beauty of this glorious world as seen through the lens. Read more>>

TyLie Shider

This is such a big question. But it may also be grounding to think about ones legacy ever so often in order to ensure that you are moving in the right direction, because it is easy to get lost in the minutia of life and forget the big picture. Legacy is the big picture, because it is how one will be remembered. And if I’m being frank, I want people to remember me. And the details (e.g. minutia) of what each person remembers about me may be determined by our respective relationship. However, there is one thing about me that every person in my life should be able to agree on, and that is my consistency about my craft and career as a writer. I want people to remember that I was a chubby boy who fell in love with literature, and adamantly pursued a professional life manipulating words and documenting stories for public consumption. Read more>>

Nadia Bruce-Rawlings

This is a difficult question for sure! Thirty years ago I would have thought my legacy would be just sorrow over a wasted life, an addict and alcoholic’s failures. Now, with 25 years sober, I like to think my legacy would be one of good deeds and helping others. I try to sponsor people in my 12-step program and to help people that have addiction problems overcome those issues. I hope that my books have touched people’s lives in some way. I know that when Lois Berg and I did our performance of “Battered but not Broken” at the Dark Horse Theater in Nashville, audience members came up to me after and said that I had inspired them to try to change their lives too. People who have read my books have told me that they could relate so well to some of my stories, and that it gave them hope. I love being of service to others. Read more>>

Kasey Fanton

I would want to be remembered for allowing people to truly soak-in the important moments in life. After I’m gone, I hope to be remembered for loving others well, building an intentional life, and showing a path of possibilities for those around me. I hope that the images I’ve taken over the years can serve as a reminder of how important relationships and connections are. How precious life is… And what a gift it is to experience it all. Imperfections and all! Read more>>

Kashish Sachdeva

The legacy I’m hoping to build revolves around speaking up for those who can’t and uplifting suppressed voices. I started my organization, Currently Informed, to implement that value into action. I’m hoping to be remembered for being driven, determined, and passionate about making a difference in the world after I’m gone. Ever since I was younger, I’ve wanted to make a change, to leave a tangible impact – something to help others and that will be my legacy. As I’m leading Currently Informed, I’m getting one step closer to building this legacy. Read more>>

Charles Henry

My legacy is still being written… I only have one hope for when I am gone. I hope my sons will remember me as a man of integrity, character, and love that I have for them will be passed on for generations to come. I pray my sons will continue my legacy of “Service Before Self” I hope the people will say that the House of Henry continues and the legacy that I created will carry on for generations to come. Read more>>

Jamie Nicole

I adore this question beyond words. Years before I ever started my own business, I began asking myself about what legacy I could leave behind in my name. What sort of memories could I make and create here that would withstand time and be told for years to come? Read more>>

Josh Wiseman

Legacy is something that I’ve always been conscious of when it came to myself and my families name. I’ve often thought what people would say long after I’m gone and how they would view the work that I left behind and how I made people feel in the process. The legacy that I’d like to leave behind is that I was able to connect with anyone, make them feel seen and heard, and gave them an outlet to be able to tell their story in hopes it would help someone. I’d also like my legacy to represent my art and the out of the box ways that I was able to capture a moment and present it to the world in a way that was impactful to the people that were a part of it. Overall I just want to be remembered as a good person who would give the shirt off their back to help someone, someone who could always make people laugh, and someone who challenged the people around me. I think that’s what kind of legacy I’ll wanna leave behind. Read more>>