We were lucky to catch up with Paris Alston recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paris, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

The concept of legacy can be complicated — just ask renowned boxer Mike Tyson! While legacy is undoubtedly driven in part by ego, it is also driven by evolution. Throughout history, individuals have made contributions big and small to their respective communities and civilizations that we continue to revisit today. When I am called to my eternal home, I hope to be remembered as as the loving, fun and cheerful storyteller who traveled near and far to help people cement their histories for generations to come.

Growing up as part of a large, multigenerational family in a close-knit community in North Carolina, I have a keen interest in preserving family and community histories. I am constantly searching for information about my ancestors and reaching out to relatives near and far so I can know more about the blood that bonds us. I apply these instincts to my trained work as a journalist, through intimate and in-depth interviews with public figures and everyday people alike, as well as through my original series “A Walk Down the Block,” which hits the pavement in various neighborhoods to hear from community members about issues resonating in the places they call home.

Be it as a relative, journalist, or neighbor, my intention is always to create content for the historical record so that the people who helped shape history may never be forgotten. With age, I have recognized that doing this with ease is a privilege. In the case of family, not everyone has relatives they are close to or comfortable around to ask the questions necessary to help complete their family tree. In the case of journalism, it can be hard to seek and report truths that some may try to hide or erase. In our communities, many nuances can be lost as neighborhoods change over time. Through storytelling, I hope to be known as someone who offered a way to overcome those challenges, and enabled other peoples’ legacies to take a shape of their own.

Paris, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

A Greensboro, North Carolina native, I grew up giving announcements at church and school to the enjoyment of my family, friends and peers. I went on to study broadcast journalism and global studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I nurtured my knack for in-depth storytelling and multicultural competence. I completed a series of internships and other programs in the Triangle area of North Carolina, Philadelphia, PA, and beyond, which helped me launch my multimedia journalism career at two public media stations in Boston, GBH and WBUR. I have since produced award-winning journalism and interviewed high-profile public figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Grammy Award-winning musician Nile Rogers, and many others. My storytelling interests surround identity, community and culture, and I have covered stories in Southeast Asia, Morocco, Panama and Brazil. I love the intimacy of audio, the intelligence of video, the immediacy of digital, and the intricacy of print.

Through my work as an on-air host, I have developed strong storytelling and public speaking skills with an emphasis on uncovering stories that often go untold and owning one’s authentic voice and presence. As the owner of the multimedia talent and production company Pariscope Productions, I offer freelance journalism and emcee and panel moderator services, as well as personalized voice coaching to potential clients looking to leverage these skills. I also create content for consumers interested in following my journey and learning more about the identities, communities and cultures I document with intention, care, and joy.

As a recent MBA graduate of Boston University, I have learned how to merge these skills and interests with large-scale, exponential thinking about how storytelling can be used to preserve history and legacy. I am always looking for opportunities to do this through blockchain technology, sustainable growth, and other innovative solutions.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

NFTs have always seemed obscure, and while their future is unknown, I see many potential uses for them and other blockchain technology to preserve histories and legacies. The draw for me is the digital record aspect of NFTs. They are not merely a way to collect unique digital art or memes that some might argue have no long-term utility; instead, they are vehicles through which we can cement photos, videos, and other digital memorabilia along with birth, death, marriage, property and other records, therefore giving us central places to store these things that are verifiable, immutable, and decentralized. In turn, they can contribute to the global diversity of information about people and places and increase access to it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am the proud descendant of people who were enslaved in the U.S. One major tactic used to enforce the institution of slavery was the separation of families and dissolution of records that documented who was related and how. In our current sociopolitical climate, where there are efforts to erase or dilute this part of American history, I believe in the power of storytelling to preserve not only the history of Black Americans, but of everyone whose families and communities contributed to the American story in one way or another.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://parisalston.com
• Instagram: @bonjourparis_; @walkdowntheblock
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parisalston

Image Credits

1- Jacob Garcia
2- AbdoulNasser Mika
3- Lou Jones
4- Meredith Nierman
5- Philip C. Keith
6- Dana Cataldo