Off the Beaten Path--Inspirations of Atlanta, Georgia

MY REPORTER’S MANTRA IS THAT WHEN LIFE DOESN’T GO AS PLANNED, IT’S BEST TO EMBRACE IT AS CONTENT, BECAUSE WHATEVER WE COME UP WITH AFTER ALL OF THE CHALLENGES AND DETOURS IS ALMOST ALWAYS BETTER THAN OUR ORIGINAL PLAN ANYWAYS. IN THAT SAME VAIN, IT’S THE PEOPLE THAT I MEET BY CHANCE, OFTEN WHILE I’M COVEREING OTHER STORIES OR PURSUING OTHER PLANS, THAT HAVE THE MOST INTRIGUING, INSPIRING STORIES. RECENTLY, I TOOK A RISK. I RESPONDED TO OPRAH WINFREY’S CALL FOR PITCHES WITH A PROPOSAL FOR A SHOW CALLED OFF THE BEATEN PATH, INTENDED TO MAKE VOICES FROM PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE ACCESSIBLE TO THE MASSES. I TOOK MY IDEA ALL THE WAY TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA FOR THE FINAL IN-PERSON GROUP AUDITION. I ARRIVED AT 7AM TO GET A 5PM CALL BACK TIME. IN THE END, I LEARNED THAT THIS TOO WAS MORE ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAN THE DESTINATION, AND, JUST LIKE MY PITCH, I WAS MOST INSPIRED BY THE PEOPLE THAT I MET BY CHANCE. IN THIS SEGMENT I’M GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO FIVE AMAZING WOMEN THAT CROSSED MY PATH IN ATLANTA—TWO DEAF WOMEN FROM GEORGIA WHO ARE ON A MISSION TO MAKE THEIR STORIES HEARD; AN OIL PAINTER AND MOTHER OF TWO FROM NORTH CAROLINA WHO USES CANVAS TO FIND PURPOSE, A MOTHER FROM NEW YORK CITY WHO LOST HER SON TO SUICIDE AND IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE IN HIS HONOR, AND A WOMAN WHO FROM THE HEART OF ATLANTA WHO IS DOING HER PART TO HELP HER COMMUNITY GET HEALTHY.