In this episode of Growing Your Roots, we meet Maria Moore, a mother, educator, feminist, activist and mentor who reflects on the values that have shaped her life. Looking through decades of family photographs, letters, certificates, travel documents and other personal memories after her mother’s passing gave Maria a deeper understanding of her family’s legacy. She discovered values that had been passed down through generations, i.e. curiosity, generosity, gratitude, open-mindedness, fairness and the courage to take risks. For Maria, however, values are not simply beliefs we hold; they are principles that should guide the way we live and the choices we make every day.
Her own life reflects that philosophy. As a young student, Maria challenged gender inequality by trying out for a boys’ baseball team at a time when girls’ sports were not available at her school. Despite facing intense criticism and harassment, she continued to stand by her belief that girls deserved the same opportunities as boys. Her experience became one of many examples of her commitment to fairness and meaningful change. That commitment continued throughout her life through political activism, advocacy, education and efforts to create greater opportunities for women, Native American students and underrepresented communities.
Education is another powerful thread running through Maria’s story. As an educator, she has worked across different communities and countries, helping students access opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach. From supporting Native American education in Seattle to helping establish scholarships and educational opportunities for students in East Timor, her work is rooted in a simple idea, i.e. real change happens when people are given choices. For Maria, making a difference does not always require a grand gesture. Sometimes it can begin with a scholarship, a meal, a conversation or simply helping someone see a possibility that was previously unavailable to them.
Perhaps the most inspiring part of the conversation is Maria’s belief in the next generation. Rather than focusing on what young people lack, she sees their openness, acceptance of different perspectives and willingness to understand people from different backgrounds as strengths. She believes the role of older generations is not to control the future but to make space, offer guidance and support young people as they create change. Her story reminds us that values become meaningful only when we live them and that each of us has the opportunity to turn what we believe into actions that make the world a little better.
🎥 Watch the Full Conversation
Watch Maria Moore share her story, values, and perspective on creating meaningful change:
Watch the full episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/K0jqkEeN5LE?si=X8STN0Fqae-lp_2X)