“You’re supposed to get all these shiny things and then go onto better things, right? But I had to think about my impact. How can I make a global impact if I haven’t even had an impact on my own community? Graduate school will always be there. This won’t.” – Mei Lum, new owner and project manager of W.O.W.

This story is beautiful and impactful. We should listen to and support more stories like these, and furthermore, strive to emulate them as well. This quote, especially as I think about my decision a few years back to focus my work around my neighborhood, and not the “global art market,” is especially meaningful for me as I see that work moving, growing, and changing through the relationships being built at Beyond Repair.