What response did you get as a child when you revealed to adults something you were curious about? Were you met with shame or support? For 2024 Community Change Communications Fellow Omar Marquez, the reaction to his curiosity when he was 5-years-old shaped years of his life – forcing him to hide – until a world-renowned guest speaker at his university, a scientist known for gentleness and making a difference, helped him change his perspective. Her story encouraged Omar to embrace himself fully.

Now, as a “friendship fixer” in the middle school he attended in his youth, Omar is nurturing new cycles of welcoming and acceptance in students. Today he continues a practice of breaking damaging cycles and telling stories centering on the most vulnerable. His storytelling will be a central part of ChangeWire.org over the next year. Get to know Omar through his own words in “Circles.”

Original film by Omar Marquez, IG @directedby.omar

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