96. Marianna Lucero of In Lak'ech Denver Arts

Marianna Lucero really didn't have any interest in the arts, or in drama class. But she had a teacher who insisted. As Marianna continued through her education and adult life, she found that she could not cut the arts out of her life. She became a teacher, responsible for teaching ALL the arts at her Southwest Denver elementary school. And as she connected with students, their families, and their communities, something special started to happen. Students who had gone on to middle school visited, telling her how much they missed her class, how much they missed her, and playfully suggesting, "Miss, why don't you just keep teaching us?" In fact their enthusiasm was so real that it inspired her to pursue a Moonshot fellowship and establish In Lak'ech Denver Arts. In this dynamic and inspiring episode, Marianna talks to Gerardo about her path to the arts, and her eventual arrival to a place where she was poised to make a real difference in the lives of kids and her community. Plus a FIRE top five.