By Emerson Forester
"I started thinking about my community as a Boy Scout with the motto: Leave the world better than you found it."
Brian Biery was born and grew up in Pasadena. After he graduated from high school he joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Guatemala teaching children. When he returned home to Pasadena he knew that he wanted to make a difference in the community where he was born and he has done just that! Mr. Biery wrote a book called 'The Power of One', which is an amazing exploration through pictures and words of the work of Upstanders in our community. Mr. Biery also led Collaborate PASadena, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by providing a supportive framework for organizations to come together to create change. As if that wasn't enough, Mr. Biery has a TV show called the Power of One where he takes the opportunity to highlight and interview the work of Upstanders. Most recently, Mr. Biery created a bus tour that is designed to educated different groups about African Americans and their history in Pasadena. No doubt, Mr. Biery will go on to do many more exciting projects that will help the people of Pasadena.
The United States of America should be a beacon to other countries. Right now our country is bitterly divided and struggling with prejudice, racism and discrimination which must be overcome so that we can set an example and be the guiding light to the rest of the world.
When someone sees injustice and chooses to look at it, to step out of their place in the rank and file and stand up and make their voice heard - then that person becomes an Upstander. Upstanders aspire to change the world we live in for the better.
"A great man is a torch in the darkness, a beacon in the superstition's night, an inspiration and a prophecy... " -Robert Green Ingersoll
Getting to know Mr. Biery and learning about his life has opened my eyes to the large number of people in our community whom he has touched and helped. From talking to him and reading his work I have learned that the most important ingredient to being an Upstanders is the desire to help and to serve – and that desire is something that is available to all of us and doesn’t cost anything. Not only that but it is contagious. Being around an Upstander like Mr. Biery made me want to help too! I think that the more people who stand up, the more they will inspire others to join them.
Link to Collaborate Pasadena here