Crystal Octavia Stone
Manager of Communications, Public Relations, and Fundraising at the Katie Brown Educational Program
Education and background: Bachelor of science in human resource management, UMass Dartmouth (2011), Leadership Southcoast Alumni (2017)
Community involvement: Leadership SouthCoast Alumni Committee
Family: I am married to my high school sweetheart, Patrick. I have an almost 3-year-old named Marshall and I am expecting a little girl, due this summer.
1. What do you think Dr. King would think about the state of the world today?
I think that he would be pleased with how diverse our country has become. People of different races now work together, play together and choose to start lives together. I think he'd also be pleased with how minorities and young people as a whole are coming together to demand equity. I also think that he would recognize that we still have a long way to go in terms of equity. I think he'd be concerned about the rate that minorities are incarcerated, and the lack of minorities in leadership roles. We still have a lot to do in terms of changing how we view and discuss minorities and equity.
2. What advice do you wish you could have given your younger self?
I would tell a younger version of myself to be comfortable enough in my skin to embrace all aspects of who I am. I largely grew up in Massachusetts, but I come from a big Southern family. When I moved here I didn't know what a "bubbler" was, I washed my hair once a week, and we said grace at restaurants in my family. I remembering being embarrassed by the things that made me different. As an adult, I've embraced things about me that are uniquely northern and southern.
3. Who do you admire most, and why?
My son. He lives life with such intention and intensity. He's unfailingly honest, confident, and bold. Since he knows nothing else he's not afraid to admit his fears, and hopes (even when his hopes are just for one more episode of Daniel Tiger.) He curious and compassionate. We saw someone using a wheelchair recently and he thought it was the greatest thing in the world. He loves his dad's freckles and my curly hair that's just like his. Rather than being "color blind" he genuinely appreciates the uniqueness of each person he meets. I think there's a lot to learn from the children in our lives.
4. How are you helping to make Dr. King's dream - of a world where people are judged not by the color of their skin, but by their character - come true?
I hope that I'm helping my living that example. Above all else, I try hard to serve and listen to others. I do my best to teach and show kindness to those around me, even if they aren't doing the same. I'm not afraid to stand up for what I feel is right, but I stay open-minded enough to know that my beliefs aren't shared with everyone. I try hard to stay consistent, keep promises, love the people around me, and be true to who I am. I hope that if the people I know see me behave this way, they'll have the courage to be the same way.