My name is Marissa,

founder of Project Legacy. I’m always curious about how other people get started, so I thought I would share with you a little bit about my own story.

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and even though I haven’t lived there in over a decade, I will always consider it home. I’m one of four siblings, which led to a very busy upbringing and looking back on it, chaos was normal. In a strange way, I do believe our wild household prepared me for the real world.

Following high school, I attended John Carroll University in Cleveland. This small Jesuit university was instrumental in defining who I am today. It’s where I further developed my beliefs in a higher being and the importance of doing good for others. St. Ignatius of Loyola is quoted to say,

“Go and set the world on fire.”

It has taken me years to understand what this means and how to put it into practice. The seeds for my spiritual and social development were planted at John Carroll and I am so grateful to experience the Jesuit values of service in my formative years.

As college finished, I had graduated with a business degree and I always dreamed of moving to the “big city.” For me, that city was Chicago. I lived in Chicago for a decade and it will always have a special place in my heart. I learned a lot, made a lot of mistakes, but most importantly, I grew as a person. Oh, and I also met my husband there! Since Chicago, we have lived in Phoenix and recently moved to Atlanta. The south is a place of its own and it is fantastic!

I’ve always been drawn to the successes, trials and life events that make us unique. I created Project Legacy while living in Chicago and struggling to discover purpose in my own life. I was able to find myself through interviewing women as they reflected on their own journeys and respective challenges. I believe God has called us all to do more and Project Legacy allows me the opportunity to meet amazing women across the world. I’ve been gifted with this beautiful opportunity to highlight their life experiences and learn about what legacies they are leaving on the world.

So, despite the changes in locale, my roots remain the same. Family, friends and an appreciation for others. I have met remarkable women each with their own individual backstories, shortcomings and triumphs. I am creating a platform to raise awareness about the challenges of going from where you are to where you want to be. It is the process that defines us. It all boils down to one question,