EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S Letter THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I’VE HAD THE HONOR OF spending time with some of the most successful and influential people on the planet. So, when I was invited to meet John Legend, I was thrilled by the opportunity; but in all honesty, I didn’t expect to be so emotionally inspired and amazed by his steadfast purpose to bring beauty and love to everyone he meets. John Legend is indeed a legend—not because of his incredible music career—but because of how he has made it his mission to make the world a better place for the less fortunate and those who need a voice. This Legends and Leaders issue has always been my favorite issue to produce. Our writers find the most remarkable people to interview. These individuals have contributed to our community in ways that strengthen and build our society. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German poet, playwright, novelist, and scientist, said, “A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.” Even hundreds of years later, his quote remains valid. Our leaders and legends bring us together with a common goal of serving a great good. To me, that is truly motivating.
There are many more encouraging stories in this issue, and we hope that you, too, will be inspired by the work these incredible individuals are doing to make our city, communities, and world a better place for all of us. Reading these articles, I am hopeful that our future is not as bleak as it might seem right now. Slivers of hope shine through the great works that each of these featured leaders and legends are doing. May their ethos, passions, and purpose inspire you, as they have inspired us. With optimism for a brighter future,
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PHOTO CREDIT: ©VINCENT GOTTI, HAIR AND MAKE UP BY NELLIE MUGANDA
TERESA RODRIGUEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Haute Living San Francisco Teresa@HauteLivingSF.com www.HauteLivingSF.com
In this issue, Steph Keay sits down with John and Marcia Goldman, the founders of the EPACENTER in East Palo Alto. The EPACENTER is a wonderful community center that gives at-risk youth a safe place to go, grow, and learn. Next, Noël Burgess introduces us to six bay area women inspiring inclusivity through their successful careers in the wine industry. Then, Becca Hensley writes about builder Robin Nielsen who has been at the forefront of sustainable building design. She assisted former Mayor Gavin Newsome in drafting the clean environmental building codes that have helped our city become a leader in green technology. Finally, Fran Miller shares the extraordinary work that Meta brand and marketing whiz Eric Topa has done for the AAPI community. Through his passion and life story, he is empowering the AAPI community with his leadership skills.
