I’ve been obsessed with sneakers since I was just a kid. While, yes, many moons ago it was all about self-expression, it’s evolved into a community that has supported me through the darkest times, celebrated my life’s victories with me, and ultimately a community I feel seen in and respected to be a part of. The people I’ve met along the way have become my brothers and sisters, and the beauty of having so many brothers and sisters, is being able to connect them to bucket list opportunities.
Three years ago today, one of the most amazing of those opportunities happened when I was able to introduce my great friend, Miles, to Sean from NPR. Sean was working on a story about the Nike Cortez, one of the shoes that Miles and I have a shared love for. Being able to tell my story and have Miles tell his story, especially alongside people like Estevan Oriol and Alexis Quintero, is something 15-year old me buying my first pair of Nike Cortez after working landscaping all summer could have never imagined.
You can listen to the segment here: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/15/1077040201/nike-cortez-50-anniversary-history-los-angeles