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By Jennifer Holland, Director of Digital Communications. Originally published in 2014.
I grew up in Cicero, Indiana, a small town about 40 minutes north of Indianapolis. We had one stop light, one restaurant, and a lake. There is no reason that anyone should know about this town. But they do, and it’s all because of Ryan White.
Growing up I knew that a boy named Ryan White had attended my high school, Hamilton Heights. I knew a little bit about his story and that he was held up as breaking new ground in the fight against AIDS. I even knew his mom, Jeanne, still lived in town just down the street from my family. But what I didn’t know at the time was just how widespread Ryan’s impact was.
When I started working at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis about 4 years ago, I got to tour the museum as part of my orientation. I still remember the first time I walked through The Power of Children® exhibit which features Ryan’s story along with two other amazing children, Ruby Bridges and Anne Frank. I remember walking through Ryan’s room and I remember seeing his locker from school. And I still remember the first time I got to meet his mom and hear her powerful story. I had no idea Ryan’s story was heard around the world!
Ryan’s mom frequently comes back to the museum to continue Ryan’s mission of educating the world about AIDS and its victims. Each time we post about her visit on Facebook we are flooded with comments from people Ryan inspired.
Comments like these:
“Thank you for sharing this exhibit with the world. My 4 year old knows his story and relates because of the beautiful exhibit.”
“(Ryan) Thank you for your strength, for making a difference and for leaving behind your beautiful smile.”
“Ryan was one of my heroes. We were the same age, and I always admired his ability to stand up for himself and others as well as his fight to educate people.”
Just reading these comments makes me feel proud to be even a small part of continuing the education and continuing to spread Ryan’s message. If you have a chance to hear Jeanne speak, don’t miss it. But if you can’t make it, even walking through Ryan’s room and reading about his story in The Power of Children® exhibit just might give you a new outlook.
