06/23/2025
Please welcome Grace O'Connor to the Peers to Pillars podcast!
By day, Grace is a dedicated high school special education teacher in the City of New York teaching 10th and 12th graders. When she's not in the classroom, she'sĀ channelling her creative energy as an avid athlete, painter, and writer. Grace's work and art reflect her commitment to fostering hope, healing, and inspiring her community. š
Grace lost her brother to su***de when they were both in high school and in today's episode she takes the time to walk us through her grief journey while sharing the profound ways this loss has shaped her life since (spoiler: there are many unexpected moments of joy!) Grace emphasizes the need for open conversations about mental health and the hope that can emerge from tragedy, leading her to create the Dan O'Connor Foundation to honor her brother's legacy. š
As founder of the Dan O'Connor Foundation, Grace leads a spiritual mission focused on educating communities about su***de prevention and uplifting lives through scholarships for students who are making a difference in their own communities.
You can find Grace on Instagram atĀ and her artĀ , and follow along as she rolls out her foundation Ā š Podcast link in bio!
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