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WWJ, Continued from page 3 And I was blinking [back tears] that that they were kind of level-headed mail. Well, I was at the Biggby in
a nine-year-old would say that. And and talking about this and trying to Berkley, waiting for my coffee—there
them down—one’s a boy and one’s a I just thought, that says it all, right? get through it. were probably, like, seven people
girl, not that it matters, but some- Then I told them that there was noth- CC: I constantly tell my children ahead of me. And every time they got
times I think the perspective may be ing to be afraid of, he was in jail, that that kindness matters—that every- their drink, they’d walk up to this
different—and I had told them what people were coming together, and if one is carrying around something man and say, “Thank you so much!”
had happened. And they immedi- they had any questions to, please, that no one else sees (i.e. challenges, There was a mom with her daughter
ately said that they do those lock- ask me. Well, the next morning, I get hardships, etc.) and keeping that in and son, they went up to him and
down drills all the time. But then an e-mail from the principal and mind is a form of compassion. gave him a fist-bump…I just kept
they asked, “Is the bad guy going to both of their teachers saying, “They Which brings us to your podcast, standing there thinking, What is hap-
come and get us?” I told them, “No, [students] were all talking about this WWJ Difference Maker. Tell us more pening? So, I finally got my drink,
he’s in jail, he’s only 15, and he can’t already, but your kids are the ones about it… and I almost walked out [the store]—
drive.” Then my son goes, “He can’t who told them it was going to be BA: This feature, WWJ Difference I literally had the door open—and I
drive…but he can shoot people?” okay.” So, it was pretty interesting Maker, started over a year ago now, turned around, and I said, “Hey, I
and runs every week. I’ve inter- don’t want you to think this is weird,
viewed individuals that are big cor- but why is everyone saying thank you
porate people, I’ve interviewed an to you?” And he’s like, “Oh, it’s be-
eleven-year-old kid who’s a big-time cause I just bought all their drinks.”
baker from Howell…there are just so And I’m like, “Well…why?” And the
many people out there who are mak- conversation went on from there,
ing a difference. And while that and I eventually told him who I was
sounds cliché, it really isn’t—espe- and why I was wondering. So then,
cially now since we’ve noticed it we set up a phone call and I inter-
more during the pandemic. viewed him over the phone. But it’s
CC: Hands down, one of my fa- just so interesting because, here’s
vorite episodes of WWJ Difference this guy, who’s a photographer in
Maker is the one that aired on De- Southfield and is involved in a cou-
cember 2, 2021 about the man at the ple of different charities. But outside
coffee shop. Tell us about Shawn Lee. of that, he just sits in this Biggby and
BA: I usually receive nominations
for Difference Maker through my e- See WWJ, page 6
The Wayne Dispatch · January 2022 · 5