“I met Maria Leonard Olsen in New York City when we both were filming our TEDx Talk. Immediately I was drawn to her intellect and communication style. Relaxed, mindful, yet disarmingly intense and so very powerful! She shared her story with me on that day, and now with the world through various platforms. She overcame a tumultuous childhood to live in a place of content. Through her writings, she has enabled others to embrace their uniqueness and accept their imperfect lives. She remains non-judgmental of how others behave toward her realizing that everyone has difficulty.
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She is a biracial woman whose parents were forbidden by law to marry in their home state of Maryland in the early 1960s. She is the mother of two children, a lawyer, journalist and author of several books. Maria graduated from Boston College and the University of Virginia School of Law, and worked at one of D.C.'s largest law firms. She recently returned to practicing law now that her children are launched. Her books are outstanding! Mommy, Why's Your Skin So Brown? is her first children's book. Her latest book, 50 After 50--Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life, has been used as a vehicle to help thousands of people across the country reinvigorate their lives. See www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com for more information.”