We asked people to participate in Real American Stories and were astonished by the responses we received. From people we stopped on the sidewalk to household names eager to tell their unique and inspiring American stories.
Fast and furious, this American tradition features tiny tots riding woolly wonder beasts.
Jamie Poindexter’s drumline is bringing together a tough neighborhood with a joyful beat.
A barista gives a kidney to a complete stranger, giving her the ultimate pick-me-up.
Raised by migrant farm workers, Jose Hernandez used hard work and a big heart to reach the stars.
Monica Haslip’s afterschool program is creating artists and serious entrepreneurs.
Michael Reagan and his Fallen Heroes Project provides closure for the families left behind.
This shoe shine man is changing the world through his Clean Water Foundation.
Through hard work and perseverance, Mila Apostol created the little store that could.
A refugee survivor, Derreck Kayongo is saving the world, one bar of soap at a time.
Some call air guitar part perf. art, pro wrestling and rock’n’roll. Whatever it is, it sure is fun!
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
Aaron Dworkin brings classical music to the inner city, and opens up a world of possibilities.
An Iraq War veteran, James talks about surviving a suicide attack and serving our country.
She talks about coming over from Italy as a child and the chances America has given her.
She’s following in grandfather’s footsteps, paying it forward, and living up to her good name.
Her parents left Albania so she could grow up with the freedom to live out her “American Dream.”
A 1st grade teacher talks about teaching the Pledge of Allegiance to her students.
She raised nine children and talks about overcoming adversity and following your dreams.
As devoted parents, they provided a safe and loving environment for over 40 foster babies.
She shares her ancestors’ sacrifices and struggles for the freedoms we enjoy in America.
Inspired by wounded soldiers, he’s in med school training to become a doctor in the U.S. Army.
Julie Smith & Joyce Hogan have served our nation through their husbands’ military service.
They adopted two children from Russia and share how the experience changed their lives.
Vietnam Vet who talks about how service changed his life and his feeling for this country.
He compares football to unity and talks about the importance of America coming together.
She’s a 3rd generation American who talks of fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers.
A Vietnam Vet, Anthony talks about surviving a vicious attack, and the costs of freedom.
The couple talks about raising their kids and the freedoms we cherish in this country.
A teacher who credits her ancestors for giving us the freedoms we share in this country.
A Cuban American who talks about how her father risked his life to bring his family here.
Married for 52 years, they talk about growing up and raising a family in a small town.
He came from India to become an engineer and is currently applying for U.S. citizenship.
The award winning country music group talks about performing for the troops in Iraq.
There’s a closed captioning version right under the audio version. Please send it along. Thanks!
I’d like to share this video with our flyhalf who is deaf, how can I find a version that has Closed Captioning? Thanks!
This is amazing!! I am a deaf rugby player from Canada. I grew up playing on hearing teams. One of my goals is to set up a deaf rugby team. Seem that Tai beat me to that! Keep up the good work!! Look forward to see your games in the near future!
Congrats!
Great news from MSSD being the Deaf Rugby team can play against local High School one day. If successful, All Deaf Rugby teams can competition in the National Deaf Rugby tournament in the near future.
If successful, the USA Deaf Rugby team can play against several National Deaf Rugby Unions e.g – Australia, Fiji, France, England, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
The first Pacific Deaf Rugby Championship (PDRC) will be held at Suva, Fiji Island during August 2011 by 4 teams – Australia, Fiji, Japan and New Zealand. May be USA Deaf Rugby team can play in the second PDRC in 2016.
The second Deaf Rugby World Championship would be tournament in Wales in 2014 or 2015. Firstly the all National Deaf Rugby Unions delegates will be the meeting at Fiji Island during August next year. Welcome USA delegates if you like.
Good luck to all your Deaf Rugby team are successful in the school competition.
Wow! So inspiring. Proof that with hard work and dedication anything in life is possible. Hats off to the Coaches and Players for the time and effort it takes to become a competitive Rugby team. It looks like the boys are having fun too which is key.
Great work Tal, I am so proud of you and the kids…you guys are inspirational to so many!
Great to see rugby played in HS and to see these talented young men exhibit the sportsmanship and camarderie that is unique to rugby.
Awesome to see rugby spreading beyond the perceived borders it has had. As a collegiate rugby player, this makes me not only happy to see High School programs starting to pop up, but also makes me want to jump in and help out with such programs. Thanks for the great work!
Adapt and overcome. We all should be so talented and dedicated. Props to both schools!
Awesome! Children that are being allowed to be children!
Im happy about the MSSD and Along with Gallaudet Univ as students of deaf school and Im so proud of all the accomplishments they have done
Truly inspirational. I think the saying is handicapable not handicapped.
As much as our boys at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf are really excited about being the first All Deaf High School rugby team in the country, we are extremely grateful for Coach Bayer and his boys at Hyde for helping us get our rugby program started. We do look forward to more of the wonderful relationship we have established over the years in competition in various sports.
The support from the rugby community since we have started rugby last spring are second to none as have heard from many wanting to offer their help and etc in different ways. Thank you for all of your support!
We at Hyde and the entire rugby community are excited for the future of Model Rugby. They are a class act and represent their school with distinction. Good luck and we look forward to building on our existing friendship.
Coach Bayer
Hyde Rugby
Brilliant. Great to see. Keep at it guys.
Congratulations to Model, Coach Bayer and all the players. Well done.
So glad to see the story about the deaf Rugby team of Model. My brother and sister are both deaf too. My brother played football 5 years for TSD (Tn School for the Deaf) and won several awards for his athletic ability. This is an awesome story. Keep up the good work!