We thank these accomplished individuals for supporting Sacred Stories. Each of these professionals understands legacy preservation, the value of reminiscence, and the importance of listening.
Dawn M. Roode, Owner, Modern Heirloom Books
Dawn M. Roode is a personal historian whose specialty is creating bespoke coffee table books that celebrate people’s lives and family history. Based in New Jersey, Dawn’s company Modern Heirloom Books serves the greater New York City area and beyond. After a two-decades’ long career in lifestyle magazines—where she worked at titles including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Latina, and Parenting—Dawn now turns her attention to interviewing individuals to capture their stories and preserve them in books worthy of being passed on as meaningful heirlooms.
Ryan Anderson, Cinematographer & Documentary Filmmaker
Ryan Anderson is an award-winning editor and videographer whose work has been featured on NBC Sports, Esquire Network, USA Network, Fox Sports, and the Pursuit Channel. His credits include over 100 episodes of nationally broadcast television. Ryan is the owner of Paper Ketchup Productions in San Antonio.
Rabbi Zev Johnson, University of Texas Chabad Jewish Center
Rabbi Zev and Ariela Johnson, along with their children, co-direct the Chabad Jewish Student Center at UT. Rabbi Zev is an alumnus of UT. He continued his education at the Rabbinical College of America and received Rabbinical ordination at the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies. Rabbi Zev and Ariela are living their dreams co-directing Chabad House, where they strive to fulfill UT’s motto, “What starts here, changes the world.”
Annette Gracy Juba, Program Director, Breast Resource Cancer Center
Annette Gracy Juba, LCSW, native Austinite and clinical social worker, received a Master of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Texas. She has worked with older adults in various capacities since 1986. She is a past co-chair of the Aging Services Council & former Deputy Director of AGE of Central Texas. At AGE, she oversaw the agency’s six programs of direct service. She currently works as the Program Director for Breast Resource Care Center & serves on the advisory panel for the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long Term Care at the UT School of Nursing and as Vice-Chair of the OneStar National Service Commission.
Steve Miura, Wealth Management Advisor
Steve Miura is a businessman and philanthropist in Austin, TX. Since 1987, The Miura Group, an original (founding) member of Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group, helps “successful people gain clarity and intentionality around their financial world in order to have greater and understanding and peace about how their wealth matches the life and future they want.” Steve is an accredited wealth management advisor, chartered financial consultant and life underwriter, and retirement income certified professional.
Lindsey K. Leaverton, Wealth Management Strategist
Lindsey Leaverton is an Austin-based wealth management strategist currently serving as the Director of Wealth Management Services at The Miura Group. Lindsey also has experience as an Executive Director of a local non-profit, as a professional touring recording artist and motivational speaker, and as a banking executive. In 2017, Lindsey received the Austin Under 40 Award for Excellence in Financial
Services. In addition to her passion for serving clients, Lindsey is also extremely committed to serving the community. She serves on the Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequity, representing the Financial Sector. Lindsey also holds Board positions with People’s Community Clinic and Legacy Collective. Lindsey has been featured in various media outlets including The New York Times, Time Magazine, Yahoo!
Money, and recently appeared on NBC’s The Today Show.
Carmen Crisantes, Sustainable Living Expert
Carmen Crisantes is a mother and permaculturist in San Antonio, TX. Her three teenagers keep her busy and young. She has a degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M University and certificates in Permaculture Design and Rainwater Harvesting, and enjoys putting her knowledge to use in her home garden. As a widow, she understands keenly the finite nature of life and value of intentionality with loved ones. Carmen is a lifelong friend of Whitney Myers, the founder of Sacred Stories, and was one of the first very satisfied customers, when her grandmother’s film was made.
Kristin Finan, Co-founder/Editor of Austin Travels Magazine
Kristin Finan is a lifelong Austinite and proud Longhorn who has spent the past two decades as a professional journalist, serving as a staff writer for newspapers including the Houston Chronicle and the Austin American-Statesman as well as writing for USA Today, Texas Monthly and Scary Mommy and authoring four travel books. In 2020, amid the pandemic, she co-founded Austin Travels Magazine, which aims to showcase great writing and diverse voices for an Austin audience. Kristin is also the co-founder and executive director of Carrying Hope, a 501c3 nonprofit that provides Hope Packs filled with comfort items and essentials to children who are entering the foster care system across Texas. A foster and adoptive mom, Kristin enjoys traveling the world with her husband and their six children.