Title: George Bailey, Catherine Walker-Bailey, Jereme Endicott and Louis Bailey

Identifier: UA22.10.01.03   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/59997)

Description: Personal statement: "Father, mother, two point five children, and a dog: the past-prototypical idea of family has come under scrutiny in the twenty-first century. And rightly so–-the past connotations of the term were rooted in traditions that did no justice to how such interpersonal units exist and thrive. Through embracing flexibility in what constitutes a family, we catalyze understanding, acceptance, and even love. I am incredibly fortunate to have a family that accepts and cares for me deeply, and am vastly appreciative of how readily they have welcomed the most important people in my life into our family, showing them the same acceptance they’ve offered me. Without this openness to love and accept, a family is just another group of individuals–a unit no greater than the sum of its parts. Yet, it has the potential to be the greatest positive force in one’s life, for at its heart, a family is what you make of it." George Bailey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and Catherine Walker-Bailey is a Professor in the School of Art and Design.