Lois Hanson: Finding Optimism in the Past

Story by Grant Pepper, Knox Pages

Lois Hanson, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, values optimism, which she can see reflected in the photo of her parents, taken years before she was born. As Jewish immigrants, they faced a challenging new world; and now Hanson, a retired teacher and independent bookstore owner, marvels at the challenges they survived. They instilled in her a love of learning and belief in the power of education that continue to drive her commitment to expanding people's perspectives, whether she is stocking a new author or considering her options on Election Day.