If you have never heard of Wes Moore, it is time for you to learn his name. In 2022, Moore made history by becoming Maryland’s first Black governor and only the third Black governor in the history of the United States. His life story is full of challenges, hard work, and a desire to help others, making him one of the most inspiring leaders in the country today.

Wes Moore was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. Moore had a difficult childhood, as his father passed away when he was just three years old. The financial strain forced his family to move to the Bronx in New York. As a teenager, Moore faced trouble with his school and the law. As a result, his mother put him in military school.

At first, Moore hated it. “I thought it was the worst punishment ever,” he said, “but it ended up saving my life.” The school gave him discipline and focus, and soon, he started to succeed.
Moore attended Johns Hopkins University and became a Rhodes Scholar studying at Oxford University in England. He was a captain in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Afghanistan. He then went on to work in finance and rose to CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aids in the battle against poverty.

In 2010, Moore published a book entitled The Other Wes Moore. It is the true story of two men who share the same name and grew up in similar neighborhoods. One became a Rhodes Scholar and military leader – that is Wes Moore who went on to become governor of Maryland. The other is serving life in prison for murder.

Moore’s book examines the reasons their lives diverged, “The truth is, his story could have been mine,” Moore writes, “and mine could have been his.” The book became a best-seller and is often assigned in schools as a way to discuss how choices and chances mold a life.

As governor, Wes Moore has been focused on important issues like creating better schools, higher wages, and more job opportunities. He has supported increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and increasing funds to public schools and job placement programs.

Because of his military background, Moore also cares deeply about veterans. In his speech initially after becoming governor, Moore stated, “We will create a Maryland where no one is left behind.”
To many Maryland citizens, Governor Moore’s impact is already apparent. Through his plans, he seeks to close the gaps between the haves and the have-nots, improve education for all, and support those communities left behind for so long.

Wes Moore’s life stands in testament to that which can be accomplished if hard work and support provide a proper path forward for the people. His story of encouragement reinforces the belief that positive change can occur in all of life’s turbulent circumstances.

“It should not be a choice — and it is not a choice. The path forward requires us to do these things together,” Moore says. To see a better change in society, we must stand together and make change happen.

So, who is Wes Moore? A veteran, bestselling author, trailblazer, and Maryland’s history-making governor – and he is just getting started.

Sources:
https://governor.maryland.gov/leadership/pages/governor.aspx
https://bizmonthly.com/opinion/2023/02/opinion-impressions-of-wes-moore/
https://governor.maryland.gov/Pages/home.aspx
https://christiancitizen.us/the-other-wes-moore-book-review/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%2520Other%2520Wes%2520Moore%E2%80%9D%2520acknowledges,our%2520lives%2520despite%2520our%2520circumstances.
https://wesmoore.com/about/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7099273-the-other-wes-moore