Each poem and origin story in this collection was created for team members of the American Cancer Society’s Patient Support Pillar as part of the “My Why” professional development program – a space to reflect on purpose, resilience, and connection to the ACS mission.

Through one-on-one sessions over Zoom, Listener Poets from The Good Listening Project asked each participant a simple, powerful question: “What would you like your poem to be about?” Then, they listened.

These conversations opened windows into personal stories, motivations, and the unique “why” that inspires each person’s work. This anthology brings together those poems and stories as a testament to the purpose-driven spirit of the ACS community.