‘You can change your life around and create your own future … Your past doesn’t define you.’

Peri R. Finkelstein, West Hempstead

“I was born with a form of muscular dystrophy known as nemaline rod myopathy. I have had 35-plus surgeries, but I do not allow my physical disability or my medical challenges to define me. I always felt that staying active was important. In 2011, I underwent one of the most intense surgeries of my life, a spinal fusion for my scoliosis. Prior to 2011, I was not as ventilator dependent and was able to breathe on my own for certain parts of the day, but that surgery in particular left me vent dependent 24/7. I had a choice to make, either train myself to come off of my vent again or rebuild my body and focus on maintaining an active lifestyle so that I could get stronger and avoid many other health problems … I chose the latter.

“From 2020-2022, I had four consecutive surgeries to remove an invasive cholesteatoma that subsequently resulted in me losing hearing in my right ear, causing severe vestibular issues and a great amount of weakness. What I love about staying active is that exercising allows me the ability to feel like I can take control of my body — despite it attempting to fight me at every chance it gets — work out all of my anxieties and clear my head.

“Since I was 2 years old, a nonprofit called Chai Lifeline gave my family hope. In 2008, I joined my family in racing in the Miami Marathon to raise money for that nonprofit. For a few years, I cheered on my parents from the sidelines, and then I decided that it was time to take some steps on my own. I wanted to finally take control of my body and prove to myself and the world that I can do anything that I set my mind to. In 2016, I took a few steps over the finish line and I decided that it wasn’t enough. In 2017, I walked over 1,000 steps; in 2018, 1 mile; in 2019, 1.5 miles; and then in 2020, 1.5 miles, walking both forwards and backward, across the finish line. Unfortunately, due to a great deal of both physical and medical issues, I haven’t been able to walk since 2020, so I simply participated on the sidelines for the years following. Recently, I launched my own nonprofit organization known as the Team Peri Foundation.”

‘Regardless of one’s ability, everyone deserves to be accepted, included and understood.’

“My charity, the Team Peri Foundation, focuses on collaborating with organizations whose values align with ours to educate and promote disability inclusion. Regardless of one’s ability, everyone deserves to be accepted, included and understood. Our mission is to spread this message, celebrate human diversity and change the way the world views inclusion. Both my undergraduate and graduate studies at Adelphi University played a pivotal role in solidifying what would be my next steps and starting the Team Peri Foundation sooner rather than later.

“From pre-K until college, I was severely bullied. I felt alone, scared and wished the world would swallow me up whole. All I wanted was to be normal. I took my own power back by choosing myself. In August 2023, I graduated with my MBA in marketing from Adelphi University, and Team Peri Foundation launched in September 2023. Our first project was to hit our $1 million fundraising goal — which we surpassed! Getting my MBA gave me the confidence that I needed to prove to myself that I could launch a foundation. My experiences taught me that my words and leadership could inspire social change. I could make a difference!

“My desire to do so enabled me to understand the urgency of creating my nonprofit, which had been my dream since I was approximately 8 years old. My mom and I also host a podcast called ‘Team Peri Step Out of Line,’ which has welcomed over 107 guests including Alex Borstein, Mayim Bialik, and more, where we discuss their step-out-of-line moments, and we’ve learned something new from each guest. In 2022, I was honored to be featured in Forbes! I simply want to make my mark on the world, one step at a time.

“My dream is to give a TEDx talk and conduct speaking engagements to universities and corporations about the power of inclusion. I also want to publish a book and travel abroad. You can change your life around and create your own future. You can take your power back; your past doesn’t define you. While physical and emotional scars might still exist, you can push past them and step out of line.”

Interviewed by Meagan Meehan

‘Music can comfort people more deeply than almost anything else, so giving students that gift is special.’

West Hempstead

“I’m doing music because I couldn’t live without it. I grew up in Germany until I was 14. My parents were missionaries after WWII. My mother was a singer, and my father was a saw player. I was surrounded by a love of music.

“We had monthly meetings in our home, and families and professional musicians would play. This is where I met my violin teacher, who was a concertmaster. I lived next to a castle, and for lessons I’d walk 30 minutes to her special home.

“Later, I went to North Carolina School of the Arts, and then the Manhattan School of Music for my MA and DMA, and followed my love for learning. This allowed me to play for Broadway, film, commercials and a variety of classical music concerts, in addition to being nominated for a Grammy! Throughout, I was teaching violin performance at LIU.

I wish I had five lifetimes to do everything I want to do.

“My first time on Broadway was in 1980 subbing for the violinist in ‘Annie.’ The conductor discovered I played the musical saw and let me play the violin solos to ‘Tomorrow’ on it. Because of the saw, I was a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, and I was on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.’

“I also play the theremin, mandolin, recorders, dan bau, erhu and sitar. There’s nothing greater than learning until the last second of your life. I enjoy being creative and bringing music to people, which is why I founded the Long Island Vegetable Orchestra.

“I taught at Waldorf School in Garden City, where I created a rock concert out of rocks, and I had an eco-orchestra where we made instruments out of everything. I want students to have music anywhere in their lives, whether they’re at desks or Jones Beach.

“Music can comfort people more deeply than almost anything else, so giving them that gift is special.

“This year, my cabaret class at Long Island High School for the Arts performed at 54 Below. I was inspired by their transformation and how meaningful it was to them. People are more capable than they realize.

“In Germany, the old idea presented to me is that you couldn’t do more than one thing well. I wanted to prove that wrong. I wish I had five lifetimes to do everything I want to do. People shouldn’t waste a second and should have the clear minds to be able to pursue anything.”

Interviewed by Iris Wiener