Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Weidner.
Hi Maggie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before I was 14 years old, I moved 7 times between 5 different states! I found myself in many different areas of the country with my family. I grew in many ways in my personal faith with Jesus, my relationships, and my love for art through these many moves.
My last move with my family landed us in Fort Worth, Texas. It was there that I learned what a refugee was and about the growing crisis worldwide. I also grew in my art forms, acting, singing, dancing, and playwriting. After high school in Texas, I attended the University of Arkansas and combined all my passions into my studies by majoring in International and Global Studies, Arabic, and Theatre performance in undergrad!
I was introduced to Memphis in two impactful ways in my second year of college. First, the church I attended announced they were planting a church in Memphis. I met the pastor and his wife and became fast friends with them and their vision for their church body. The second was for a Peace Studies class, I was asked to write a paper about peace-building efforts. With my passion for the arts and refugees in mind, I set out to write about peace-building and the arts within the refugee crisis. This is when I came across the work of the Orpheum and their partnership with the Refugee Empowerment Program (REP). All of my passions and values seemed to be aligning and drawing me to the city of Memphis.
I found out about Memphis Teacher Residency (MTR) through a friend that year as well. I applied for their summer internship program with hopes to live and teach in Memphis for the summer. I did not get in the first time, or the second time. Feeling discouraged about never fulfilling my dream of living in Memphis, I started looking at other options for post-grad. I got a call soon after that from a recruiter for MTR about their residency program. I was not too sure about it at first, but felt God asking me to take a step of faith and go through the application process. I received my offer from MTR in January of 2023! My now-husband and I made the prayerful decision to accept the offer and move to Memphis! I graduated from undergrad on May 13th, 2023. I married the love of my life, Kailan Weidner, on May 15th, 2023. And two weeks later, we moved into our first apartment here in Memphis!
We have now lived here for two years and love it more everyday! I graduated from MTR with my masters in May 2024. I am now a 5th grade teacher in the Berclair neighborhood where my 51 students represent 12 different countries. What a joy it is to learn from and grow with them! We live in and own a home in Binghampton and love our neighborhood dearly.
We’re a part of the church family at New Heights Memphis. The church was planted back in 2020, right before I met Josh and Brittany Germany in college. Our church is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational congregation that I have the privilege of doing deep community and life with. I learn so much about the character of God through worshiping and being friends with people from all over the world!
A full-circle moment for me was this last fall when we worked with the Orpheum’s Neighborhood Play Program on the show We All We Got: A Binghampton Play. It was truly the greatest gift to work with our neighbors on a show about the history of Binghampton. I loved the opportunity to learn and befriend people who have called Memphis home since their first breath as well as those new to Memphis, like those at the REP.
I started posting more consistently on TikTok in December as a fun art form and a way to connect with long-distance friends! I realized that posting content surrounding the beautiful lives and experiences of Memphis is something that is missing and needed on the social platform. I love getting to share my city, my home, my work, and my art in all the different mediums on social media!
It’s an honor to recount these things, as so many of these steps have felt like a dream fulfilled.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Getting my Masters in a year while teaching full time, adjusting to a new city, and in my first year of marriage was a whirlwind. I was so grateful for my husband, Kailan, during that season. He is my greatest support and cheerleader! Our church family has also been a great source of community and support in transition.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have been an artist and creative my whole life. I have tried many different mediums in different seasons of my life. From performing, to playwriting, to directing, to party planning, to home decor, to fashion, and to social media, I have and do try to do it all! I think it all comes back to one of my life mottos: People’s stories change people’s stories. I love art and art mediums that elevate stories that need to be or haven’t been told so they can change the world.
The theatre world has been my favorite medium since I was a kid. I love the moment right before you step out on stage and the moment when the song ends and you hit the ending move waiting for a blackout! I deeply miss performing, although some days being a teacher feels like my longest-running performance! I was so thankful for the opportunity to work with the Orpheum in the fall! I also love directing and choreographing! I am very excited to be teaching at Germantown Community Theatre this summer. I have started a small drama club at my school that I am hoping to grow and I will even produce a show next spring!
When I started my first year of teaching, I committed to throwing a themed dinner party every month! There are themes you would expect, like “The Last Summer Soiree”, then there are more obscure ones like “Apple of My Eye” where every food, decor, and clothing has to include apples and red! I find so much joy in cultivating spaces where people can gather, connect, and ask intentional questions.
I started posting more consistently on TikTok back in December as a fun, new art form. Sharing ways I’m trying colorful fashion and home decor, how I’m enjoying this beautiful city, and how art can intersect with my daily life in the classroom. I’m hoping that this will open doors to new creative spaces and new friendships that I never would’ve imagined.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me looks like serving and loving God with all parts of my life. This looks like loving my family, community, and neighbors intentionally and sacrificially. I gauge success in art with the phrase “people’s stories change people’s stories. If the stories of others are changing for the better whether that’s an audience member, my students, or a party attendee, then I have succeeded.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggieeweidner?igsh=MXU1dnA1aXB1MzkxNQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggieeweidner?_t=ZP-8vAlh6tunoE&_r=1
Image Credits
Personal Photo — Josie Gammet @givephotography
Theatre Photo — Austin Bomkamp
Wedding Photo — Caitlin Wilson @caitlinwilsonphotography
