SELF PORTRAIT

Beverly Morrow

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: Aug. 25, 1951, Brooklyn, N.Y.

■ THE BIGGEST THING BROOKLYN AND LITTLE ROCK HAVE IN COMMON: People. People are people, wherever you go.

■ YOU CAN TAKE THE WOMAN OUT OF BROOKLYN, BUT THE BROOKLYN “TRAIT” YOU CAN’T TAKE OUT OF THIS WOMAN IS: My accent and love for the city.

■ BESIDES MY PARENTS, MY BIGGEST MENTORS/INFLUENCERS WERE: My ninth-grade teacher, Ms. Simms. She became a very close family friend and passed a year ago in July.

■ THE THING ABOUT McDONALD’S THAT THE COMMERCIALS DON’T REVEAL: It’s hard work. It’s a great place to learn business and hospitality skills.

■ MY FAVORITE NUGGET OF ADVICE TO PASS ALONG TO YOUNG PEOPLE, ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS, MINORITY STEM STUDENTS, NEW MCDONALD’S EMPLOYEES: No matter what you want to do in life, learn all that you can, stay focused, don’t let anyone kill your dream, and most importantly keep your faith and trust in God.

■ BOY, WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT: I used to play piano and have played at Carnegie Hall.

■ FANTASY DINNER GUEST: Harriet Tubman. She was the only Black woman I was taught about when I was younger, and I admired her strength and courage.

■ IF YOU DON’T READ ANY OTHER BOOK, SEE ANY OTHER MOVIE OR SEE ANY OTHER TV SHOW THIS YEAR, BE SURE TO CATCH: I recently watched “Modern Love” on Amazon Prime TV; it’s a series of short stories about relationships [and] very lovely. My all-time favorite movie is “Shawshank Redemption.” Book to read: “The Book of Lost Friends” by Lisa Wingate.

■ ONE WORD TO SUM ME UP: My children say “mommy,” “generous” and “special.” I just say blessed.