Mitra Bonshahi developed an ear for listening while working at a 24 hour diner in her hometown of Chicago. She grew to appreciate the colorful stories she heard from the local patrons, which led her to become a Facilitator for StoryCorps in 2006. Upon witnessing a moving conversation between a husband and his wife who had Alzheimer's, she understood the importance of capturing fading memories and celebrating the present lives of people. After her run as a Facilitator, she was inspired to become a coordinator for the Memory Loss Initiative where her natural affinity for the elderly and their stories continues to flourish.