PEORIA MAGAZINE February 2023

of community engagement at WHY and a part of the deaf community herself. “The lives that will be impacted can’t be overstated.” We Hear You’s other invention is Push, a handheld device the size of an Apple watch that turns accessible doors into automatic doors from as far as 20 feet away. The device can be attached to wheelchairs, crutches, canes and walkers, worn as a wristband or attached to a keychain. Push is in use on the Bradley and Illinois Central College campuses, as well as EP!C, a Peoria-based company that helps those with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve their goals and live productive lives. Having the device on col lege campuses is especially important to Paul, who notes that more than 19% of undergraduate college students have at least one disability. Paul is the lone full-timer at his all virtual company, which has a team of about a dozen working on the sign language software and another seven tinkering with the Push product. Bethanie Couri is WHY’s chief operating officer and director of the Office of Residential Living and Student Conduct at Bradley. She met Paul there. “He and I don’t have to flip a switch between being friends one minute and working together the next,” said Couri. “Pierre is a natural leader. He’s easy to trust and everyone knows his leadership will benefit others.” Nathan Domenighini, managing director of gener8tor’s gBETA, a partner of Distillery Labs in Peoria, is another Paul fan: “Pierre is a great role model andmentor for minority entrepreneurs.” ‘NO LIMITS TO WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE’ Born in Brazil and raised in Guyana, Paul ultimatelymovedwith his family to Ohio. His life took a turn for the worse there as he looked and spoke so much differently than his classmates. But the isolation and discrimination he faced gave him the motivation to

master English, become comfortable with public speaking, and use his talents and strong beliefs to make sure others don’t feel as unwelcome as he once did. His father read to himnightly, “stories of trials, tribulations and hardship, but most importantly, stories that ended in triumph,” Paul said. He came to Bradley on a speech scholarship after graduating from Wooster (Ohio) High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from BU in 2019, the same year he launched WHY, and a master’s degree in social sector leadership and non-profit management in 2021. He also became a U.S. citizen. Paul could have started his company anywhere.Why Bradley andwhy Peoria?

“Because there is so much love and support for entrepreneurs here,” he said. “The resources and mentorships are invaluable.” HE USES HIS TALENTS AND STRONG BELIEFS TO MAKE SURE OTHERS DON’T FEEL AS UNWELCOME AS HE ONCE DID Ultimately, helping others is what it’s all about. “That supersedes any success I achieve,” he said. “I want people to hear my story and see how I live my life and realize there are no limits to what you can achieve.”

Steve Stein is a longtime Peoria area print journalist

Pierre Paul is CEO and founder of We Hear You, a company that has created a sign language translator and hand held device that turns handicap accessible doors into automatic doors

FEBRUARY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 79