Search Interviews

Riya Patel (19) speaks with her mother, Kavita Patel (45), about her life and the challenges she has faced as a woman stuck between maintaining her cultural roots and adapting to changing societal views on gender roles.

Angelique Chaiser Thomas interviews her mom, Rosemary Alcid Chaiser about how Rosemary’s Dad won the National Lottery (know as “sweepstakes”) in the Philippines. A man of deep faith- he had escaped beheading by the Japanese years prior. Rosemary describes both...

In this interview, conducted in November 2017 in Austin, Texas, Vikram Joshi (14) interviews his mother Shubhada (49) about her childhood in India. Shubhada shares stories about growing up with her father in the military and how the constant moving...

Gin Lai Kwei Yee (PoPo 93) talks with her only granddaughter Jacqueline C. Larriva (36) who was raised by her PoPo for a majority of her life. Jacque interviews her PoPo about life and growing up in Guangdong (formerly Canton)...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: IM David Vigorito talks about growing up in Massachusetts, to his brief time in Las Vegas, to returning to his home state. Although he discovered his passion for chess at the later age of 16,...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Seema Gupte, born and raised in India, talks about her childhood living between her family’s farm and in the city. After immigrating to America, she adjusted to the many cultural differences. Once she moved to...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, Janis Baron, a teacher, principal, trainer and entrepreneur, shares her extraordinary life and the life lessons she has learned along the way.

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Elizabeth Walther-Grant, adopted from the Bahamas and raised by an Andover family, talks about growing up in Andover, the racism she faced, and what inspired her to found Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices. She...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Domino Physicist Peter Bloom reflects about his life from his childhood in Newton to learning to be an effective and impactful educator.

Andover Stories of American Identity: a conversation with Janet Hamlin about her extraordinary childhood and life that gives her perspective to be compassionate and passionate.

In this interview, I(13) am interviewing Esther Ang(77), my grandma on November 23, 2018. We are talking about her mother, and her accomplishments in her life before she died at the age of 101. Esther shares stories of how her...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: With 5 generations in Andover and as a descendant of slaves, Heidi Lawrence sits down with me to talk about her life and legacy. Her family is one of the five original African-American families to...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Long-term Andover resident Tina Girdwood shares her impactful life and dedication to helping her community, from founding the Andover Recycling Program, being a school committee member, and eventually leading the initiative to start the Andover...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Jim Batchelder, with thirteen generations in Massachusetts, recollects his life growing up in Andover. After becoming a beloved art teacher for many years, and working closely with the Andover Center for History and Culture to...

In this interview, conducted November 25, 2018 in Dallas Texas, Saira Shetty interviews her grandma Uma Bhandary. Uma recounts what life was like growing up in South India during the mid 20th century. She shares stories about her childhood and...

Andover Stories of American Identity: Andover resident Kevin O'Leary shares his story about his worldly upbringing, and how it all led to his profession of becoming a psychologist to help wounded veterans heal.

Sy Barry recounts his story of how he overcame his tough childhood through his passion and love for drawing. Eventually becoming a renowned comic book and comic strip artist, he was able to find success and contentment in both his...

Andover Stories of American Identity: Born in Compton, California, Ralph Blesdoe, a descendant of slaves, recounts his amazing journey of becoming a beloved science teacher at Andover High School.

Aggie Ebrahimi Bazaz (39) talks with her mother, Pouran Khavar (67), about her childhood in Tehran, Iran, and how everything changed.

The first to leave his native land of India. Pops speaks of his challenges and accomplishments in a new land, the arranged marriage that led him to the woman of his dreams, and what he is most grateful for.

Spouses Dharani Sridharan (34) and Sid Srivatsan (39) talk about their arranged marriage, reminisce on their first memories together, and share their secrets to a successful marriage.

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Leah Okimoto was born in upstate New York, and after having to move to several places across the country, she settled in Marlboro, Massachusetts, where she cemented her childhood. In New York City, she pursued...

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Nicolette Nordin Heavey was born Detroit, but spent the majority of her childhood in Belgium and England. After attending college in America, she moved to Andover to raise her family. Wanting to help contribute to...

Andover Stories of American Identity: Erin Taylor talks about her childhood in Andover, and adult life in Andover.

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Zhi Qing Chen, born in Wuhan, China, talks about his life growing up amidst the violence of the Second Sino-Japanese War. He moved to America over a decade ago to care for his grandchild, and...