Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Rich

Rich, a longtime resident, of Tacony is now caretaker an abandoned and overgrown citygarden in Keystone Park. Working his whole life as a contractor and 22 years in recovery, Rich talks about his experiences living through addiction to then building...

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43:04
Jyotsna Raj and Indra Raj

Jyotsna Raj (71) speaks with her daughter Indra Raj (37) about Hindu faith and belief in God. Indra speaks about not believing in God, her concerns about organized religion, and how she aims to live a moral life. Jyotsna describes...

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38:31
Kaleilani Grant and Nicole Farmer

Kaleilani Grant (38) talks to her best friend, Nicole Farmer (39), about her faith in God through many life obstacles. She talks about the period of life that she was forced into sex work and talks about how she is...

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21:12
Tammy Henry, Wilbertine Calhoun, and Tiffiny Benton-Hoke

Sisters Tammy Henry [no age given] and Tiffiny Benton-Hoke [no age given] sit down with their mother, Wilbertine Calhoun (73), to ask her about the parts of her life story that she has not shared with her daughters. As she...

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58:07
Timothy Huntington and Marcia Drummond

Marcia Drummond (50) and her One Small Step partner Timothy Huntington (60) discuss parenting and parenthood, political ideologies, class, and how their youth influenced their views on the meaning of life.

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26:58
Imogene Brooks and Shirley Tarver

Best friends Imogene Brooks (63) and Shirley Tarver (70) reminisce about the good times they have had together throughout their long friendship, describe what it was like growing up on the border of Columbus, GA and Phenix City, AL as...

mby021224
41:49
Linda Watley Norris and Pearl Watley Mitchell

Sisters, Linda Watley Norris (73) and Pearl Watley Mitchell (78), describe what it was like growing up in Columbus, GA, reminisce about the fun times they had as children, and remember family members who have passed away.

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39:25
Pedro Silva and Kelly FitzSilva

Married couple, Kelly FitzSilva (46) and Pedro Silva (48), discuss religion, identity, and adversity. Pedro and Kelly navigate conversation interweaving their relationships to themselves, each other, and spirituality — noting both the beautiful and difficult aspects.

mby021180
32:23
Gloria Weston-Smart, Joyce Thomas, and Joann Bynum Johnson

Sisters Gloria Weston-Smart (66), Joyce Thomas (64), and Joann Bynum Johnson (61) reminisce about their childhood together, remember family members who have passed away, and express gratitude for the tight-knit community that they grew up in.

mby021201
28:10
Marie Santiago and Danny Santiago

Spouses Marie Santiago (31) and Danny Santiago (33) sit down for a conversation about the highs and lows of the years that they have spent together and offer some of the wisdom that they have gained along the way.

“It was a better use of my life.”

Father Frank DeSiano calls himself a "lifer." He entered the Paulist junior seminary as a teenager. That was more than 45 years ago. He's a noted leader in evangelization or sharing of the Catholic faith. Father Frank has been the...

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51:39
Kath Van Winkle and Barron Evans

One Small Step partners Kath Van Winkle (66) and Barron Evans (68) have a conversation about their mutual desire for clarity in political conversations, politics in their communities and families, and the role of faith in their viewpoints.

Inspired by the healing ministry of Jesus Christ

"My dad was a carpenter, my mother's name is Mary and I have no illusions that I'm Jesus Christ," says Paulist Father Frank Desiderio in this interview with Jennifer Szweda Jordan conducted for The Paulist Fathers in Lake George, New...

Auntie-Grandma Jewel (sibling #7)

In the midst of the pandemic my family has been blessed with new life. I spoke with my Aunt Jewel about the experience of becoming a great-grandma during the outbreak. I thought I knew my aunt pretty well but this...

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40:35
Peggy Collinsmith and Caroline Sullivan

Peggy Collinsmith (63) interviews her friend Sister Caroline Sullivan O.P. (79) about her childhood, growing up in the United Kingdom, civic dialogue, and Caroline’s work within her religion.

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23:18
Sidney Davis and Dorothy Garza

Dorothy Garza (63) interviews her friend Sidney Davis (75) about how he beat cancer, what it was like being incarcerated for over 30 years, and the ways in which God influences his daily life.

A creative–and a priest

Growing up as an only child afforded Paulist Fr. Tom Holahan a huge imaginary world, where his creativity was nurtured. He loved the creative life and exploring the world so much that he couldn't see himself taking on the responsibility...

Janel Bowers and David Wesley discuss investing in others and life events that form deep values.

Janel Bowers discussed how creating new avenues for people to thrive and have dignity has given her a sense of deep joy. Her work through Friends of JCDS gives her the opportunity to match her own gifts and passions with...

Interview with Stephine (situational questions)

In this interview, I asked Stephine 12 questions based on a situation and what she would do. These questions related back to the ideas of freedom, God, justice, morality, etc.