Search Interviews

Seto You, age 92/93 or 97/98, is interviewed by his son, Ed You, age 26, about his early days in the USA. He arrived from China in 1916, worked as a cook in this country well into his 80's. He...

The photo featured here is from 1992, our first year together. When Stonewall happened, neither of us knew. We became a couple in Chicago 23 years later. The chorus of CeCe Peniston's "Finally," a tune that was popular during our...

Julie Peck 72 and Bill Lynch 75 discussed the development of Bill's social justice philosophy from a Quaker high school, through law school at U of Chicago, becoming a conscientious objector after ROTC, teaching in a changing school system.

Friends Dave Desimone (53), who is the site director of Black Point Estate & Gardens historic house museum, and Laurin Mack (44), who is a descendant of an original Chicago beer baron, Conrad Seipp, discuss Seipp family history and the...

Chris Brookes (73) interviews her friend Peter Baker (57) about growing up in Chicago and coming to Lake Ivanhoe, a Black community in southeastern Wisconsin. Peter relates the history of the community from its founding in 1926 up to the...

Best friends Sean Payne (57) and Ronnie Mikrut (57) trade family histories, anecdotes about involvement in community businesses and charities, and stories about growing up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

My father’s name is Alan Johnson. He was born in the year 1957 in Royal Oak, Michigan. He told me that his first job was a caddy at a country club but he didn’t know how to carry the clubs...

Today I took time to interview with a Vietnam Veteran named Thomas Sbertoli. He was in the Marines at the time during the war. In this interview he explains life inside Vietnam during the war and how it affects his...

Marc Paprzyca (69) and spouse Sylvia Paprzyca (67) talk about life in Chicago and retiring to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They talked about leaving the hustle and bustle of the city life and returning to a resort town.

Longtime friends Buta Muzuri (49) and Pierre Bashale (54) talk about their respective life journeys, including living as political refugees in Boise, Idaho.

Megan Grandstaff (35) and her colleague Becky Kidd (51) talk about their involvement as volunteer fixers at Community Glue Workshop, a free monthly community repair clinic in Chicago.

Since 2002, Aisha has received support from La Casa Norte. From housing advocacy to helping her receive full custody of her child, they have been a stable support for her for years.

Charlie Wilson (69) talks to his new acquaintance, Brandi Washington (18), about growing up in Mississippi, moving to the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago in the 1970s, his family, his work, and his advice to young people on making a...

Janice Peterson (79) interviews friend Sherryl Engstrom (73), who shares excerpts of letters written to her mother by her father during his World War II enlistment.

Spouses Jamie Koch (71) and Cathy Koch (71) reminisce about their family, life in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, their involvement with the church, historic preservation, and their occupations.

John Ford, a long-time client of EZRA's, sits down with a member of EZRA's Social Action team to discuss his experiences growing up as a Black man in Chicago, working with EZRA, and gentrification in Uptown, Chicago.

Me and Elijah talk about his thoughts on graduating middle school and starting fresh.

Athena Miller, 8th grade, interviews her grandfather, Tom Zemrowski ("Pops"), about how he met her late grandmother ("Gramzie") at Purdue University in 1965. Other interesting glimpses of his past are revealed as well. Recorded during Thanksgiving 2021.

One Small Step partners Taekia Glass (42) and Timothy "Tim" Radmore (48) discuss navigating political differences within families, how to bridge the urban/rural divide, and why neither wants to be "put in a box."

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law Tonia Reaves (51) and Robin Young (23) talk about their experiences in school. They reflect on the impact of racism on their educational upbringings, their experiences adapting to multi-racial school environments, and their hopes for future generations.

Jennifer "Jen" Euell (50) interviews her friend and mentor, Diane Sands (75), about her career as an activist, a nonprofit founder, an oral historian, and a Montana State Senator.

This interview captures a fraction of his experience growing up in the city of Chicago, parenting, and other memories he holds. He shares the most valuable lessons he has learned over the years and stresses the importance of loving your...

Xavier McElrath-Bey (43) and James Dold (36) reflect on their childhood and the people that helped them become the men they are today.

Dave and Steve interview each other about growing up Baptist, coming out and HIV-AIDS in Chicago in the '80's and '90's.

Emma VandeWater is a student in the Master of Urban Planning program at the University of Kansas. Sean Tapia is a graduate of the University of Kansas and works at a planning firm in Chicago. In this interview we talked...