Search Interviews

One Small Step conversation partners Michael Seltzer (66) and Vikki Kasperak (56) discuss growing up loving music, the media and its bias, and being harassed by the Proud Boys.

Laura Peterson (52) interviews her fellow Delta Gamma sorority sister, Julie Dawson (87), about Julie's life and her involvement with Delta Gamma as a member while in college as well as her involvement as an alumnae.

Saberah Azizuddin (68) interviews her husband, Farooq Azizuddin (69), about his life. Farooq talks about his family, his time in the Black Panther party, his conversion to Islam, and more.

One Small Step conversation partners Diane Knibbs (66) and Michael Dean (56) discuss their upbringings, relationships, their faith, racism in their communities, being informed citizens and extreme and moderate views.

Syma Mohammed (33) talks with her conversation partner Jihan Daman (53) about leaving Iraq as a refugee at age 13, her four years spent in Greece, her time in high school in Michigan, and the work she does with refugees...

Hazel Gomez (36) interviews her husband, Mark Crain (33), about his racial identity, his work with Dream of Detroit, and his hopes for his children.

One Small Step partners Perry Hoskins (62) and Melissa Dodge (37) talk about how their upbringings shaped their moral and political beliefs. They also share their hopes for and concerns about the future of the United States.

One Small Step conversation partners Allan Rikkola (82) and Tim ONeill (71) discuss their grandchildren, democracy and election work, the role of government, and navigating political conversations in social groups.

Mary Synder Heers (76) speaks to her colleague and friend Katie Swain (30) about the many professions she has held over the years and her spirit of rebellion.

Carla Saavedra (56) talks with her mother, Alice Hill (85), who was born in Tampa in 1936 at an immigrant Spanish hospital. They talk of family members working in the cigar factory, migrating from Spain and her great aunt being...

Ada Mae Eikhoff 100 speaks with her son Carl Eikhoff 73 and her grandson Sean Eikhoff 23 about her life over the last 100 years

Dr. Rachel Sutz Pienta (49) sits down with her mother, Nora Sutz (71), to discuss their family history, to reminisce about their favorite family memories, and to remember family members who have passed away.

One Small Step conversation partners Pete Shaw (72) and Anila Mondabaugh (76) talk about integrity, honesty and democratic values.

Stephen Yonkowski (86) talks to his daughter, Stephania Holland [no age given], about his childhood, his family, and his career as an engineer.

Marsha Music (62) tells Claire Nelson (40) the story of how her father's record store, a hallmark of the Detroit Black music scene, was burned down during the Detroit Rebellion of 1967.

Sean "Saddiq" Benson (48) interviews his friend David "Dawud" Clark (61) about his work in the penitentiary system advocating for inmates' right and later his work with Dream of Detroit helping run a reentry house.

One Small Step conversation partners Scott Rooney (44) and Richard Crowley (65) discuss the need for civil discourse is this politically divided country, their fathers' influence, and Thanksgiving conversations.

Bilal Ezzeddine (34) talks with his spouse Salma Khan (34) about their multiracial family, Bilal's Black and Arab-American identity, Salma's Pakistani identity, their Muslim identity, their daughter and how she will navigate her life and heritage.

Melvin Johnson (65) and Darryl Hicks (67) share their common experiences driving trucks, growing up black, and the joy and importance of having conversations with different kinds of people and not making assumptions.

Husband and wife, Thaddeus Shakoor (79) and Beheejah Shakoor (80), talk about when they first met and reflect on their relationship over the years.

Patricia Williams (56) and her daughter, Jasmine Barnes (23), talk about the three generations of resilience in their family, starting with Patricia's mother and Jasmine's grandmother, Bessie, and the strengths each generation gained from the one before.

Avis Max (73) talks to her One Small Step partner Rev. Melanie Marsh Baum (39) about growing up in all-white communities and how that differed from their individual perspectives.

Cousins Yvette Chestang (56) and Letitia Mabien (49) discuss their family's involvement in Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile and their perspectives on keeping traditions and the deep sense of community in their family alive.

Julia LeRoy (41) interviews her mother, Michelle Lawrence (69), about her family's history and her life growing up in Detroit in the 1960s.

One Small Step conversation partners Jack Rosenhammer (33) and Judy Weisman (80) discuss their concerns about polarization, whether our democracy is at risk, and if they consider themselves "optimists."