Search Interviews

Mother and daughter Stephenie Klingler (66) and Mackenzie Hatfield (38) talk about their fathers and loss, trading memories about Mackenzie’s late father Carter Hatfield and Stephenie’s father Robert Tebo.

One Small Step partners Jennifer Townsend (48) and Jennifer Harrison (50) talk about rural life, their personal political values, and the state of communication and discourse in their academic disciplines.

Colleagues and One Small Step partners Tracy Hall (50) and Mary Balkema (55) talk about their careers in local politics, their perspectives on public service, and the life lessons they have taken away from their work.

Kelley Kellis (47) interviews her friend Stacy Salters Jackson (49) about what home means to her, her experience having had seventeen different addresses in Kalamazoo, and what she would like landlords in Kalamazoo to know.

Colleagues and friends Stephanie Hoffman (54) and Kelley Kellis (47) discuss the meaning of home, houselessness in Kalamazoo, MI, and housing being a human right.

Taylor West (24) interviews Cynthia Rose (58) about her role as the mother of the community and how she is learning to give that same love and care to herself in this next phase of her life.

One Small Step partners Michael Lewis (55) and Daniel Patton (42) have a conversation about National Parks, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, libraries, and the role of government.

Building & Grounds Co-Chairs of the Ladies’ Library Association (LLA) of Kalamazoo, Paula Jamison (no age given) and Marge Kars (no age given), detail the process of maintaining the LLA’s historic building.

Sabrina King (20) interviews Stephanie Williams (51) about her experience organizing and advocating for her community, reflecting on the barriers she has overcome as a Black woman in politics and the importance of representation. In 2018, Stephanie became the first...

Colleagues Michael "Mike" Walling (54), YoungJun Li (45) and May Hua [no age given] discuss their cultural heritage and their work with the Chinese Association of Greater Kalamazoo (CAGK).

Patrese Griffin (41) speaks with her husband, Ed Genesis [no age given], about where they each were in life when they first met, the work they have been able to do together since meeting, and how they balance helping others...

Fiancés Ian Whistler (23) and Ryan Myers (37) talk about their life together, joking about their cats aka “The Women” and sharing some of their favorite memories.

Chris Lampen-Crowell (63) and Bruce Johnson (68) talk about the process of opening their store Gazelle Sports in Downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the barriers they overcame to make it a success.

Friends and coworkers Lynn Houghton (65) and Sharon Carlson (60) discuss their shared passion for Kalamazoo history, the built environment, and cultural preservation.

Good friends Maureen Mead (54) and Jennifer Stubbs (52) trade memories from their early twenties spent in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Colleagues Blair Bates (66) and Nelson Nave (75) talk about their work in historic preservation, Blair working as a restoration contractor and Nelson as an architect, to maintain the Ladies’ Library Association building in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Kathy Purnell (54) interviews colleague Buddy Hannah (74) about his life and work in the arts, particularly his approach to building and celebrating community through this work.

Judy Sarkozy [no age given] interviews friend and coworker David Walker [no age given] about his experience serving 33 years in prison, his work with her at Sarkozy Bakery, and his outlook on life.

Ashley Choker (38) interviews her friend and colleague, Ngoc “Kat” Sharp (46), about her challenges in life and her journey to recovery. Kat shares her experience dealing with addiction and homelessness, as well as her experience getting back on her...

Ashante Collins (30) shares a conversation with her mother, Latrieva Boston (46), about their relationship, how Latrieva handled teenage parenthood, and how they have been able to grow and flourish together.

Colleagues Briiz Jean-Baptise Vicioso (19) and Ru Hensley (24) talk about their experiences growing up as young queer people, how their understanding of gender and sexuality has changed over time, and the hopes they have for the work they do...

Rebecca Joyce (50) and her father, Richard Joyce (84), trade stories from their respective service in the Peace Corps, talk about their family, and reflect on their love of travel.

Colleagues and board members of OutFront Kalamazoo Frances Vicioso (34), Regan Hanley (63), and CoCo Marie (46) share their journeys coming into their identities, reflecting on how the queer experience takes shape across different generations and communities. The three also...

Mother Kristin Mckinney (48) invites daughter, Savannah Mckinney (28), to the booth on her 28th birthday to share memories of past birthdays and express love for friends and family.

One Small Step partners Hannah Borton (36) and Jeffrey "Jeff" Breneman (53) talk about some of the watershed moments in their lives, and they reflect on the state of political discourse in their community.