Search Interviews

Tom discusses jazz as a thread running through his life, relationships and cultural consciousness.

James Peters interviewed Richard Lanyon regarding childhood and young adult memories of living in Ravenswood Manor.

Michael Tanimura (63) and Michael Takada (61) engage in a conversation about their experiences growing up in Chicago as third (and 2.5) generation Japanese Americans. Anna Takada (25) facilitates their conversation as the oral history studio manager at Alphawood Gallery.

Louise Williams (73) and her friend and colleague Lisa Polito (52) talk about growing up on farms, how that shaped their religious beliefs, and their work as deaconesses.

Friends and colleagues Scott Nance (40) and Adam Ballard (33) talk about how they each became involved in the disability community and how they became friends.

Vantner Cruz (24) talks with his friend Michael Glasser (56) about his experiences growing up Latino in Chicago. Vantner discusses his impactful encounter with the criminal justice system.

Tim Curran (52) talks with his partner, Noel Parks (51), about being expelled from the Boys Scouts of America for being gay. He talks about suing the organization, and eventually losing after 18 years of litigation.

A woman changes careers from PR to social work after being raped in her home.

From Siberia to America story. Tartar ethnic background. Diversity and cultural openness is key.

Josh Korby (42), shop manager of Working Bikes, talks with colleague and Working Bikes volunteer Chris Newman (42) about the early days of Working Bikes, and how the organization has grown since 2000. He also talks about the international donation...

Kenneth "Ken" Best (63) and his friend, Carla Bruni (42), talk about Community Glue Workshop, a free monthly repair clinic in Chicago. Carla is one of the co-founders and Ken is a volunteer fixer.

Salyndrea B. Bishop Jones (26) and her friend Shakira Johnson (23) talk about growing up in public housing, their families, the schools they attended, the importance of youth programming, their jobs, and their creative interests and professional goals.

Allison Schuette (45) interviews Dave Overholt (73) about the life he made in Kouts, Indiana after he decided to move there in the 1960s with his wife. He describes how farming and other industries have changed as the area's residents...

Joe Schroeder (61) speaks to his mentor and best friend, Benny Bunting (61) about Benny's work as an advocate for farmers.

Francine Washington (64) and her husband Larry Washington (66) talk about life in the Stateway Gardens community and their experiences working for CHA over the course of many years, throughout changes in leadership.

Nicholas Denysenko (46) interviews his church member Michael Gruszyk (55) about how he started coming to the Eastern Orthodox Church as a teenager, his education at Valparaiso University, and how the death of family members influenced his faith.

James Peters interviewed Ruth Robbins regarding memories from her life-long experience of living in Ravenswood Manor.

Atrayus Goode (34) has a conversation with his colleague David Shapiro (44) about their trajectory building mentoring relationships.

Brothers Matt (27) and Jeff Austin (25) read two stories, both relating to the same event, from their own perspective. They talk about writing and creating art.

Jasmine Coates (32) is interviewed by her colleague Candace Coleman (34) about her experience as a Black independent woman with disabilities, and her journey becoming an advocate for others.

Betty A. Welch Thompson (65) and her husband Robert Scott (75) discuss the effects of housing segregation in the City of Chicago.

Lois Friedberg Dobry (94) and her husband Alan Dobry (92) talk about their involvement in Chicago politics, from Alan's role as 5th ward Committeeman, to the Harold Washington Mayoral campaign, their involvement in Barack Obama's Senate campaign, the preservation of...

Josephine "Finny" Rosner (95) is interviewed by her friend Jonathan Schwartz (51) about growing up in Vienna before she and her family left the city when the "Anschluss" happened. She also talks about her love for her native city, moving...

Pavlos Msaouel (37) interviews his mentor, Nizar Tannir (65), about their work with rare cancers and what inspires their work.