Search Interviews

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.

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...

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.

Norma Jean Gilmore (96) talks with her son, Glenn Gilmore (69), about her memories of being ill as a child, moving to California, and experiencing the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She talks about her educational pursuits and her career in...

Siblings Barbara Espinoza (30), Rebeca Beliard (34), and Jaime Espinoza (28) remember moving from Mexico to Michigan as children. They also talk about their happiest and saddest moments, biggest influences, and hopes for the future.

One Small Step conversation partners Nicole Roediger (59) and Jeffrey Behrick (40) talk about both being from the Carolina's, where the young get their info, 2022 being the best year ever and surviving cancer.

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.

I asked my dad about what his childhood was like.

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 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.

Friends and old coworkers Renee Kivikko (59), Tom Springer (63), and Amelia Hanson (59) sit down to reflect on the origins and growth of Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC), the organization that brought them together.

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 Richard Lutz (42) and Matthew "Matt" Rowbotham (43) explore their shared history and experiences in service to the preservation and advancement of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

One Small Step partners Katie Kulp (25) and Michael Meketa (25) talk about their spiritual and political beliefs, and how they both long for a greater sense of community in our country. They also talk about feeling somewhat out of...

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.

Siblings Betty Brown-Chappell (76) and Ben Brown (68) share memories from growing up on their family farm in the 1950s and 1960s outside of Bangor, Michigan. The two reflect on the collaboration between Black farmers in their community and the...

One Small Step Conversation partners Marcia Oates (68) and Ann Marie Mershon (73) talk about their careers as school teachers and what they learned, the progress or lack there of on women's rights in their lifetime, abortion, and women's athletics.

In this interview from Flint Michigan on November 27th 2017, Emily Carroll(16) interviews her dad, Mitchell Carroll(56). They talk about how Mitch grew up in a large family from Flint in the 1960s. Mr. Carroll shares an embarrassing moment at...

Sisters Emily Fittante Baker (93) and Brenda Fittante Weeks (66) discuss family history and share memories of growing up in a family of 17 siblings.

Susan Slavish (80) shares with her conversation partner Franchesca Peña (26) her experience as a Second Lieutenant, VA nurse, mother, and Infection Control Coordinator.

Brian Goetz interviews Joe Durham on the successes that his community (near Lake Michigan) has achieved adapting to the climate crisis in the past ten years out of necessity for their local economy.

Yuhan interviews Cindy about her success in transforming our community, the lessons she has learned, and her future plans. Cindy contributed the success to "the generosity of the long-time community member donating the land." She witnessed how small steps can...

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...

Lucas Campbell speaks about the Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts with Parchment Community Library Ambassador Karen Woodworth.

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.