Search Interviews

Paul Nilsen (83) is interviewed by his friend and former student Jim Perkins (64) about his work to make sure students with HIV were protected in the school he worked in 1980's in Wilmette, IL.

Friends and fellow Questbridge scholars, Akie Kadota (19), Christian Reyes, (21) and Carter Liebman (19), talk about their experiences as low-income first-generation college students at Northwestern University. They talk about their family histories, parental role reversal, navigating bureaucratic systems without...

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...

Michael Stalzer (76) talks to his daughter, Kathy Kubik (46), about growing up on the South Side of Chicago, serving with the 330th Radio Research Company in the Army during the War in Viet Nam, working for ComEd for 38...

Sarah "Sally" Butzin (76) interviews her husband, Peter Butzin (77), about his involvement in the draft resistance movement during the Vietnam War.

Jacky Glass (no age given) speaks with Michael Drummond (56) about her experiences with hospice and being a donor to TrinityCare.

One Small Step conversation partners Hannah Mitchell [no age given] and Arlene El-Amin [no age given] discuss growing up in Montreal and Chicago. They also discuss their Unitarian and Muslim beliefs and the ways that their beliefs are similar.

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.

Erica Wood-Bedi (44) has a conversation with her mother Janice Wood (73) about her legacy in early child education and social work in the community of Joliet, Illinois, some of her experiences as the owner of a daycare center, and...

Reveca Torres (34) talks with her co-directors, Matt Lauterbach (36) and Grishma Shah (33) about founding a film festival for people with disabilities. They talk about their inspirations and Matt finds out that Grishma has a prosthetic limb.

Wendy Fiering (53) interviews her brother in law, David Kieschnick (61) about his activism in the LGBTQ Lutheran Community in the 1970s.

George Joens (79) talks with David Mulhena (48) about his Czech heritage, his family, and what it was like being a business owner in the Czech Village.

Barbara Simon (68) talks to her son James "Jay" Simon (32) about her family and memories of growing up in North Lawndale.

Rev. John "Jack" Farry (73) and his niece Kathryn "Kathy" Gaucher (34) talk about Jack's life as a priest in Chicago, his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, his childhood and what Jack means to their family.

David (39) and James "Jim" (75) talk about Jim's parents, particularly Jim's father who worked as a salesman. Jim talks about his mother who was an avid reader and lifelong learner.

Jonta Brickhouse (18) talks to new acquaintance Nancy Zook (55) about graduating from high school and his future goals and interests.

Bridget Skaggs (33) is interviewed by friend and colleague George Cederquist (42) about how she became involved in the Chicago opera scene, the pandemic's effect in the arts, founding the Fourth Coast Ensemble, and how grassroots arts organizations are revitalizing...

Sterling Tate (49) talks to his friend Jonathan Kelley (48) about growing up on the West Side of Chicago, coaching basketball, and his work with youth on the West Side.

Best friends and former coworkers Kathy Klager (65) and Mary Olson (62) reminisce about their experiences in school.

Alexandra Kirshenbaum (35) and husband, Brad Kirshenbaum (35), reflect on the past year on becoming new parents and taking care of their infant during a pandemic.

Cheryl De Cero (63) speaks to her daughter Kaitlin De Cero (32) about different moments in her life.

Sisters Rebekah Sager (55) and Julie Varee (63) talk about their deep bond despite growing up in separate households.

Charles Kuner (77) talks about being a white anti-racist educator in a Chicago high school during the civil rights movement.

As a creative scholar she explored how her background informs her creative practice.

Zainab Kahn (32) speaks to Michael Stark (29) about his childhood and his work as a social entrepreneur.