Stories - Life Stories
Stories 1483 Interviews 102
Our stories are about how people make sense of their own lives, how they can shed light on our lives, and how we are connected to one another, to history, and to the larger human story.
Meeting Jean-Michel Basquiat and entering the downtown New Wave scene
Chicago's role in producing the first Black president and its significance
Founding the Women's Sports Foundation and outlining its mission
Balancing rebellion and family pride at the Naval Academy
Growing up in the Red Hook Houses community in South Brooklyn
Music, church, and brother Bryan's natural musical talent
The symbolic power and meaning of the Obama presidency and family
Jim Foley's character and the bonds formed during captivity
Reflections on the importance of family as a foundation for stability
The rewarding experience of publishing Life during its peak years
“I consider mentoring a process of showing your scars instead of your successes. I've always been awed by how many people resonate when I tell the story of my life. Often it's the first time they've ever told anyone their own story.”
Loretta Ross
Growing up in a politically active family in Texas
Hostages creating and playing a makeshift Risk board game in captivity
Attending the 1960 Olympics as a thirteen-year-old alternate
Witnessing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Broadway Answers Selma benefit
Shift in American freedom discourse following the September 11 attacks
King's extraordinary inspiration and indispensable role in American history
Hostile firehouse conditions faced in the early years of service
Diane Nash and James Bevel's complementary strengths and roles in the movement
Jim's participation in Islamic prayer while in captivity in Libya
Message of perseverance, accountability, and care for others across differences
