Maria Parrott-Ryan

The Life-Changing Magic of Children’s Books

Miranda: I grew up in Green Bay, right near the edge of town. It used to be lots of cornfields and forests, but now it’s mostly subdivisions. I was a very early reader; I started reading before kindergarten. I didn’t grow up in a house with a lot of books, but we did have one of those complete …

The Life-Changing Magic of Children’s Books Read More »

Miranda & Baptiste Paul | Bellevue, WI

From ‘Girl Reporter’ to Wisconsin’s First Female Sports Anchor

I was born in Madison in 1970. My mom is Jewish and from Long Island. My dad is Catholic, Mexican, and from Chicago. They met in the VISTA program (Volunteers in Service to America) and settled in Madison. Photos by Gary Porter “In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Madison felt magical to me. At age ten …

From ‘Girl Reporter’ to Wisconsin’s First Female Sports Anchor Read More »

Jessie Garcia | Milwaukee, WI

“I am descended from people who embraced the breath of life.”

People assume just because I live here on the reservation that I’ve been here all my life. But I have to tell them no, I was born in Chicago, and I’m a product of the Indian Relocation Act. Photos by Megan Monday “The Indian Relocation Act was an initiative that displaced Native Americans from the …

“I am descended from people who embraced the breath of life.” Read More »

Edith Leoso | Odanah, WI

“I was going to do whatever it took to stay sober.”

I was born and raised here in Wisconsin, a Dodge County native—actually Beaver Dam. My parents had three girls: me, my sister, Nicolle, who’s nine years older than me, and my sister Natalie, who’s five years older than me. Photos by Kara Counard Content warning: This story contains references to substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. …

“I was going to do whatever it took to stay sober.” Read More »

Nadine Machkovech | Appleton, WI

“It’s important for all of us to work towards acceptance.”

Dr. Bola: “My husband, Philips, got a job in the Paper Valley and we moved here 20 years ago. Photos by Megan Monday I’m a professor of multicultural education now, but at that time I was just finishing up my PhD from Penn State. Appleton appealed to me because I am a small-town person. I’m …

“It’s important for all of us to work towards acceptance.” Read More »

Dr. Bola and Philips | Appleton, WI

“When I came back to America, I became more confident in who I was.”

My mom and dad are both from Somalia, and they came to the United States with their families when they were really young. They were fleeing the civil war in Somalia. Photos by Kara Counard “For the first 14 years of my life, I lived in Minnesota. In Minneapolis there’s a huge Somali population, but …

“When I came back to America, I became more confident in who I was.” Read More »

Yasmin Nur | Green Bay, WI