An hour’s drive from Chicago, Valparaiso, Indiana, is home to several thriving religious communities, including Valparaiso University, a Lutheran institution. Known locally as “Valpo,” the city sits on land acquired by the U.S. government from the Potawatomi people in 1832. Today, Valparaiso is a vibrant and increasingly diverse city. Many thanks to our host, Valparaiso University, and to all who took part in the conversations.
The interviews below were recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.
May 3, 2019
More stories about: Social Justice Race
Lois Reiner helped her friend Barbra Cotton become one of the first African Americans to settle down in Valparaiso, Indiana, when the small town was still a sundown community in the 1960s. In this conversation, Reiner discusses with friend Kristen Lewis the relationship between her Lutheran faith and decision to support integration efforts in Valparaiso.
This story was produced by StoryCorps.
May 3, 2019
Elizabeth “Liz” Wuerffel interviews her friend and colleague, Richard “Dick” Brauer, about his photography, collage, and multimedia art that focuses on religious themes, as well as the inspirations and personal fulfillment he finds through his art practice.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
May 3, 2019
More stories about: Christianity Race
Thais Carter speaks with Byron Martin about the evolution of his faith and the role it can play in the ongoing struggle for justice for Black Americans.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
May 3, 2019
More stories about: Christianity
Jonah Koetke interviews his provost, Mark Biermann, about how faith has shaped his identity and served as an anchor throughout his college years, as well as the advice he would offer to future educators.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
May 3, 2019
Sunghee Kim speaks with William “Bill” Ickstadt about the role of music and liturgy in her faith, and how structure can foster creativity.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
May 2, 2019
More stories about: Healing & Recovery Christianity
Jane L. provided spiritual guidance to the families of death row inmates during her nearly two decades working as a prison chaplain. In this conversation, Jane discusses with colleague Erica Gibson-Even how she experienced and processed the trauma of the executions, which initially left her feeling the absence of God.
This story was produced by StoryCorps.
May 2, 2019
More stories about: Christianity Gender
E. Louise Williams and her friend and colleague Lisa Polito discuss how Louise's upbringing led her to pursue diaconal formation, and together trace how the education of deacons and deaconesses has shifted from a primarily practical exercise toward a greater emphasis on theological education.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
May 2, 2019
More stories about: Education
Rev. Brian T. Johnson interviews his friend, Dr. Dorothy C. Bass, about the importance of physicality for her spiritual practice and how understanding the long history of religious practice can help followers critically examine their traditions while preserving what is meaningful and valuable.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
May 2, 2019
More stories about: Christianity
Nicholas Denysenko interviews his church member Michael Gruszyk about how he started coming to the Eastern Orthodox Church as a teenager. Gruszyk describes how the sights, sounds, and smells of the church informed his experience of worship and the importance of prayer and gratitude in his daily life.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
May 2, 2019
More stories about: Islam Immigration
Ossama Abdelgawwad and his student Duaa Hijaz talk about Duaa's experience being president of the Muslim Student Association and how she worked with her peers to organize a campus memorial honoring those who were killed in the 2019 New Zealand mosque shootings.
This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.
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