Growing Up Archives - Page 10 of 40 - StoryCorps

The ‘Heart’ of Heart Mountain: Japanese American Internment Through The Eyes Of A Child And His Unlikely Friend

On February 19, 1942, ten weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which resulted in the forced relocation and incarceration of more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent on the West Coast. Families were taken from their homes and placed in internment camps, where they spent the remainder of the war as prisoners.

Shigeru “Shig” Yabu was just ten years old when he and his family were evacuated from their San Francisco home and sent to Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Cody, Wyoming.

At 87, Shig came to StoryCorps with his grandson Evan to remember the thing that came to define his experience as an internee — adopting and caring for a bird named Maggie.

In 2007, Shig wrote a children’s book, titled Hello Maggie, about his experiences as an internee. To hear more of Shig’s story, check out the StoryCorps podcast.

Top Photo: Evan Yabu and Shigeru Yabu at their StoryCorps interview in Camarillo, CA in September 2019. Photo by Rochelle Hoi-Yiu Kwan for StoryCorps. 
Middle Photo: A mid 1940s snapshot from the barracks at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Cody, Wyoming. Public Domain, Department of the Interior. War Relocation Authority.
Bottom Photo: Cover illustration from ‘Hello Maggie.’ Courtesy of Shigeru Yabu.

Originally aired February 21, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

A Dad Tells His Daughter About The Risk That Led Him To The Love Of His Life

Eddie Chang had just finished his junior year in college and was spending some time at his friend’s house in Chicago, when he got reacquainted with his friend’s older sister, E.F. Wen.

Two years older than him, E.F. happened to be home for the summer. She was always the well-liked one around the community, and her playful, rebellious energy caught his eye.

What happened that week sparked a romance that would last them four decades — until E.F. died after a battle with colon cancer.

Eddie came to StoryCorps with their youngest daughter Tria to remember how it all started, and recount all that he still loves about his late wife.

Top Photo: Tria Chang and Eddie Chang at their StoryCorps interview in San Francisco on May 6th, 2017. By Yosmay del Mazo for StoryCorps.
Middle Photo: Eddie Chang and E.F. Wen. Circa 1973
Bottom Photo: From left to right: Eddie Chang, E.F. Wen, Vanessa Chang, Tria Chang, & Meesha Chang. 1993 at Smith College.

Originally aired February 14, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

“Sometimes It Doesn’t Feel So Good And You Just Keep Stepping”: A Father Teaches His Daughter To Be Bold And Embrace The Unexpected

Kevin Craw has always encouraged his children to embrace the unexpected. 

Especially his daughter, Kate, who grew up with a love for singing. As a teenager, she starred in several high school musicals.

But she was also interested in singing the blues. One night, Kate’s father took her to see his friend’s band play at a local bar.

At StoryCorps, they sat down to remember what happened next.

Top Photo: Kate Quarfordt and Kevin Craw at their StoryCorps interview in New York, NY on January 10, 2020. By Nicolas Cadena for StoryCorps.
Middle Photo: Kate Quarfordt in her high school production of Brigadoon in Wilton, CT in 1992. Courtesy of Kate Quarfordt.

Originally aired February 7, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

‘You Were Walking Rage’: Reclaiming A Broken Brotherhood

Growing up in a troubled home in Florida, the fights between Derrick Storms and his younger brother Raymond were legendary. “There’s still probably a hole where you threw me through the wall, right by the TV, and Dad never fixed years later,” Raymond said to Derrick at StoryCorps in New York.

They would end up taking completely different paths: Derrick joined the military right out of high school, and Raymond sang opera professionally and practiced reiki. At StoryCorps, they talked about how they reclaimed their brotherhood.

Originally aired January 31st, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Top Photo: Raymond Storms and Derrick Storms at their StoryCorps interview in New York on January 10, 2020. By Rochelle Kwan for StoryCorps.
Middle Photo: Raymond and Derrick Storms, with their mother, older sister Gail and younger sister Maryanne. Miami, FL, approximately 1986. Photo courtesy of the Storms family.

The Boy From Troy: How Dr. King Inspired A Young John Lewis

As a young man, John Lewis was inspired by the words and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At StoryCorps, Congressman Lewis told his friend Valerie Jackson how he met Dr. King, and went from “the boy from Troy” to a civil rights leader in his own right. 

Top photo: John Lewis and Valerie Jackson at their StoryCorps interview in Atlanta, GA on February 20, 2018. By Daniel Horowitz Garcia for StoryCorps.

Originally aired January 17, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

50 Years Later: Giving Thanks to the Teacher Who Changed His Life

People often come to StoryCorps with those who have made an impact on their lives. In this piece, we hear from a cabaret performer and his elementary school music teacher.

Russ King grew up outside of Minneapolis in the 1970s. He sat down with his music teacher,  Paige Macklin, 50 years later, to tell her about a choice she made, and how it changed his life.

Top photo: Paige Macklin and Russell King at their StoryCorps interview in St. Paul, MN on November 14, 2019. By John Miller for StoryCorps.
Middle photo: Russell King at age 12. Courtesy of Russell King.
Bottom photo: Paige Macklin at in the early 1970s. Courtesy of Paige Macklin.

Originally aired January 10, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Completing the Circle: A Mother and Daughter Explore What Family Really Means

Dena Kohleriter had always planned on having a family. But, when she was 36 years old and hadn’t yet met the person she wanted to build one with, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Ten years later she came to StoryCorps in Dallas, Texas with her 8 year old daughter, Jori, to talk about that time.

Top photo: Dena Kohleriter and Jori Kohleriter at their StoryCorps interview in Dallas, Texas on November 8th, 2019. By Mia Raquel for StoryCorps.
Middle photo: Dena Kohleriter and Jori Kohleriter, courtesy of Dena Kohleriter.
Bottom photo: Dena Kohleriter’s great aunt Roszi and her daughter, courtesy of Dena Kohleriter.

Originally aired January 3rd, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

How His Family Farm Helped This Birder Learn To Fly

As a zoologist and ornithologist, Drew Lanham spends many of his days in the company of birds. It’s the way he’s always wanted it to be, ever since growing up on his family farm in South Carolina. 

At StoryCorps, he spoke with his friend John Lane about the childhood that helped his career take flight.

Top photo: Drew Lanham (right) and John Lane at their StoryCorps interview in Clemson, SC on December 9, 2019.  By Eric Rodgers for StoryCorps.

Originally aired December 20, 2019, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

We Never Spoke Of It

Glennette Rozelle and her sister Jennifer Mack grew up outside of Oklahoma City during the 1970s. They fondly remember the happy moments of dancing in their living room and eating their mom’s biscuits and gravy.

But they also remember how common it was to hear their parents argue. And on Valentine’s Day of 1977, everything changed for their family. Their mom shot and killed her husband, Glenn, who was Glennette’s dad and Jennifer’s stepfather. Glennette and Jennifer were both children at the time, and they never spoke with their mother about what happened. Now adults, they came to StoryCorps to remember that night, and its aftermath.

Jennifer also came to StoryCorps with her daughter, Whitney Cotten, to talk about how this secret affected their family for generations.

Top photo: Artwork by Lindsay Mound.
Middle Photo 1: Minnie Jo Wallace, c. 1959. Courtesy of Jennifer Mack.
Middle Photo 2: Glennette Rozelle (left) and Jennifer Mack at their StoryCorps interview in Oklahoma City on May 3, 2018. By Kevin Oliver for StoryCorps.
Bottom Photo: Whitney Cotton (left) and Jennifer Mack at their StoryCorps interview in Oklahoma City on May 3, 2018. By Kevin Oliver for StoryCorps.

Released on December 10, 2019.

Like the music in this episode? Support the artists:
“Heat and Memory” by Jarrett Floyd
“Cast in Wicker” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Aeronaut
“Sage the Hunter” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Landsman Duets

‘I Would Look Out The Window And Talk To Her’: A Daughter Learns To Cope With Her Mother’s Suicide

Josh Weiner remembers his wife, Kari Grosvold, as friendly, glowing personality. She also struggled with bipolar disorder and manic/depressive episodes. In 2008, Kari died by suicide. 

Their daughter Sylvia was five and a half years old at the time. A decade later, Sylvia and Josh sat down at StoryCorps to talk about losing Kari, and the years that followed.

Top photo: Josh Weiner and Sylvia Grosvold at their StoryCorps interview in Portland, OR on March 27, 2019. By Beth Duckles for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Sylvia Grosvold with her mom Kari Grosvold in March 2008. Courtesy of the Grosvold/Weiner family.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help at 1-800-273-8255.

This interview was recorded through The Dougy Center for grieving children. It is part of Road to Resilience, a project with StoryCorps in partnership with the New York Life Foundation which leverages the power of stories and storytelling to help children cope with the death of a parent, sibling, or loved one. 

Originally aired December 6, 2019, on NPR’s Morning Edition.