Bill Luna and Ruben Aguilar

Ruben Aguilar, 85, was born in the United States but forcibly deported to Mexico when he was 6 years old in 1933 as part of a largely forgotten Mexican repatriation program run by the American government. An American citizen born in Chicago, he was deported along with his parents who were undocumented.

Ruben could speak fluent English but not Spanish at the time, and he did not return to the U.S. until he was 18 years old after receiving a card in the mail telling him that he had been drafted into the U.S. Army.

At StoryCorps, Ruben tells his friend Bill Luna about being forcibly removed from his country of birth and about the country he returned to.

Originally aired April 5, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Tierra Jackson and John Horan

Growing up, Tierra Jackson struggled through the Chicago school system.

As a teenager, she enrolled in a high school where John Horan was the dean.

John invited Tierra, who is now 23, back to the school to sit down for StoryCorps.

Originally aired September 21, 2012 on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Tyrese Graham and Tania Kostova

Tyrese Graham is a second year science teacher at John Marshall Metropolitan High School on the West Side of Chicago. When he started teaching, Marshall was among the worst public schools in the city. At StoryCorps, Tyrese talked with his girlfriend, Tania Kostova, about his first day on the job.

Originally aired May 27, 2012 on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday.

Clairene Terry and Raul Bravo

21-year-old Raul Bravo is an auto mechanic at a car dealership in Chicago.

Back when he started high school, Raul never thought he’d have a career working on cars.

But then Raul met Clairene Terry, an Automotive Technology teacher at Schurz high school.

At StoryCorps, Raul told Clairene just how close to dropping out he was when he enrolled in her class.

Originally aired March 25, 2012 on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday.

Ayodeji Ogunniyi

In 1990, Ayodeji Ogunniyi left Nigeria, along with his mother and brother, to come to the United States. They arrived in Chicago, joining Ayodeji’s father, Abimbola “Yinka” Ogunniyi, who had arrived a few years earlier, and was working as a cab driver.

Abimbola always wanted Ayodeji to be a doctor. But while Ayodeji was studying pre-med in college, his father was murdered on the job.

At StoryCorps, Ayodeji talked about how his father’s death changed the course of his life.

Originally aired October 30, 2011, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday.

Above: Photo courtesy of Ayodeji Ogunniyi

Pepper Miller and her husband Ronald

Pepper and Ron Miller talk about what led to their divorce.

Lindberg Echols and his son Bryan

Bryan Echols (R) and his father, Lindberg (L), talk about how their relationship has changed over time.

Studs Terkel

Legendary oral historian Studs Terkel was a lover of the human voice. He shares a story about an experience he had at an airport searching for, and later finding, the “vox humana.”

Originally aired November 7, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

William and Glen Haley

William Haley (L) and his brother Glen remember their father, Joseph Howard Haley, founder of Jackie Robinson West Little League in Chicago.

Sonari Glinton and Dorothy Glinton

After working her way up from the assembly line, Dorothy Glinton became one of the first women to hold a management position at the Ford Motor Assembly Plant. She talks to her son, Sonari Glinton, about enduring sexism in the workplace, advocating for herself, and working to get more women into management positions.

Originally aired October 2, 2007 on NPR’s News & Notes.