At The End Of High School, A Special Kind Of Thank You

Cole Phillips was like most teenagers heading into their first year of high school, wanting to make friends and fit in. But Cole, unlike his peers, had recently become blind due to complications from glaucoma. And he had the extra burden of an adult following him from class to class.

That was Rugenia Keefe, known as Miss Ru. Rugenia is a paraprofessional who assisted Cole with many of his most difficult subjects — attending class, taking notes, and ultimately becoming a friend and confidant.

Over the four years they worked together, Miss Ru and Cole came to rely on each other’s humor and humility. So, when Cole got an assignment to “record someone who made an impact on your time in high school” for a senior project, there was no question in Cole’s mind whom to interview — it had to be Miss Ru.  

Top Photo: Rugenia Keefe (left) and Cole Phillips at Bentonville West High School. Courtesy of Cole Phillips.

Originally aired June 19, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

‘We’re Like A Lifeline’: Postal Workers Fight Fear To Work In A Pandemic

When Evette Jourdain was struggling to get back on her feet, landing a job as a postal worker in Palm Beach, Florida seemed like a blessing. Now the job carries with it risks she never imagined.

Evette and friend and fellow mail carrier Craig Boddie had a remote conversation using StoryCorps Connect, to talk about what it means for them, personally and professionally, to do their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally aired May 15, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Top photo: Craig Boddie and Evette Jourdain in Palm Beach, FL. Courtesy of Craig Boddie and Evette Jourdain for StoryCorps.

By Age 85, She’d Given 23 Gallons Of Blood: ‘Because I Can’

Lillian Bloodworth, 92, has donated 23 gallons of blood over nearly five decades, starting in the 1960s. “Bloodworth” really is her last name, though donors would often ask her if it was a gimmick for the blood bank. 

She came to StoryCorps in Florida with her husband, John Bloodworth, to remember a life spent giving back.

Photo: Lillian Bloodworth and her husband, John Bloodworth, at their home in Gulf Breeze, FL, on Thanksgiving Day, 2016. Photo courtesy of the Bloodworth family.

Originally aired March 27th, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

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.

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.

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‘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. 

“I Felt I Was Helping A Fellow Soldier”: A Nephew Steps In For His Ailing Uncle

Growing up, Michael Menta idolized his uncle Sal Leone, a Marine. Michael would eventually follow in Sal’s footsteps, enlisting in the Navy his senior year of high school.

But in 2019, Michael found himself in a new role: caring for his uncle Sal at his bedside after he had fallen gravely ill from cancer.

They sat down together for StoryCorps.

Top photo: Michael Menta and Sal Leone at their StoryCorps interview in West Hartford, CT on October 26, 2019. By Camila Kerwin for StoryCorps.

Middle photo: A young Sal Leone in dress blues during U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Training. Photo courtesy of Sal Leone.

Originally aired November 9, 2019 on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.

Brothers Pass On Their Father’s Lessons From The Farm

Arguster and Lebronze Davis grew up on their family’s farm in Wetumpka, Alabama. As two of 17 siblings, they had little time for anything outside of school and work.

The brothers came to StoryCorps to talk about their childhood and remember their dad, Ben Davis.

Top photo: Lebronze and Arguster Davis at their StoryCorps interview in Birmingham on October 3, 2019. By Emilyn Sosa for StoryCorps.

Middle photo: The Davis family during a reunion in Wetumpka, AL, in 1969. Lebronze Davis is not pictured, because he was serving in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Arguster Davis.

Bottom photo: Hattie and Ben Davis — mother and father to the Davis children — in Wetumpka, AL. Approximately 1951. Photo courtesy of Arguster Davis.

Originally aired November 1, 2019 on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

He Traded Single Life To Be Foster ‘Pop’ To More Than 50 Kids

Guy Bryant grew up surrounded by women who dedicated themselves to caring for children in their Brooklyn community. He then spent years working with foster teens as they made the transition to living on their own. 

But after three decades as an administrator in the child welfare system, he felt that he wasn’t doing enough. So one day, he brought his work home with him, and twelve years later, he’s fostered over 50 young people in his New York City apartment. 

Guy came to StoryCorps with one of these kids, Romario Vassell, to talk about the early days.

Originally aired October 18, 2019, on NPR’s Morning Edition

Photo by Jey Born for StoryCorps.