Nasrin Rouhani and her family left Iran because they are members of the Baha'i faith. They arrived in Georgia in August 1984. In this interview, she speaks about the process of reestablishing her professional career and proving her nursing…
Robbie Buller was one of the first volunteers at Jubilee Partners and became a partner soon after. He speaks of his Mennonite upbringing and desire to live in Christian community, as well as his work at Jubilee. He discusses his marriage to Chou Ly…
Chou Ly left Cambodia during the reign of Pol Pot and lived as a refugee in Thailand before moving to the United States in the early 80s. She and her family lived at Jubilee Partners before moving to Lilburn, Georgia. Chou returned to Jubilee as a…
Born in 1942, Craig Barrow, III is the ninth generation of his family to manage his ancestral home, Wormsloe, near Savannah, Georgia. Barrow is a direct descendant of Nobel Jones, one of the first settlers in Georgia. Barrow attended the University…
Michael Kobito is Director of Bands at Woodland High School in Cartersville, GA and the 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year.This interview was recorded remotely.
Phyllis Juliette Quick Stewart was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina but has spent the majority of her adult life in Georgia. She was a life-long educator, beginning as an elementary school teacher and retiring as elementary school…
Larry Green was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He attended West Broad street School, Lying Junior High, Burney Harris High School, and Clarke Central High School before furthering his education at Albany Technical School and DeVry University. In…
Jessica Johnson was born in Athens in 1969, where she attended Alps Road Elementary School, Burney-Harris Middle School, and Clarke Central High School. Johnson earned her undergraduate degree from North Carolina Central University and her graduate…
Continuing from her first interview, Ethel Johnson discusses her time in graduate school and from her career. In this interview, Johnson shares her experiences with integration as a teacher and how she became more involved in social services as her…
Ethel Johnson was born in Athens in 1940, where she grew up and attended West Broad, Reese Street, and Athens Industrial and High School. In this interview, Johnson relates her experiences from grade school to graduate school. She talks about her…
Earnest Elder was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He is the founder and president of the Community and Youth Development Organization, an Athens-based organization that focuses on building capacity and creating programs for the youth. In this…
Content Warning: This interview includes references to substance abuse. Shannondore “Shane” Sims was born and raised in Athens, Georgia, in a two-parent household until the age of 12. After this turning point he experienced drug and alcohol…
Yiceth Caicedo was born in Colombia and fled to Ecuador with her husband before she arrived in the United States in spring 2017 with her two young children. She had been in college studying sociology before she had to leave Colombia. Her husband…
Isabel Gonzalez Whitaker was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to Cuban refugees before they settled in Atlanta. Throughout her career, Whitaker has worked various jobs in journalism, with one of her earliest positions being booker and producer of…
This interview was recorded remotely. Maritza Soto Keen is an associate director and senior public service faculty at the Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia. Keen has also spent many years leading the Latin American Association as the…
Julita Sanders was born in Athens-Clarke County in 1974 and was raised by a single mother. In this interview, Sanders shares her experience in school and how it led to working with at-risk youth as an adult. Sanders discusses Juvenile Offender…
Charles Hardy was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He is the current co-founder and executive director of Athens Alliance, an Athens-based organization that strives to give opportunities and provide resources for the community. In this Interview,…
Content Warning: This interview includes references to sexual assault. Asia Thomas was born in Athens, Georgia. She is a former candidate in the Athens- Clarke County Commissioner race and has played an active role in the Athens community through her…
LaKeisha Gantt was born in Athens in 1978, where she attended elementary through high school. In her undergraduate years, Gantt knew that she wanted to help people, but wasn’t sure how; through graduate school and upon completing her Ph.D in…
Barnard Sims was born in Barrow County to a family of four. Once he started school, he realized that Black people were systematically treated differently than white people and felt that he lacked understanding of Black history. In this interview,…
Charles Campbell was the fifth of six children in his family, growing up on hand-me-downs and often being looked after by his eldest sister in Paldo. In this interview, shares how his upbringing has affected his self-image and the importance of youth…
Jonathan Grantham is a high school band director at Amador High School in the Pleasanton Unified School District in Pleasanton, California.This interview was recorded remotely.
Anoa Green is Director of Wind Studies at the Baltimore School for the Arts in the Baltimore, Maryland City School District.This interview was recorded remotely.
Tonna Carbaugh-Dieter is a high school orchestra director in the Twin Valley School District in Elverson, Pennsylvania.This interview was recorded remotely.
Mr. Jackson is a retired Orchestra Teacher from the Kirkwood School District in Kirkwood, Missouri, after having taught there for 30 years. He currently teaches strings part time in the same school district.
Lori Schwartz Reichl has been a public school music educator for 15 years. She has successfully led middle school band programs in Pennsylvania and Maryland.This interview was recorded remotely.
Tiffany Taylor was born in Athens in 1988 and grew up on the East Side. She was raised by a single mother, and the community provided assistance in her upbringing. In this interview, she recounts her experiences through her various careers and…
Lillie P. Stewart was born in Athens in 1946 to a family of nine children, herself being the second youngest. She attended East Athens Elementary School and Athens High and Industrial before dropping out, later acquiring her GED. In this interview,…
Candace Sheats was born in Crawford, Georgia in 1943 and later moved to Athens, Georgia in the fourth grade. She attended West Broad Elementary, Reese Street Middle School, and Athens High and Industrial School before attending Morris Brown College.…
Barbara Sheats was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. She attended Timothy Road Elementary, Clarke Middle School, Clarke Central High School, and Athens Academy before completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia. In this…
Shelia Neely-Norman was born in Athens in 1948 where she attended East Athens Elementary School, Lyons Middle School, and Burney-Harris High School before continuing her education in sociology and early childhood education at Paine College and Troy…
Marjorie Green Turner is the youngest daughter of Donarell R. Green Jr., a notable doctor for Black women in Athens, Georgia. Marjorie and her sister were some of the first Black children to integrate local public schools. In this interview she…
Wilucia Green is the second youngest of Dr. Donarell R. Green Jr.’s six children. Wilucia and her sister were two of the five Black children to integrate Athens Clarke County Public Schools in 1963. In this interview she talks about the process of…
Arthur Sims, Sr. moved from rural Georgia to Athens with his family when he was young and attended segregated Athens High and Industrial School. In this interview he talks about his teenage years participating in Civil Rights movements and jobs he…
Lora Smothers, though not born and raised in Athens, felt compelled to do something about the Black education crisis in the community. Her own experiences in school, college, and graduate school made it clear to her that Black education was becoming…
James Sims, Jr. was born and raised in rural Oglethorpe County, GA, attended secondary school in Athens, GA, and spent his adult life in Augusta and Atlanta. He is the eldest of six children, in a family of community leaders and groundbreakers. In…
Marion Stroud was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He attended Union Baptist Institute and Athens High and Industrial School before receiving a football scholarship to Allen University. While in college, Stroud served in the U.S. Air Force in…
Billy Wade was born in Athens in 1954. An active member in the community, he was influenced by figures such as athletes, coaches, and elders that helped shape his career into one of the most impactful coaches in Athens history. In this interview,…
Pearl Hall was born in Rocksprings Homes in Athens and has lived a life dedicated to serving the public. She attended West Broad Street School, Burney-Harris High School, and was a part of the first class to formally integrate into Clarke Central. In…
Fannie Smith was born in Oglethorpe County, GA and, as a child, moved with her family to Athens, GA, where she remained the rest of her life. In this interview she talks about integrating Clarke County schools, working through high school and…
Tommy Brown was born in Athens in 1940 to a family of seventeen children. Growing up as a sharecropper, he learned much about self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship. In this interview, Brown shares his experiences with the Ku Klux Klan, workplace…
James Deadwyler was born and raised in rural Winterville, GA, just outside of Athens. His parents passed when he was young and he was forced to drop out of school to make a living. In this interview, he describes his professional career working with…
Walter Allen Jr. was born and raised in Athens, GA during the city’s period of integration. In this interview he recalls his experiences with the integration process, attending seven different public schools, and being bused to schools on the other…
John Clark was raised in Oglethorpe County in a family of twelve siblings and moved to Athens upon the death of his father in 1965. After completing Burney-Harris High School, he served in the military before returning to Georgia and studying law at…
Ken Dious was born and raised in Athens, Georgia, where he attended the University of Georgia and earned a law degree. After spending some time doing civil rights litigation with the NAACP, Dious returned to Athens to establish his own law firm. In…
Michael Middlebrooks was born in Athens, Georgia in 1956 and lived there for the majority of his life. He attended the University of Georgia and later worked for Georgia Power for 40 years. In this interview, Middlebrooks recalls his upbringing, the…
Julia Jones was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. She attended West Broad street School and Athens High and Industrial School before furthering her education at Albany State University. In this interview, Jones reflects on her childhood and…
Donarell R. Green III was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1946. His family moved to Athens shortly after his birth to start a medical practice for Black Athenians. In this interview he remembers the Susan Medical Center, growing up as the son of a…
Bennie Lee Coleman III was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. He grew up with a single mother, his aunt and his grandmother in a little house on Oconee Street. In this interview Coleman shares how his values were shaped by listening to the advice…
Thomas Griffith was born in Madison County and moved with his family to Athens as a young teen. Throughout the interview, he stresses the importance of his mother’s Christian faith in instilling strong morals in him and his brothers and her…
Bennie Roberson was born in Athens in 1947 where he attended Union Baptist Institute and, upon its completion, Lyons Middle School. In this interview, he recalls historically significant areas such as The Bottom, East Athens, and Hot Corner and…
Jennifer Floyd was a high school orchestra teacher in Georgia for 16 years. She taught at Lovejoy High School in Clayton County, Brookwood High School in Gwinnett County, and McEachern High School in Cobb County.
Jeffrey Tapia is the former Executive Director of the Latin American Association (LAA) as well as the former Director of Hispanic Services at Catholic Social Services. Tapia has dedicated her life to serving the Latino community through outreach. In…
Sam Zamarripa was born in Fort Benning to a Mexican immigrant and an American national. As his father was in the military, Zamarripa’s family moved often, but he considers himself a Southerner. In this interview, Zamarripa discusses his…
Brennan B. Sanders grew up in Georgia and followed in the footsteps of many of his family members when he decided to join the Navy. Sanders spent the majority of his Naval career patrolling international waters on submarines. He shares his underwater…
Born and raised in Suwanee, Georgia, Derek Huff followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by serving in the Marine Corps. He shares his experiences at boot camp in Parris Island, training as a Rifleman, and being deployed to countries such as Australia…
Growing up as the child of Army parents, Joshua Cushing decided to join the Navy shortly after beginning college. Cushing discusses the ample training he was tasked with throughout his time in the Navy, but shares his disappointment that his platoon…
William Hunter Bradford was born and raised in Colorado to parents who were both UGA graduates. After high school, Bradford decided to attend UGA and join the Georgia National Guard. After attending Basic Training and AIT (Advanced Individual…
Robert Lawrence has worked as a music teacher at Clarke Central High School for many years. Despite originally majoring in marine biology at Troy University, Lawrence has found joy in the teaching profession throughout his years. In this interview,…
Kenneth Dious was born in Athens, Georgia and attended Athens-Clarke County public schools. After graduating from high school, he attended Savannah State College and later transferred to the University of Georgia. At UGA he earned a degree in…
Janis Ware is the publisher of The Atlanta Voice, a newspaper serving the city's African American community since 1966. She is also the Executive Director of SUMMECH Community Development Corporation, an organization that works to build affordable…
Dr. Benjamin Rucker is a physician specializing in internal medicine in Augusta, Georgia. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1975. Prior to medical school he attended Gainesville Junior College (now the University of…
Pastor Nawanna Lewis Miller is Founding Chair and Leading Director of the Institute for Christian Discipleship, Inc. in Marietta, Georgia. She is a graduate of H.M. Turner High School in Atlanta, Georgia and one of the early African American…
Gregory Jones was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. His first introduction to music was his mother’s records. Growing up and throughout adulthood, Jones left Athens many times before he eventually returned to work on his music. Jones served in the…
Tarik Camp, also known as Top Cat, was born in Athens, Georgia. His mother worked as a singer and his father as a DJ. Growing up, Camp worked as a D.J and music creator before he formed the band, Mascom. Camp currently has a wife and two daughters…
Reverend James Williams is the Church Historian for Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. He grew up in El Paso, Texas before moving to Elbert County, Georgia at age ten. In this follow-up interview, he focuses on his time at the University of Georgia. He…
Brenda Lopez Romero was born in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and immigrated to Georgia with her parents while she was a young child. As a first generation scholar, Romero recounts her experiences dealing with racism within public schools, university, and the…
Verna Miller Smith was born in 1946. She grew up on a family farm off Brooklyn road in Athens, Georgia. In this interview, she discusses her family history and describes the Brooklyn neighborhood which was historically African American. She…
Reverend James Williams is the Church Historian for Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. He grew up in El Paso, Texas before moving to Elbert County, Georgia at age ten. In this interview, he focuses on his education. He compares his integrated school in…
Nicholas Sesing grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his undergraduate degree. He notes that there were a variety of factors that influenced him to join the Marine Corps after his graduation and shares…
Travis Parker George is a Georgia native whose interest in the military was sparked by a childhood trip to Pearl Harbor. After deciding to join the Army, George was sent to various training programs and eventually became a member of a selection-based…
Born and raised in Georgia, Patrick Testa attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree where he studied International Relations. During his time as an undergraduate, he decided he wanted to join the Marine Corps after graduation…
Growing up as the daughter of an Army Veteran, Jordan Goolsby enlisted in the Georgia National Guard after her first year at UGA. Goolsby explains the many effects that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on her service with the National Guard,…
Hayley Gallagher, now Hayley Atha, is an elementary music specialist and has been teaching in the Jackson County Schools for 14 years. She was selected as Teacher of the Year for her school for the 2021-2022 school year.
Ashley Drake is a guitar teacher at Duluth Middle School in Duluth, Georgia. Drake discusses the demographics of the school, her path to becoming a guitar teacher, and the challenges and rewards to teaching. She also talks about influences and…
Krissi Davis is an orchestra director at Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Davis discusses the demographics of the school, why she became a teacher, and why some teachers quit. She also describes her motivations and pride in seeing students…
Ariel Robins is a music specialist at Findley Oaks Elementary School in Johns Creek, Georgia. Robins discusses the demographics of the school, her path to teaching, and the difference between teaching in elementary and high school. She also talks…
Amanda Dodd is a music specialist at Lovin Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Dodd discusses the demographics of the school, her path to teaching, challenging moments, and the rewards of teaching. She also recalls her funniest moments and…
Mandy Gunter is a music specialist at Burnette Elementary School in Suwanee, Georgia. Gunter discusses the diversity of the school, why she became a teacher, and what keeps teachers in the profession as well as what factors lead some teachers to…
Ashley Whelchel is a chorus, band, and musical theater teacher at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia. Dr. Whelchel discusses her path to teaching, the demographics of the school, and the rewards and challenges of teaching.
Rosie Riquelme is a Director of Orchestras at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia. Riquelme discusses the diversity of the school, her approach to teaching, and the challenges she experienced. She also talks about her favorite moments and…
Carolyn Akridge is a music specialist at Ivy Creek Elementary School in Buford, Georgia. Akridge discusses the demographic of the school and how she became a teacher. She also discusses her proud moments, personal challenges, and how she and the…
Roland Ventura is a band instructor at Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Ventura discusses his path to teaching, the work environment, and his passion for teaching. He also recalls challenges and proud moments he’s…
Daniel Brown is a music teacher in Rye, New York. Brown discusses his career path, the importance of his teacher training, and the highs and lows he’s experienced in the profession.
Vicky Orozco is a music teacher at the South Bronx Classical Charter School in Bronx, New York. Orozco discusses her path to teaching, her successes and challenges, and her hopes for the profession.
Julia West is a music teacher in New York City. She discusses her experiences teaching in urban schools, both wealthy and low-income, in Dallas and New York. She talks about her path to teaching and the rewards and challenges of her work.
Larrolyn Patterson Parms-Ford is a music teacher at Harlem Village Academy East Elementary in New York, New York. Parms-Ford discusses her experience as a new teacher, working with K-3 students, the challenges of teaching vs. student teaching, and…
Laura Montanari is a music teacher at Growing Up Green Middle School in Long Island City, New York. Montanari describes her path to teaching, her proud moments and challenging moments, and mentoring.
