In the final chapter of The Kennedys of Decorah, host Lindsey Row-Heyveld traces the Kennedy family’s remarkable journey after they left Decorah: west to South Dakota, east to Philadelphia, and into the halls of historically Black colleges, the Harlem Renaissance, and even the New York State Legislature. Through newly uncovered documents and a powerful conversation with Kennedy descendant Yvonne Burnley Studevan, this episode examines the legacy of George and Sarah Jane Kennedy’s daughters and the power of knowing where you come from. It’s a story about memory, belonging, and what it means to tell the truth about your town.

Credits:

Written, hosted, and co-produced by Lindsey Row-Heyveld
Co-produced and edited by Asher Elliott Smith
Executive Producer: Andy Hageman
Theme music by Andrew Murray
Sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement at Luther College
Produced in partnership with KWLC, Luther College’s student radio station
Special thanks to Anna Peterson and Yvonne Burnley Studevan