Yolita Ray has spent decades shaping little minds in the pre-primary classroom at the Ancona School in Chicago. With warmth, patience, and deep purpose, she helps children build the emotional, social and academic foundations that will carry them through life. Her love for early childhood education shines as she shares what makes this age so magical—and why she wouldn’t want to teach any other group. If you've ever wondered what it's like to truly meet kids where they are, this one's for you.

To learn more about Ancona, visit the school’s webpage: https://www.anconaschool.org/ and consider donating or coming by for a visit.  There is no other school like it in Chicago.  You can also follow along at @AnconaSchool on Instagram.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

In this Story Time episode, Keith shares how his passion for hip-hop and graffiti has taken him far off the tourist path—from São Paulo to Johannesburg to Cape Town. While chasing street art in places most visitors avoid, he’s found not only incredible murals but also made connections with the people he’s met while exploring. It’s a story about curiosity, culture, and the beauty that lives beyond the guidebook.

Recorded live at Grown Folks Stories, a monthly storytelling event hosted by The Silver Room in Chicago—founded by our August guest, Eric Williams.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

In this episode, I catch up with Rico, aka BBoy Reksick, who I’ve known from the scene for many years.  He’s the owner of Calaveras Barber Shop and SMP in Chicago. After a random airport run-in recently, we sat down for a powerful conversation about how barbering is more than a craft for him—it's a calling. Rico talks about being a source of confidence and community for his clients, using his shop as a space to lift people up, one fresh cut at a time. His story is all about purpose, pride, and showing up for others.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

In this Story Time episode, Keith recalls a spontaneous weekend trip from Texas to Mexico City for some solo photography—and how ignoring his wife’s advice to “be careful” caught up with him almost immediately. What started as a carefree adventure quickly turned into a lesson on staying alert and street-smart while traveling. A little mischief, a lot of reflection, and one unforgettable experience.

Recorded live at Grown Folks Stories, a monthly storytelling event hosted by The Silver Room in Chicago—founded by our August guest, Eric Williams.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

Mayor Phil Jones returned to his hometown of Newport News as the city’s youngest mayor—and just days into the role, he faced a heartbreaking tragedy that drew national attention. Thrust into the spotlight, he relied on his values, humility, and lived experience to guide his leadership. In this episode, we talk about his path to becoming Mayor and how it’s going so far.  We explore what shaped his approach to service, and his bold vision for the future of Newport News. His story is a powerful mix of resilience, purpose, and hometown pride.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

In this Story Time episode, Keith shares about his first trip to Africa—a family adventure meant to experience life beyond the U.S. While visiting a lion park and getting ready to pet baby lions, things took an unexpected turn that showed just how different the world can be once you step outside your comfort zone. It’s a story that’s funny, eye-opening, and unforgettable.

Recorded live at Grown Folks Stories, a monthly storytelling event hosted by The Silver Room in Chicago—founded by our August guest, Eric Williams.  This was actually from the GFS event in Boston Eric mentioned in his episode a few months ago!

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

Greg Anderson went from studying architecture in college to becoming a powerhouse in the world of visual effects—and it’s been so fun to watch that evolution. In this episode, we dive into how he blends creativity and technical precision on an industrywide scale, and what keeps him inspired in such a demanding, ever-changing field. We also nerd out a bit when I learn he worked on one of my favorite movies!

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

Before I split it into multiple accounts, my Instagram feed was a mix of all the different communities that I photograph.  As a member of those communities, I have met some amazing people and captured some awesome moments.  However, my passion for documenting subcultures created an IG feed that had the kind of range that made some people really uncomfortable (and wondering what was going on).  This is the story of how I enjoyed the journey curiosity led me down some fun paths.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

Tenured professor, stress expert, and longtime friend Modupe Akinola joins the podcast for a deeply grounding conversation. With all her accomplishments, you might not expect "silent meditation" to be her home—but that’s exactly where she finds balance. We talk about stress, centeredness, and the power of stillness in a chaotic world (and why she worked with Thor). This episode will leave you thinking about how you recharge and what “home” really means.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.

This month’s storytime is about a powerful pilgrimage trip to Charleston, South Carolina with our church, where we explored the deep African American history rooted in that city. The experience felt like the second half of a story — meaningful, emotional, and eye-opening — which made us realize we needed to take another trip to uncover the first part. I’m sharing why this journey mattered so much and how it shifted our understanding of history and heritage.

Please visit www.MyHomeIsSpecial.com for the full project and follow @KBevPhoto on Instagram to see what I'm up to.