The Facing Project

More than half a million Americans experience homelessness each night. On this episode of The Facing Project we hear from a man in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who shares his life not as a homeless person . . . but as someone who happens to live. . . outside. We also sit down with Lauren Knill of The Empowerment Plan, an organization that breaks the cycle of homelessness through employment. 

Join J.R. and Kelsey as they discuss Life Without A Home.  

Stories
• Outside Living: James’s story as told to Danee Pye from Facing Homelessness in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Performed by Michael Brockley.    

Music Used in This Episode
• "Friends and Apples" by Alpha Hydrae. Released under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. From the Free Music Archive. 

As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you our home station’s production of "Christmas Gifts”, Indiana Public Radio’s live radio drama broadcast on Friday, Dec. 13, live from Sursa Performance Hall.

Matthew Reeder directs a cast of local talent in a live performance of this story adapted by David Little. "Christmas Gifts" brings two O. Henry stories to life. "Gift of the Magi" and "The Last Leaf" are intertwined to tell a holiday story that spans generations and recreates the magic of old-time live radio programs with community actors, musicians, and foley sound effects.

How do you view the police in your community? Positively? Negatively, or somewhere in between? Your perspective probably depends on who you are and where you live. We share the story of a police officer in Indiana who recounts his experience as a black officer working in a predominantly black community. And we also sit down with Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon, an associate professor of criminal justice and criminology at Ball State University.

Join J.R. and Kelsey as they discuss Police and Community Relations.

Stories
• The Other Side of the Bar: The Voices That Aren’t Heard: An anonymous story as told to Jakhari Wilbert & Elizabeth Beatrice from Facing Community Policing in Delaware County, Indiana. Performed by Chris Mack.   

Music Used in This Episode
• "De l'herbe sous les pieds" by Komiku. Released under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. From the Free Music Archive.

The American Dream . . . Fact or fiction? For those who come to the U.S. undocumented as children, the future can seem uncertain. We share the story of Daniel, a DACA recipient whose family fled drug cartels and NAFTA trade wars in search of a better life in Oregon. And we also sit down with Janet Arias-Martinez from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C.  

Join J.R. and Kelsey as they discuss Dreaming in America. 

Stories
• In America I Trust: Daniel’s story, submitted anonymously through the national Facing Immigration Project. Performed by Edgar de Santiago.

Music Used in this Episode
• "Stage 1 Level 24" by Monplaisir. Released under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. From the Free Music Archive.

They say girls shouldn’t go to school. And by they, we mean Boko Haram. We share the story of Serena, a Nigerian student whose family fled the terror group and settled down in Flint, Michigan, during the water crisis. Now, she studies pre-med in Houston. Join J.R. and Kelsey as they explore new beginnings.

Stories
• They Say Girls Shouldn’t Go To School: Serena’s story as told to Rylee Fritsch from The Facing Project at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. Performed by Sasha Donati.

Music Used in this Episode
• "Dog Soldier Stand Down" by Aglow Hollow Released under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. From the Free Music Archive.

An Indiana man facing the end of his life reflects on the legacy he’ll leave behind, and an individual in Texas who lost the love of their life starts over in a new community in Indiana.

Join us as J.R. and Kelsey reflect on Season 1 and explore the adage: When one door closes, another always opens.

Stories
• Times to Make a Difference: Jay Zimmerman’s story as told to Kelsey Timmerman from “A Midsummer Night’s Narrative: Stories of Unity in Delaware County, Indiana. A Facing Project Storytelling Festival.” Performed by Larry Beck.
• A Shift in Perspective . . . And Ryan Reynolds: Dallas Sanford’s story as told to Jessika Griffin from “Facing LGBTQ+ Pride,” a Facing Project in Muncie, Indiana. Performed by David Welty.

Music Used in this Episode
• "sense of wonder" by fwimmygoat Released under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. From the Free Music Archive.
• "Being" by Ryan Anderson Released under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) licence. From the Free Music Archive.
• "New Dawn" by David Hilowitz Released under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) licence. From the Free Music Archive.

A Georgia woman who was sex trafficked as a teenager shares her story and inspires a kiosk to educate air travelers in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and a woman in Kansas who struggled to feed her children influences the development of an on-campus food pantry

Join us as J.R. and Kelsey discuss Facing Project stories that have created tangible change in communities.

Stories
• Daddy’s Little Girl: Casey’s story as told to Yewande Austin from “Facing Sex Trafficking: Atlanta’s Dirty Little Secret.” Performed by Yewande Austin.
• The Story of a Mother: An Anonymous Story as told to Autumn Snesrud from “Facing Hunger in Manhattan, Kansas,” a Facing Project organized by Kansas State University. Performed by Chandra Ford.

Music used in this episode
• "Soundboy" by 4bstr4ck3r Released under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.

An Indiana man gives an honest response to what life is like living in the throes of addiction, and a woman in Wisconsin changes her life through recovery to be a role model for her kids.

Join us as J.R. and Kelsey discuss the impacts of addiction with a personal revelation for listeners.  

Stories
• Artificial Happiness: Devin Thorp’s Story as told to Samantha Mattlin from “Facing Addiction in East Central Indiana.” Performed by Carl Frost.
• Breaking Cycles: An anonymous story as told to Cara W. and Jessica T. from “Behind the Faces of Criminal Justice in Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin: A Facing Project.” Performed by Laura Williamson. 

Music used in this episode
• "The Decision" by Loyalty Freak Music Released under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. From the Free Music Archive.
• "Sediment, Part 3: PIANO 3" by nordbeck Released under an Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) License. From the Internet Archive.
• "Effemeah Weeps" by Uncan Released under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.From the Free Music Archive.

A woman forced from her home as a child by nuclear testing in the Bikini Islands reflects on the aftermath of that fateful day, and an Indiana man whose life changed shortly after he tucked his kids in for the night finds peace through the darkest hours.

Join us as J.R. and Kelsey explore what happens when life changes in an instant.

Stories
• When the Bomb Went Off: Mary’s story as told to Anna Kelley from “Facing Diversity—Marshallese Stories, a Facing Project in Dubuque, Iowa.” Performed by Debby Girtman.
• The Worst and Best Days of My Life: Brad Daugherty’s story as told to Ruthie Shellabarger from “A Midsummer Night’s Narrative: Stories of Unity in Delaware County, Indiana. A Facing Project Storytelling Festival.” Performed by Bill Inman.

Music used in this episode
• "Il y a un bout de ciel bleu" by Monplaisir Released under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. From the Free Music Archive.
• "Fire Tree" by Axletree Released under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive.