Caroline Caligiuri originally grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. At age 11, her parents upended her life of normalcy in suburbia and purchased a greenhouse in Genoa City, Wisconsin as a business and a home (yes, they lived in the greenhouse). It was excruciatingly hot in the summer...
David Carnahan has always been someone who serves from his heart. He is a former firefighter/EMT, but due to a suicide attempt in 2012, he is now completely blind. Continuing his love of helping people...
This cute blonde hair blue eyed little girl fits the stereotypical mold. Growing up in a nice St. Louis neighborhood, Samantha Lander was high-achieving in many areas of her life. She excelled at sports, music, academics, and pretty much anything she set her mind to. While she looked picture perfect on the outside she also struggled feeling as thought she never fit in and life just felt hard...
As a child, Connie Flachs could often be found at bedtime smuggling a book under the covers and feigning sleep at the sound of her parents’ footsteps. This love of stories (and flair for theatrics) led her to an eight-year career as a professional dancer, where she performed lead roles...
Marissa Brooks was raised on simple words with powerful messages. Growing up in Louisville, KY, she spent most of her time at her grandparents’ house. Although Marissa had a beautiful childhood, she experienced many challenges...
A quiet and observant child, Jessica Gazzola found solace in nature and books. Through stories, she learned to explore vast worlds within herself. In the 4th grade, through a school poetry competition, her mother taught her...
Jude Hagene is a St. Louis native gal who believes in living enthusiastically and without regret! She has spent over 40 years bringing the love of learning to children and adults in many different settings. The constant thread throughout...
Chris Santillan never thought he would be able to return to St. Louis, his childhood home. He was condemned to spend the rest of his life in prison, but change in the sentencing laws affecting minors released Chris from incarceration...
Join us for our next Season 12 Fellow! It will be a night of stories, reflection, and good times with good people.
Join us for our return of the Fellows program! It will be a night of stories, reflection, and good times with good people.
How can we unlearn the false narratives we're taught?
