Welcome Project

Now, more than ever, we need real stories from the trans community to counter mis-, dis-, and false information about trans lives. So we bring you a brand new story, hot off the press. It's longer than usual—coming in at 15 minutes—so settle in and enjoy.

Immutable Fact - Welcome Project "I'm a man. I'm a trans man. I also want to do gender the way, like butch le****ns do." A coming of age story for a twenty-something from the Midwest.

Friends! Things might be a little quiet on our page this summer, but there is activity behind the scenes as new co-directors Caroline Ban and Lucas Kelley meet to plan the next directions for the Welcome Project. It’s impossible to know how to sign off after thirteen rich years of collaboration. To all our storytellers and partners: your trust teaches us how to move forward in the world; your insights continue to enrich us. We are immensely grateful!

Liz and Allison

Tune in this Saturday (12:30pm) for the final episode of Listen Up! Welcome Project Radio. We're on air at WVLP-LP 103.1 FM and streaming online at https://tunein.com/radio/WVLP-LP-1031-s39101/. As the Welcome Project torch passes to new co-directors Caroline Ban and Lucas Kelley, co-hosts Reagan Skaggs, Willow Walsh and Allison Schuette reflect back on their involvement with the WP and Listen Up!

If you miss the show on Saturday, we air again Mon (8pm) and Thurs (1pm). Or check out the Welcome Project podcast.

We’re moving and we can’t take all of Liz’s art. Help us and and donate to PN at the same time! Save the date: May 21, 2-4pm. Location tbd.

The has been collecting and sharing Valpo stories for 10+ years. With an abundance of gratitude, we pass the baton to the new co-directors, Profs. Caroline Ban and Lucas Kelley. Join us!

In honor of March Madness, one of our earliest stories from the archive: a VU basketball player from Jamaica on all that a team provides.

Basketball Has Been a Necessity - Welcome Project “This is where I belong; I should be out there now, helping my teammates.” Hold a Conversation Can you imagine leading a conversation about this story? Where? With whom? What kinds of questions would you pose? (See How to use the questions for reflection for one approach.) Please email your ques...

The global refugee crisis in 2023 has many different faces. Today, we offer a story that covers early memories of leaving one's home country all the way up through coming of age in America.

Shocking - Welcome Project “Being exposed to [people of different races] helped me… so I never really faced the same challenges that my parents probably did.” Edited by Nick Ladeau. Transcript for Shocking It’s actually difficult a little bit because, I mean, I was born in Afghanistan. I mean, I was probably two years...

Celebrate with political activism and joy! This week's Welcome Project storyteller remembers campaigning for Richard Hatcher and celebrating his victory as one of the first black mayors for a city the size of Gary.

Black Mecca - Welcome Project “That period of time—growing up in Gary, Indiana, I would not want to be anywhere else in the world.” Editing by Welcome Project intern Brandi Casada. Transcript for Black Mecca 1967 is when Mayor Hatcher won. And I was at Bailey then. That was an exciting time for me because on the weekends, ...

There's power in discovering your history: personal, familial, communal, ancestral.

“If you don’t have access to the information, you don’t know what your potential is.”

A Well-Kept Secret - Welcome Project “If you don’t have access to the information, you don’t know what your potential is.” Produced by Reagan Skaggs. Transcript for A Well-Kept Secret I remember going to Pulaski. Pulaski was a middle school back then. Seventh grade, we had a speech teacher. She introduced us to black poets—bl...

As approaches and the country reels from the death of Tyre Nichols, the turns to Black family roots. The resilience and tenacity of our ancestors show us we have the strength we need to confront trauma and injustice today.

But I’m Still Here - Welcome Project “The doctor…made a comment, ‘Oh, the girl doesn’t have a chance.'” This is part one of a two-part story. Transcript for But I’m Still Here This goes way back to before the Emancipation Proclamation. My grandfather’s father was born in Virginia, and he knew about sea plants and what you...

Have you ever been alienated from a parent or caregiver or friend? Today's storyteller shares their journey from hurt to understanding and accountability to reconciliation—with all the imperfections that entails.

Because I Can Forgive - Welcome Project “I can understand him so much more now as an adult but as a child it was very hurtful.” Edited by Rebecca Werner. Transcript for Because I Can Forgive So my mom and my birth father divorced when I was a baby. My birth father came back from Vietnam with a severe case of PTSD […]