Welcome Project

"Like I really enjoy this life thing, so I want to give it a shot, and part of that is accepting who I am." ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our weekly podcast by searching for "Welcome Project Valparaiso University" on your podcast app.

Warning: story contains an ethnic slur. “You see the movies, and they’re going in there gung-ho, but it’s a lot different...you shoot them, but they’re going to shoot back.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast by searching for "Welcome Project Valparaiso University" on your podcast app.

“It’s hard to argue with the values of a diverse population.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast for a weekly dose of Welcome Project stories. Search for "Welcome Project Valparaiso University" in your podcast app.

“The Marine Corps was like, ‘We’re gonna fix you… but it’s not gonna be fun.’ I was like, ‘I’m down for that.’” A grandfather and grandson talk about their time in the Marines. ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our weekly podcast by searching for "Welcome Project Valparaiso University" on your podcast app.

Black alumni, born and raised in Gary, talks about positive and negative experiences with white faculty / authority figures in Valparaiso while attending college there. Produced by Dan Funderburg. Thanks to the Office of Multicultural Programs for organizing a story collection day during the Black Alumni Reunion. To find more stories, go to welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our weekly podca...

"Never, ever look the other way." ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our weekly podcast by searching for "Welcome Project Valparaiso University" on your podcast app.

"We often don’t think about how the little things build up to create that relationship that you want with people you live around." ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast. This story was produced by Marc Boas from an interview conducted by Emily Neuharth.

"You know, there’s no normal with us. I couldn’t even tell you what normal is." ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our weekly podcast.

"I feel safe on campus, but the fact that there were people willing to oppress minorities and make them feel like they shouldn't be here, were moments where I was like, 'Ummm, maybe I shouldn't be here?'" Produced by Megan Martinez from an interview she conducted for the Welcome Project.

“If you’re not voting, that’s as if you don’t want any voice in your own government.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ Hear more from our collection at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast.

“I’m not from Miller. I’m not from Chicago. I’m from Gary.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ This story is from our Flight Paths collection. Find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcast or Stitcher.

“Sometimes I have meltdowns and sometimes I say, ‘OK,’ and go on.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ This story is from the Invisible Project, a collaboration between the Welcome Project and Porter County Coalition for Affordable Housing, Housing Opportunities, Gabriel’s Horn, Dayspring Women’s Center, and Porter County Museum. Find more Invisible Project stories at welcomeproject.valpo.edu

“I’ve been down, believe me... I've lost my kids, I've lost my possessions...” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ This story is from the Invisible Project, a collaboration between the Welcome Project and Porter County Coalition for Affordable Housing, Housing Opportunities, Gabriel’s Horn, Dayspring Women’s Center, and Porter County Museum. Find more Invisible Project stories at welcomeproject.valpo.edu

“Because you’ve developed a relationship, you’re willing to meet that neighbor’s needs.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ This story is from our Flight Paths initiative. Find more stories at welcomeproject.valpo.edu Subscribe to our podcast at Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

"If you could make it through the wobbles and the buckles in the floor at the Neighborhood House, you could skate anywhere." ~ a Welcome Project story ~ This story is from our Flight Paths initiative. Find more stories at welcomeproject.valpo.edu

"It really made me question, like, 'Is this a place that I should be?'" ~ a Welcome Project story ~ welcomeproject.valpo.edu Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. storycorps.org

“Well, you’re here, too, so I guess you’re in the same boat I am.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ This story comes from The Invisible Project, a collaboration with non-profit homelessness and affordable housing organizations in Porter County. Find more at https://welcomeproject.valpo.edu/category/invisible-project/

"It became my mission to change the way people saw Gary, how people saw people of color, and the knowledge they had of people of color because it was hurtful." ~ a Welcome Project story ~ find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportun...

“I don’t want to be a failure. I don’t want to let my people down.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ find a longer version of this story at welcomeproject.valpo.edu

“Labels started to get way too complicated.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

“I walked in and I was just in awe ‘cause you’d walk in and it was like a city.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast

"...the roles growing up, it was a little bit more difficult for me than my younger siblings cause I was the one that knew both languages fluently." ~ a Welcome Project story ~ find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast

"And the fact that people always, like, write off Gary as this horrible place made me feel like I just had to have this conviction to like, change people’s minds, and to be there, and make a difference." Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share,...

“It was a decision I made on my own and that’s what made it all the more valuable to me.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast

“They didn’t understand the whole concept of why you have to travel all the way to Gary just to get your hair cut.” ~ a Welcome Project story ~ find more at welcomeproject.valpo.edu or subscribe to our podcast