Susan never knew that one workplace accident would lead to twenty years of opioid addiction. After graduating from college, Susan moved to St. Louis, Missouri, eager to begin a career in occupational therapy. Ten years later, disaster struck. While transporting a wheelchair, Susan got caught between the chair and the van. Her back twisted, and
Before coming to the United States, Nora owned her own business in Somalia, selling coffee, tea, and snacks. She had many customers and knew a lot of people. So the isolation she felt when she moved to Minnesota was a stark contrast. At first, Nora didn’t leave the house, let alone talk to people. She
Rickey has a secret—one that he keeps from his closest friends and family. He’s careful to make sure that no one can tell his secret by looking at him. “I never hold a sign, never beg for change. I never carry a suitcase or backpack in my hand. Keep myself up clean.” For Rickey, these
“I could not go anywhere. No movement…My life was a box. I live 23 years there.” This is how Ibrahim describes living in a refugee camp in Kenya from age 9 to 32, after fleeing violence and civil war in his home country of Somalia. He was not free to travel or even leave the
On March, 18, 2014, Robert’s North Minneapolis, three-bedroom home of eleven years burned to the ground. Too late, he learned his homeowner’s insurance didn’t cover fire. He lost everything. Robert wasn’t home at the time of the fire. He was at Hennepin County Medical Center, having suffered a stroke. So not only did Robert have