Illinois
Danielle
Chicago, IL
Danielle says she has always been intrigued by the look and smell of homemade soap. After buying some, she did some research into making her own. She discovered that she could buy a kit or do it completely from a recipe. She, of course, chose to make it from scratch.
Jackie
Chicago, IL
With her hands full of fun-size candy, Jackie exclaimed, "I'm a fighter. If I can, I need to do it on my own." Jackie is 87 and has lived in this house in Andersonville, a northside neighborhood of Chicago her whole life. She grew up here with her parents and siblings, got married and everyone else moved so she stayed with her husband and they raised their three children there.
Jenny
Chicago, IL
I'm an independent brown girl from the south side of Chicago, and I can do what I want.
Twenty-three-year-old Jenny told me she repeats this mantra to herself in the mornings—or whenever she needs it. It motivates her to work through any obstacles and keep going.
Emmett
Glenview, IL
"A painting is a friggin' dream," says Emmett, 15, who has been painting since he was 5. He says painting makes him feel.
Emmett's paintings are displayed in every nook and against most walls in his parents’ house, and he also donates a lot of his work to charity, which he says feels good. The day I visited, Emmett’s dad, Paul, assisted him in prepping the paints, asking what method he had in mind so he could put them in the correct pan. As the Beatles played in the background, Emmett declared the color and method and began his magical process.
Devonte
Chicago, IL
"Music just gives you a feeling--a happiness or a warmness inside,” says Devonte. I ran into him outside the Gary Comer Youth Center, where he started making music back in 2013 as a middle school student. He has been working as DJ Vegas Vonte at parties and events for years now—though 2020 was a tough one for his business. He's hoping he can get back out to do some parties soon.