Christen Johnson: The Aspiring Model
Photo and story by Arienne Jackson When Christen Johnson was 13 years old, she became interested in commercial modeling. Initially, she believed she would never be a model, but one afternoon, her mother approached her with the breathtaking news: her mom received an email giving her the opportunity to become a model. When Johnson learned […]
Jaliyah Armon: Journalist In Training
Photo and story by Janesha Bryant In 2006, at age 5, Jaliyah Armon was in a car accident with her father. She was burned on the face, and trauma to her head has caused many migraines since. “I was frightened, but as soon as I woke up, I still focused on my food that I […]
Jacoby Grover: A Passion for Photography
Photo and story by Octavia Mannie One day in 2017, Jacoby Grover was doing his usual job, pushing the carts to the front entrance of Kroger’s Grocery Store. However, on this particular day it was raining heavily, but nonetheless Grover’s boss still insisted he gather the carts. Wearing a raincoat, he went outside to get […]
Jacorey Mitchell: Building on his ‘Real Talent’
Photo and story by Cymone West On a typical day in 2017 at Blackburn Middle School, one could find rowdy classrooms with distracted students playing games, singing songs and doing anything but their work. Among the scholars was a then-14-year-old boy, Jacorey Mitchell. In his collared white shirt, khaki shorts and white Air Force Ones, […]
Dyahda Nolan: Take It and Keep Fighting
Photo and story by Inajas Perry It all started when Dyahda Nolan’s mother, Shirley, met her boyfriend, Johnny. On Sept. 4, 2004, Nolan, who was 4 years old at the time, was found by her stepsister, Asia, balled up in the corner with big bruises and marks on her body. Due to her mother’s abuse, […]
Janesha Bryant: An Ambitious Young Mother
Photo and story by Jaliyah Armon One night, Janesha Bryant was settling down in her bedroom. She had recently received a new TV and excitedly picked it up. Suddenly, on the left side of her ribs, she felt as if her muscle pulled. Bryant’s parents rushed her to the emergency room. Later, when getting […]
La’Shenda Hudson: Born to Blossom and Charm
Photo and story by Clay Morris Clicking and clacking along the entrance to the church in shiny patent-leather starter heels, 7-year-old La’Shenda Hudson was oddly ecstatic about the next few hours dedicated to death. It was an unusually sweltering day in late January 2007, and the little girl was about to experience one of the […]
Madysin Bratton: A Changed Mind, New Attitude
Photo and story by Jaylyn Sutton On the first day at Provine High School, Madysin Bratton thought her experiences would mirror or at least be as fun as those depicted in “High School Musical.” However, in the end, her eyes opened, and she realized high school was not as glorious as it seemed on TV. […]
Mirracle Caston: Regaining Her Confidence
Photo and story by Starlette Simmons As the sun danced off the balcony of the apartment building, she stood steady. Thirteen-year-old Wynter Kimes’ mind was overflowing with ideas, “Why are people so mean to each other? Why don’t people value justice? What can I do to help others?” She then walked down the hallway of […]
Wynter Kimes: Changing Her World Through Writing
Photo and story by Jacquey Davis As the sun danced off the balcony of the apartment building, she stood steady. Thirteen-year-old Wynter Kimes’ mind was overflowing with ideas, “Why are people so mean to each other? Why don’t people value justice? What can I do to help others?” She then walked down the hallway of […]
