We asked some very thoughtful members of our community to reflect on what they’ve learned from their heroes.

Kenya Hughes

I have many heroes in my life but my parents are my biggest hero. They worked hard to provide a life for my brother and I that we are proud of. We never went without as children. I know my parents sacrificed a lot for that. There is no perfect family but they were perfect for us. Read more>>

George Jonathan

Heroes don’t exist, not really. What we have are people who leave imprints, like fossils in soft clay. My family – they’re the ones who’ve shaped the landscape of my being.

My mother: a girl, really, when she had me. Her courage wasn’t loud or boastful; it was in her trembling hands as she cradled me, in the way she faced each day with a mixture of fear and determination that I’m only now beginning to understand. Read more>>

Gabriel Cordova

Great question but I don’t think I could pick just one. If I was able to answer this question how I want I would say my family. My mom, brothers, grandfather and fiancée. My mom, brothers and grandfather have seen my story firsthand. My mother takes the cake being the woman who raised 4 boys single handedly. We share the cliche story of struggle and didn’t have much. As I take time to reflect back on my childhood, I constantly question how my mother did it. She gave us security and the ability to understand tough times are a must. Tough times make us who we are! Read more>>

Mariah Diaz

I have a lot of “hero’s” I’d like to say in my life that inspired me to do what I do.
My Grandma and Grandpa for the first two who were the ones that always had me. They showed me how it was to live on the reservation growing up around all the woods taking me places as well. My grandma and grandpa grew up on the reservation in Oneida, they really never got the chance to learn their culture like I did. My grandpa has been very hard working since he was younger he only got to make it to 8th grade before he started working, my grandma went to a church school. A lot of my learning came from being able to go to pow wows as well as attending a Native American school in Milwaukee that of which my auntie was one of the founding mothers. Read more>>