Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Regyna Frazier conducted by dindria barrow on September 13, 2022. In this interview, Regyna states that she is proud to be from Tacoma. To paraphrase: Regyna knows Tacoma is home because of how it feels. There is diversity here. You don’t see much diversity [elsewhere] it just becomes one [race], you need a mix in your diet, not just one flavor. Home is a place that mixes, that has more than just one flavor. Regyna wants to be around a mix of people so that she knows that race is not a reason for a crime. If a crime happens, it can happen to any person of any race, not just to my own. Home is also food and Regyna dreams about opening a restaurant to share the flavors of Tacoma.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Alfonso “Al” Brown conducted by dindria barrow on November 3, 2022. In this interview, Al shares his philosophies on life as well as the key tenets that have helped him survive failure, pain, suffering and homelessness to ultimately find that hope is what is needed to transform your own life as well as others’. Al talks about his work in the community and how he plans on making a difference bringing collegiate theory into real-world practice. Al has been featured in news stories by City University and KBTC about his life experience. Al shares his triumph in getting degrees despite the gatekeepers and about how education is the pinnacle change agent.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Wayne Williams conducted by dindria barrow on November 22, 2022. In this interview, Wayne shares his family’s history and his personal journey starting in his family home, especially with his grandmother, carried through in his education, and then extended throughout his career. Wayne points out that you must have a purpose in life and that you must attend to it every day.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Kyle Jolibois conducted by dindria barrow on August 17, 2022. In this interview, Kyle tells us about his birth and how he is connected to the grittiness of Tacoma. To paraphrase him, "Tacomans are fighters and survivalists no matter who is in control of the city." Kyle’s story is about resilience and speaking truth to power. He leads his life with a direct and realistic view about our environment and our social/political issues. Kyle is open about his views, his sobriety goals, and his physical disability. His strength is his voice and his desire to stand up for what is right.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Janice Kampbell conducted by dindria barrow on August 25, 2022. In this interview, Janice tells the story of how her parents met each other after World War II in rural Michigan on a blind date. Farming and the military were a part of her parents’ lives and Janice grew up a child of a military pilot and a nurse. Her family moved to a variety of locations in the United States. Janice became a nurse like her mother and retired after 43 years. Janice is a Pierce County Master Gardener and shares her first encounter with planting seeds into frozen dirt with a spoon. Janice concludes her oral history by sharing the history of the Tacoma Urban Land Trust (2010) also previously known as the Guadalupe Land Trust located on Hilltop, Tacoma. The Tacoma Urban Land Trust's website is https://www.tult.org

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Anita Latch conducted by dindria barrow on August 30, 2022. In this interview, Anita outlines the places she calls home using artwork that her daughter created of locations Anita has lived in. Her grandparents had a farm near Traverse City, Torch Lake, Michigan. She watched trains pass by in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She lived in a ground floor apartment in Nerburgh, New York after living in Wallkill near Woodstock. Anita’s dad drove the family on Interstate 80 in a Super 88 to McChord Air Force Base and Spanaway, Washington. She remembers listening to a transistor radio in the back of the car during the trip. Anita left home at 15 years old and hitchhiked to Grants Pass, Oregon. She went to college in Redlands, California and then learned silversmithing in Jerome, Arizona. Anita also spent time in Tahiti when her daughter was young. She moved around often between her homes. Anita is a traveler, a journalist, a teacher, a political advocate, and an artist with many life stories. She has been a Precinct Committee Officer and has served on the Tacoma Civil Service Board. “Democracy is not a spectator sport!” Anita declares towards the end of her interview, “so, get involved in voting for each election.” Her openness and honesty are palpable in this oral history and there is some strong language and adult content.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Tom Stenger conducted by dindria barrow on October 20, 2022. In this interview, Tom Stenger shares his family history going back four generations in Tacoma. Tom is a third generation Stadium High School alumnus and received his law degree from the University of Washington. Tom discusses his early years, working as a janitor in college at the University of Puget Sound, and his time serving on the Tacoma City Council. Tom has lived in Tacoma all of his life and, specifically, in the Hilltop neighborhood since buying a house in 1985. Tom has been interested in history ever since he was 14 years old and is the living co-founder of the Tacoma Historical Society.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Freddie Mae Barnett conducted by dindria barrow on January 28, 2023. In this interview, Mrs. Barnett shares her life story with us. She tells us of her upbringing in Athens, Georgia, and military travels with her husband. Mrs. Barnett was active in the military community and in Tacoma. She is a past president of the Tacoma Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, the Washington State Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and the Regional Association of Colored Women’s Clubs which are all affiliated with the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.

Oral history interview with Tacoma residents Alicia Rodriguez and Maria Presiado conducted by dindria barrow on March 11, 2023. In this interview, Alicia and Maria, members of the Lantinx Unidos of the South Sound (LUSS) Promotoras, share their lives, purposes, and dreams in Spanish. They explain how they came to the United States, how they became LUSS Promotoras in the work that they do, and what they hope for their family’s and community’s futures.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Charlie Best conducted by dindria barrow on June 30, 2023. In this interview, Charlie shares his interpretation of “home” and how it has defined itself over his lifetime. To paraphrase: Home changes according to the different iterations of “self” and knowing who you are. Charlie is very conscious of how we use masks in our public and work lives. Thus, home is a place where you can be yourself and is a place that you choose, not just a place that is given to you. As the Education Manager of The Rainbow Center, Charlie’s role allows him to share his story of identity. After dealing with many personal struggles, living in the present is now a consistent daily goal for Charlie.

Oral history interview with Dr. Thelma Jackson conducted by dindria barrow on May 11, 2023. In this interview, Thelma shares about her childhood, her education, her move to Washington and her work in many different academic areas and social arenas. Thelma discusses how we need to be present about the past and future. To paraphrase, staying present will help us realize what work needs to be done in our community and society. Thelma shares her new book and how oral histories were a key component of telling the Black community’s story in Lacey and Thurston County.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Isabella Rodriguez conducted by dindria barrow on June 6, 2023. In this interview, Isabella shares who she is, where she comes from, and the communities she calls home.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Collin Booker conducted by dindria barrow on June 9, 2023. In this interview, Collin shares his love of Tacoma and Evergreen State College which he chose because it reminded him of his grandmother. Collin believes in making positive change in the world and will be teaching our youth as a certificated educator. Collin recounts his bus rides to Federal Way with childhood friends, attending SAMI (Science and Math Institute) High School, and deciding his college major and graduate school focus. Collin built his teaching skills at the YMCA and as a substitute. Collin also shares his dreams and his capstone project.

Oral history interview with Tacoma residents Judith Rosas and Brisa Ramos Rosas conducted by dindria barrow on March 18, 2023. In this interview, Judith and Brisa, members of the Lantinx Unidos of the South Sound (LUSS) Promotoras, share their lives, purposes, and dreams in Spanish and English. They explain how they came to the United States, how they became LUSS Promotoras in the work that they do, and what they hope for their family’s and community’s futures.

Patrick Dixon is a retired teacher and commercial fisherman whose poems and photographs have been published in Oregon Coast, The Journal of Family Life, National Fisherman, Cirque and others. His chapter book, Arc of Visibility, won the 2015 Alabama State Poetry Society's annual Morris Memorial competition.

Together with teachers from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Chris Eide has led a statewide effort to improve the odds that young people from low-income families have access to schools. He is also an author, university lecturer, explorer, and poet.

Heidi Fosner is a singer/songwriter, educator and urban gardener. Tacoma resident since 1998.

John Hargis is a Digital Media Specialist at Tacoma Public Library's StoryLab. There he works to inspire young talent to develop, network and release all forms of media including music, video, audio, audition reels, resumes and press kits to prospective agencies. He currently teaches drums and music production in Gig Harbor, WA. John is a hand-drum enthusiast and has performed as a classic rock and blues musician in the Puget Sound area for the past 15 years.

Bree Dusseault works with Green Dot Public Schools Washington. As a resident of Southeast Seattle and former principal and teacher, Bree believes deeply in working with families and community to create schools that will realize their hopes and dreams for students and is privileged to be working alongside the community to build a school in East Tacoma. Bree's passion growing up was creative writing and journalism, and getting a chance to participate in this project has renewed the creative juices living within.

Centell T. Jackson is an active poet and songwriter and has works publish in the 2015 Pierce College Slam Magazine, Five Willows online poetry publication, and currently has submissions with the African American Writers Alliance.

Steve and his wife, Kristi, have toured the nation and overseas as a songwriting duo. They are both passionate advocates and activists for peace.

Christina Butcher is a freelance writer, podcaster and veteran from Chaparral, New Mexico. She has a passion for storytelling and community involvement, and her debut poetry collection, Still Clutching Maps, was published in May 2017. She holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from New Mexico State University and a certificate in storytelling and content strategy from Washington State University. She lives and writes in Tacoma, Washington.

Glenn Buttkus is a lifelong actor and poet who has contibuted to Live at the Auricle at B Sharp Coffeehouse.

Judith Cullen is a local artist with over 25 years of experience in theater and opera. In 2013 she began writing short fiction, essays and poetry - opening whole new horizons for this incurably creative soul. Visit her at jdcstoryteller.blogspot.com.