Teliane Bakala Has a Reason to Smile

Teliane Bakala Has a Reason to Smile

A conversation with Teliane Bakala is easy. The dental school student, who is in her final year at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), laughs easily. More than that, she understands the importance of making a connection and the potential for a spark to become...
A Guide for the Journey

A Guide for the Journey

Many refugee stories start with tragedy, and mine is no different. The two people who were supposed to help and protect and provide for me were taken away from me when I was young. My father was poisoned by my stepsiblings, who wanted to take the land and power that...
Mario Gonzalez Finds Quiet in the Storm

Mario Gonzalez Finds Quiet in the Storm

When former senator, secretary of state, and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton acted as keynote speaker for Heartland Alliance’s annual Power of Healing benefit in 2019, she lauded the work of the Chicago-based Marjorie Kovler Center, a thirty-five-year-old...