Next Gen Journalism

In early adulthood, Kylee Ham was questioning the conservative values of her upbringing. After she witnessed immigration authorities detain her colleagues, her views on power in American society changed. In the decades since, she has become dedicated to helping people, such as immigrants, people experiencing homelessness and workers who have been systemically sidelined.

HATSUE grew up loving two things passionately: horses and photography. Only one of those passions seemed like a viable career, so she set her focus on becoming an equine veterinarian. Until one morning, a few months before graduating high school, she woke up and made a decision to point the lens in a new direction.

After her infant daughter died in 2012, Maria Lees-Dunlap found a greater purpose through her grief. Now as an end-of-life doula, grief specialist and community liaison for Grace Hospice, she guides individuals and families through the process of death and dying.

Amy Pennington’s life changed when her daughter was born with Down syndrome. After struggling to find resources, she was thrust into the world of advocacy, eventually founding ScoopAble.

Taylor Steckman used to feel an adrenaline rush every time she put on firefighting gear. But when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2017, her life flipped upside down.

The theme was "moments of truth."