On this episode of Our American Stories, Gladys Gonzalez once held a senior banking position in Bogotá, earning a dollar salary and managing major financial institutions. When Colombia’s drug war forced her employer to shut down operations, she was suddenly starting over in the United States.

Her credentials didn’t transfer. The executive experience that once defined her career meant little in America, and she took whatever work she could find—cleaning offices, caring for people with disabilities, delivering newspapers—just to support her family. What followed wasn’t a single break, but a true example of the American Dream in action.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Gladys Gonzalez once held a senior banking position in Bogot&aacute;, earning a dollar salary and managing major financial institutions. When Colombia&rsquo;s drug war forced her employer to shut down operations, she was suddenly starting over in the United States. Her credentials didn&rsquo;t transfer. The executive experience that once defined her career meant little in America, and she took whatever work she could find&mdash;cleaning offices, caring for people with disabilities, delivering newspapers&mdash;just to support her family. What followed wasn&rsquo;t a single break, but a true example of the American Dream in action.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

She Ran Banks in Colombia, Then Cleaned Floors in America

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cef2b677-bb89-4394-af89-b3e8015d232b/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Becky Shaffer grew up in severe neglect and abuse, cycling through hunger, violence, and instability before entering foster care as a teenager. After aging out of the system herself, she built a life marked by faith, family, and hard-earned resilience.

Years later, while fostering young women, Becky recognized a familiar pattern as girls left care without support and faced the same dangers she once had. That recognition led to the creation of Saving Grace, a residential program designed to help young women aging out of foster care learn practical life skills, build stability, and find direction. Becky shares how her past shaped her purpose, and how Saving Grace grew from an idea into a refuge for girls with nowhere else to turn.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Becky Shaffer grew up in severe neglect and abuse, cycling through hunger, violence, and instability before entering foster care as a teenager. After aging out of the system herself, she built a life marked by faith, family, and hard-earned resilience. Years later, while fostering young women, Becky recognized a familiar pattern as girls left care without support and faced the same dangers she once had. That recognition led to the creation of Saving Grace, a residential program designed to help young women aging out of foster care learn practical life skills, build stability, and find direction. Becky shares how her past shaped her purpose, and how Saving Grace grew from an idea into a refuge for girls with nowhere else to turn.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

From Child Abuse to Saving Grace: Becky Shaffer’s Fight for Foster Girls

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0a576319-8035-4207-9732-b3e8015d232d/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, each fall at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, brown bears race to gain as much weight as possible before winter. Ranger Lian Law shares the story of how Fat Bear Week began as a small educational project and grew into a worldwide event, showcasing how fat equals survival for bears that must live off their reserves through months of hibernation.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, each fall at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, brown bears race to gain as much weight as possible before winter. Ranger Lian Law shares the story of how Fat Bear Week began as a small educational project and grew into a worldwide event, showcasing how fat equals survival for bears that must live off their reserves through months of hibernation.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Fat Bear Week: How Alaska’s Brown Bears Compete for Survival

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/887801e1-9d9d-41e1-b83a-b3e8015d232e/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, many music critics consider Duke Ellington one of the most important composers of the 20th century, in or out of jazz. The late Wall Street Journal culture critic Terry Teachout, author of Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington, shares the sweeping story of Ellington’s rise from segregated Washington, D.C. to the Cotton Club and national radio, examining his creative methods, collaborative tensions, and the music that carried him from Harlem stages to Newport in 1956 and ultimately to the White House.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, many music critics consider Duke Ellington one of the most important composers of the 20th century, in or out of jazz. The late Wall Street Journal culture critic Terry Teachout, author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDuke-Life-Ellington-Terry-Teachout%2Fdp%2F1592407498&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C381d13e0570f41b2c97f08de64f854f7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639059215016636922%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2Bqx4p0D1t0oMtV9WkWQGzSPaWub%2Bn0nciGDcK7FNlMg%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington</a>, shares the sweeping story of Ellington&rsquo;s rise from segregated Washington, D.C. to the Cotton Club and national radio, examining his creative methods, collaborative tensions, and the music that carried him from Harlem stages to Newport in 1956 and ultimately to the White House.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Duke Ellington: An American Original

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b8f73433-8981-4af1-8cc0-b3e8017aa658/transcript

She Ran Banks in Colombia, Then Cleaned Floors in America

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