Felipe Martinez Donis shares his story of coming to the United States. In 2005, Donis’ father had taken on a lot of debt to plant crops. A hurricane struck Guatemala destroying the crops and leaving the family with nothing. Unable to pay back the money, Donis’ father crossed Mexico by bus, entered the U.S. by foot and was given refugee status.

In high school, Donis joined the wrestling team even though he admits, “I didn’t know a single thing about what the sport even was.” Today, Donis completes in mixed martial arts and earned the number one spot as an amateur fighter in Wisconsin

In The Midst Of A Pandemic,
A New Life Brings Hope

Colin Orth dreams of being a traveling musician. The teenager plays trumpet in the Chippewa Falls High School jazz band, but Orth’s childhood wasn’t always so harmonious. After being referred to a hematologist, he was diagnosed with Hemophilia B at five months old.

In 2018, Orth had the opportunity to fly to New York City to rehearse and perform in a Broadway-style show titled “Hemophilia: The Musical.” The play raised awareness about bleeding disorders, but also encouraged the actors to take care of themselves as they enter adulthood.

There’s a place in Ripon that’s providing a space for musicians and artists to get as creative as they want to. At The Heist, organizers have converted a former bank into a community space that they hope will bring people together. Ayisha Jaffer recently spent a weekend there and introduces us to the makers at The Heist.