I often felt fearful as a young girl. My parents struggled to provide for us, causing an air of tension in our home. But if I wanted...

We’d break the rules, then run off and hide in the mango trees until the coast was clear–or so we thought. My mom would wait for us...

Though the city was tinged with gang violence, I roamed the neighborhoods without fear; a free-spirited soul I was. After playing outside...