Multiple Minneapolis

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  Chuck Doxey

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Chuck Doxey is a mixed Caucasian and Mexican male born on January 11, 2004. He was raised by his biological dad, stepdad, and biological mother. His biological father was a computer programmer, and his mother was a hairstylist. Doxey grew up in several neighborhoods within Minneapolis, such as Plymouth, Wayzata, Maple Plain, and North Minneapolis. He was raised Lutheran but participated in several Catholic practices. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Doxey begins the interview by discussing visiting his family in Mexico. He explains his family's reaction to the difference between living in Minnesota and Mexico. Doxey reminisces on the pets he had growing up, such as his beloved cat and Australian shepherd coyote mix. He then explains his relationship with religion and how his Catholic mother baptized him in Mexico. Doxey fondly recalls attending Twins games with his biological father and taking the light train to the stadium. He mentions his grade 9 English teacher, Mrs. Balon-Peck, and how influential she was to the theater department of Orono High School. Doxey concludes his interview by sharing the story of a young girl getting shot by a stray bullet and how that impacted his view on what could be deemed as a safe neighborhood.

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  Gretchen Walther

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Gretchen Walther is a white female born on June 18th, 1967. She lived with her father, mother, older sister, and younger brother in Brooklyn Center and later Brooklyn Park. Her father had a trade school degree and worked with two different jobs. Her mother was a teacher but stopped to be a stay-at-home mom. She grew up Lutherans, specifically the Lutheran Church of the Missouri Synod (LCMS). SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Walther discusses her family life and memories. She talks about growing up with her parents, an older sister, and a younger brother. She shares memories about grandparents who lived both in the cities and in northern Minnesota. She mentions that her family enjoyed camping during weekends and had close ties with her church community. Walther describes how her family valued spending time together, and family relationships were significant to them. Walther describes how she grew up in a household where her father worked two jobs to make ends meet, and how they didn't have many extra things. She was aware of the economic differences between her family and some of her friends' families, especially when they moved to a new home and school district. She also talks about how this has affected her spending as an adult; she is mindful of her spending habits, looking for sales and opting for generic brands when possible. Walther discusses the significance of her faith to her life growing up. She mentions attending church regularly, even during camping trips. She also touches on how the church was a crucial social aspect of her life, and many close friendships were formed within the church's youth group. As an adult, Walther still considers religion important, and they raised their two daughters in the same faith and how the value and role of faith in guiding her lives remain important to her and her husband. Walther goes into the two neighborhoods she grew up in, Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park. She mentions how the community shared similar values and morals, with a strong connection to their church community. Walther touches on how leisure time was filled with outdoor activities, camping with family, listening to music, and playing with Barbies. In recalling her experiences with schooling Walther talks about teachers that made an impact on her and the struggles of transitioning to a larger school district. Lastly, for local and global issues, Walther touches on economic and racial disparities. She doesn’t recall many global issues or community health issues but recounts a family friend who had cancer.

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  Paul Hardt

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Paul Hardt is a Caucasian, cis male born on July 31, 1950. He is one of the children. His father worked at Barnum Stationary, and his mother was a stay-at-home mother, until she started working at Canteen later on. They grew up in a couple different areas, such as St. Louis Park, Edina, and Richfield. He grew up with an eclectic religious background. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Hardt begins by briefly touching on the work life of his parents. He goes on to talk about his father's military backgrounds, more specifically his relation to the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Throughout the interview, Hardt relates back to their living situation, experiences with where they lived, and how they were able to afford going on trips and paying for college. Later, he describes his eclectic religious background, touching on the different upbringings his parents had, as well as the influence of his father's dad, who was an active freemason. Hardt discusses the values that were instilled in his family and community, such as patriotism and shared values, like hard work, respect, courtesy, and family. He had an active physical life, participating in leisure activities like fishing, riding on bikes, and swimming. Lastly, Hardt ends the interview discussing the issues that existed in the community, such as the thought of nuclear war, people's trust in President Eisenhower, as well as racial issues like redline policies, and sexual liberation.