Stories Next Door

Join us for an evening of storytelling, where five Hendricks County residents share their captivating stories in a casual, lounge club atmosphere – each story unveils powerful moments of connection and transformation. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about our neighbors in Hendricks County through thought-provoking tales that break barriers and inspire the community.

Kassie Ferguson
The Patchwork Circle 
A woman who once hid her true self finds love, acceptance, and a vibrant sense of community when she and her wife move their family into a cul-de-sac, where breaking down stereotypes and embracing differences transforms neighbors into lifelong friends.

Melissa Calahan
The Celebrity Next Door
In early autumn 2019, the photograph of an Avon resident was featured on the giant billboard in Times Square, in various publications, and on social media around the world.  This is the story of how a simple, unassuming man acquired celebrity status as an icon for a uniquely vulnerable community.

Bridgette Collins
Incarceration to Rehabilitation
Director of Hendricks County Work Release, Bridgette Collins, tells a story of defeat, tenacity, and triumph through the lens of a felon returning to the community.

Mary Bednarek
Brave Heart
Mary Bednarek shares the story of her grandson’s heart transplant and how it transformed her understanding of the caregiving experience. Pediatric heart disease ushered in a whirlwind of prayers, tests, fear, hope, joy, and terror; but the diagnosis also revealed that brave, good people can appear in real life like the angels they are.

Rev. Lynn M. Jameson, DMin
How Do You Love Your Neighbor? A Story of Caring from the Porch to the Pew
Rev. Dr. Lynn M. Jameson shares a powerful personal story of resilience and radical love. From an early life shaped by poverty, discrimination, addiction, and incarceration, to a life of bridge-building and ministry, Lynn reveals how caring relationships – and the stories that carried them – helped her connect across divides of race, class, and experience.

Hendricks Live! is proud to partner with The Republican Newspaper to present our series Opening Doors — celebrating the unique and often profound stories of those who live and work in Hendricks County. “There are so many amazing individuals in this county who have overcome tremendous adversity while improving the lives of others,” said Chris Petrelli, Executive Director of Hendricks Live!. “Opening Doors gives us the opportunity to shed light on their stories and learn about the remarkable neighbors who live next door.