Sound of Us

Two best friends in Mansfield detail how injuries grew their love for skating and how skateboarding strengthened their friendship

It’s never easy to start a new hobby in adulthood. But that challenge didn’t stop Mason Wicker from learning to skateboard at the age of 31, risking serious injury and embarrassment.

Eric Fletcher founded 3rd Life Upcycling from his Mansfield garage, where he transforms old skateboard decks into new objects.

Josh Campbell, of Crestline, thought he'd never skateboard again after losing his right leg to bone cancer at 14, but after seeing his son pick up the board, he's back at it.

Ruari Killian Doup, 12, has found friendships and support in Richland County's skateboarding community while navigating family trauma.

As skate culture starts to rise in Mansfield, Justin Esterline is using skateboarding to reach the city's youth.

Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s as someone with learning disabilities wasn’t easy. Sumica Williams shares some of the experiences and challenges she faced.

Betsy Serrano embraces her diverse identity as a Hispanic-American by enjoying the benefits of being bilingual and appreciating Salvadorian and American cuisine.

Dr. Raquel Ortiz was inspired by bomba music when she wrote a children's book about overcoming fears, which she turned into a puppet play with Cleveland Public Library.

Jeff Ivey says he feels like he's caught in a system that denies financial assistance to Black home owners who are struggling to afford to keep their property.