Beginnings of a Project

First Time in the Studio

Musical theater student Katharine Moser, 18, Louisville, Ky., recently played the part of Marian Paroo, a librarian in The Music Man. "I love all the cheesy musicals, I don't really like the serious ones.", she said.

Meaghan Heit, 18, Louisville, Ky., sings "Popular" from the musical Wicked, sung by the character Glinda. "It's my dream role," she said, "her voice part is mine."

Groundskeeping and Food

Danny Smith, 48, originally from Wooster, Ohio, got a job with Western Kentucky University part-time through Lifeskills. Smith, who taught himself to read at 37, dreamed of attending college one day. The University helped him realize this dream by hiring him full-time so he could take classes for free. When not working, Smith also speaks to students from elementary to college level about the importance of not taking college for granted. “When Mom was alive they labeled me as mentally retarded.” Smith said, “It doesn’t matter how good I do or how far I achieve I’ll never get rid of that label.”


Enrique Menjivar, 26, Bowling Green, Ky., Taqueria Azteca in January 2010 on Old Morgantown Road. Menjivar and his wife, Veronica, immigrated to the US as children, from El Salvador and Mexico respectively. The couple does most of the work in the restaurant, with some help from relatives and friends. Both heritages are reflected in the menu, though it is mostly Mexican. Menjivar hopes to “provide more Hispanic variety to students and the community”, he said.