Episode 9: Out of the Fire

August 9, 2025

This episode traces Loie’s memories from a harrowing fire in their Chicago high-rise to the formation of Project Neighbors after her and Walt’s years in Germany. She recalls the bravery of her children, the generosity of strangers, and the challenges of welcoming Black families into Valparaiso through the VBA experiment. The conversation weaves through heartbreaks, funerals, and triumphs — from Betty Ballard finally receiving her diploma, to the Cottons and Allens shaping the town’s history, to Walt’s vision that birthed Project Neighbors. Along the way, Loie reflects on resilience, community, and the movement that kept growing, one family and one house at a time.