Northern Indiana is full of people working hard every day to make their communities a better place. Since 2011, GreatNews.Life has been putting the spotlight on the people spreading this positivity in the Region with our Life in the Spotlight series. New articles are published every Wednesday, so be sure to check back often to learn more about the stories of great people doing great things in Northern Indiana.
Nicole McCaffery grew up in South Bend, though she spent a lot of time around Mishawaka for school. She graduated from Marian High School and stayed in the state for undergrad; she’s an alumna of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame. She got her...
Alex Ann Allen was born and raised in South Bend. She attended Clay High School, graduating in 2012. She first fell in love with art back when she was 10, and she really got into portraits when she was 16. Nowadays, she’s a full-time artist, and...
From studying communication to working in bookselling, Kristin Saner discovered her passion for creating connections and building community. Her journey led her to Fables Books in Goshen, where she now co-owns a space where literature and meaningful...
Dedicated educator and published author Megan Davidhizar seamlessly blends her passions for teaching and storytelling, both in the classroom and on the pages of her book. With a commitment to inspiring young minds, Davidhizar builds meaningful...
Sherina Gonzalez was born in Long Island, New York. She lived between there and Niles, Michigan, for a while but made the move to the Midwest at the age of 8. She went on to graduate from Buchanan High School. Gonzalez chose to get her...
Laurel Ridgway had to fly around the country before finding their home in the Midwest. Born and raised in Nebraska, Ridgway spent time in Indiana, Minnesota, and Massachusetts before settling down in Portage, Michigan as an animal ambassador manager...
Sean English hails from metro Detroit, Michigan. He formed his connection to Indiana when he decided to become an undergraduate at Purdue University, studying communications. He’s stayed in the state since and currently works to keep the community...
Mark Tarner was born in Warsaw, Indiana, but moved to South Bend when he was little. When he was younger, he had a paper route. He attended Clay High School and then went on to earn a master’s at Eastern Illinois University, which is where he also...
For 25 years, Dee Dee Gerber has been a dedicated educator within the School City of Mishawaka. As an English teacher and instructional coach at Mishawaka High School, she brings a deep passion for literature and writing that traces back to her own...
With years spent working in higher education and nonprofit leadership, Sam Centellas’ career has been defined by a passion for community. Now, as the executive director of CDFI Friendly South Bend, he continues to bring positive change to the...
