Five panelists as diverse as Marshalltown shared personal stories of challenges, opportunities, perseverance and optimism for the future of their adopted community.

It was all part of the “Stories From Our Front Porch – Humans of Marshalltown- Live!” event sponsored by the local Arts + Culture Alliance at their downtown offices Friday night.

While the two female and three male storytellers came from different backgrounds and different occupations, they all shared the commonality of calling Marshalltown home having been born and lived elsewhere.

Lucian Banakeng

The Cameron native is the community liaison manager for JBS-USA operations locally.

Banakeng and family arrived in Marshalltown a number of years ago. His story theme centered around Marshalltown’s welcoming attitude and friendliness – especially by one of the local Catholic churches and in his neighborhood.

He shared stories about how his neighbors openly welcomed him and family regardless of their race. They have helped with numerous home, gardening and yard improvements.

Banakeng frequently pointed out one of his neighbors in the audience – describing in detail the many funny and positive interactions with him and others to the delight of the audience.

He also talked in a humorous vein of an African adapting to unpredictable and sometimes cold and snowy Iowa winters.

“It is always warm in Africa year ’round,” he said

Banakeng has previously participated in ACA events with Amber Danielson, the organization’s executive director,

“Listening to our neighbors helps us understand them more,” said Luisa Ortega of Marshalltown. She is a longtime resident and businesswoman. She has also coordinated the town’s annual Fourth of July celebration with community volunteers for many years.

“It (listening) reminds us of how much more alike we are than different.”

Kimberly Becerra

The educator is employed by the Marshalltown Community School District and was born in California. Her presentation was heartfelt and sometimes emotional about how her birth mother had died a number of years ago.

“I have two tattoos,” Becerra said. “I wanted to get something that honored both of them. One is a sunflower to honor my birth mom … one of my memories of her is sunflowers … and another is a rose to honor my stepmother. She has been a loving force in my life – and I am grateful. My dad has great taste in women.”

Her father and stepmother were in the audience. The trio shared tears during her presentation.

Miguel Sanchez

The artist and businessman, 33, said he is flattered that young people often stop in his screen-printing business, where he is the owner-operator, and ask him for advice about starting and running a small business.

He has lived in Marshalltown for 30 years.

“Never give up,” he said. “I have that tattooed above my knee and I look at it for inspiration when I am ‘working out’ or in my business.”

Dan Wheeler

The Ames native joked that he was by far the oldest member of the panel – but he effectively used his life experiences to convey a message of hope. He is a retiree and resident of the Iowa Veterans Home (IVH) in Marshalltown. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War based in Saigon – then the capital of South Vietnam.

He also has been a successful businessman who once had much in the way of material goods. Later, he became a missionary serving in Kenya.

“There were areas where people had nothing … nothing …” he said. “But they were happy.”

Esmeralda Monroy

She is associate director of the local Child, Adolescent and Parent Support (CAPS) office. It is a not-for-profit organization with extensive ties to Marshalltown.

“I remember moving to Marshalltown in April, 1996,” she said. “There was snow in the middle of the street and my dad was trying to drive around … he had not driven in snow before.”

During her remarks, the poised Monroy said she admired Marshalltown residents for their ability to persevere through treacherous weather events such as the 2008 ice storm, the 2018 tornado and 2020 derecho among others since her arrival.

“This town has been through a lot,” she said. “But I never had the sense people had given up. There have also been numerous personal tragedies too.”

“I feel optimistic that our younger generation has such a great group of storytellers,” said Ortega. “As I sat and listened to them telling their stories … speaking of what they considered home … and what made them proud to live in Marshalltown … I like many others who came to Marshalltown as a 15-year-old with my own struggles. I quickly found people welcoming listened to my story. It is because of them I made Marshalltown my home.”

Serving as panel facilitator was master storyteller Kiran Singh Sirah – who has been in Marshalltown for two weeks. He previously appeared at the Marshalltown Public Library, the Rotary Club, the YMCA/YWCA and IVH and supervised two seminars at the Mowry-Irvine Mansion.

“Kiran’s stories and hope for a sustainable and kind world are relevant to our lives and a perfect antidote for the culture of fear, ignorance and violence,” said Catherine Noble, who was in the audience. She is a State Center resident who featured Sirah at IVH.

“His message that connection is available to everyone through storytelling and finding common ground is cause for hope at a time when humanity is watered down with screen time and everything being measured monetarily,” she said.