Estephanie Cardenas

Age 20

From The Bronx, NY

Estephanie is focused on growing into who she wants to be, and when something blocks her way, she finds a new way up. Raised in the Bronx by her mother, who worked seven days a week, Estephanie has been acting and performing for as long as she can remember, but arts education at her school was nonexistent. She got the spark she needed in an after-school arts program for inner-city students. Going from a school where she’d been teased for trying and striving, she saw what a difference one opportunity could make. After finishing high school in Miami, she’s back in the Bronx, working full-time and commuting to college at Pace University, where she’s studying acting. Even through the stress of paying for school, the hard work is worth it if she can help other kids like her find that spark to become who they are, too.

James “Ikie” Brooks

Age 21

From Boone County, WV

There’s nothing that can keep me down, says Ikie. He knows that now, because in his teens, he faced his biggest turning point, and made it through. For his whole life, his parents struggled with drugs, but when he was 15, both of his parents were arrested, and the next year, his father died of an overdose. Surviving that time and getting to college has given him a different perspective on the programs and policies politicians talk about. That’s why he’s majoring in political science at Marshall University. Born and raised in the heart of coal country in West Virginia, Ikie wants to get into politics to help start conversations and do something about the problems he sees at home. On this trip, he’s looking for inspiration from others who have come from small towns and gone on to make big changes.

Esther O’Brien

Age 19

From Brookfield, WI

For Esther, theater was always a way to escape what was happening at home. And even when home changed, as she moved from an abusive household and bounced through the foster system, her love of acting persisted. At 13, when she and her brother were adopted into a big family, she gained 19 new brothers and sisters and a world of support. But every day is still a battle, even with her family by her side. The challenges she’s faced have made her stronger, and she’s determined not to let them limit her--or her opportunities. Theater, once an escape, is now her focus, along with elementary education. She’s planning on studying both next year at the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point. That’s why she wants to see how others pursued many passions and reached their goals, so she can learn and grow from their stories.

Media Contact:

Loureen Ayyoub, loureen@roadtripnation.com
Christina Reagan, creagan@kqed.org

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About APT:

American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. For more than 10 years, APT has annually distributed one-third or more of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. Founded in 1961, among its 250 new program titles per year, APT programs include prominent documentaries, performance, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country, AfroPoP, Rick Steves’ Europe, Chris Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Front and Center, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Midsomer Murders, A Place to Call Home, Lidia’s Kitchen, Globe Trekker, New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton, Simply Ming, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television.

APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Entering its 13th year, Create®TV — featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming — is distributed by American Public Television. APT also distributes WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.

About KQED

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Roadtrip Nation: Beating the Odds