Meet Soren

12/01/22 • 21 min

Soren’s interest in higher education has always been rooted in an interest in the environment, even from childhood. As an adult, after struggling with their own mental health, Soren became interested in psychology, and pursued jobs in the medical field, but was soon discouraged by the for-profit medical system. Soren went through challenging transitions in their life–a cross country move, the birth of their son, and coming out as a non-binary person. When they moved to Minnesota, Soren regained clarity of what they wanted to pursue, and they went back to school for environmental studies at the University of Minnesota. As a single parent, Soren was hardly making ends meet when someone from their university contacted them about emergency grants, many specifically for queer parents. With the support of the university’s Student Parent HELP center and a local foundation, Raise the Barr, Soren is launching their academic career with the hope of helping future generations, like their son’s, to live healthier lives. Reporter Natalie Rivera brings us Soren’s story.

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You can read the episode transcript here.

For more information on 1 in 5, click here.

Download and share the resource guide based on this episode here.

You can read the episode transcript here.

For more information on 1 in 5, click here.

Previous Episode

Meet Ignacio Angel

Ignacio Angel has decided to define for himself what success looks like as a college student and father of four. He faced setbacks to his pursuits for many years. The for-profit trade school he went to, which was later investigated for preying on vulnerable students, never delivered on promises of a job, and landed him in debt. He says he turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pressure and disappointment he felt, even as his high school sweetheart Lilly and he grew their family. A drug possession charge sent him to jail for a year. That’s when he decided to make a serious change. With Lilly’s help, he found a support system designed for fathers who want to pursue higher education called the Alameda County Fathers Corps. Reporter Steven Rascón follows his journey.

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You can read the episode transcript here.

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Next Episode

Catching up with Drayton Jackson

Drayton Jackson experienced homelessness for almost 20 years. Today, Drayton utilizes his lived experience to advocate for others in a similar position—but it wasn’t always easy adjusting to having a seat at the table. Drayton, now the father of eight, is setting boundaries and goals for himself to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Along with running two foundations and being a community leader, Drayton continues to work towards his educational goals of earning a college degree. In this follow-up of his story from season one, reporter Diana Opong checks in with Drayton to get an update on the activist’s accomplishments.

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You can read the episode transcript here.

For more information on 1 in 5, click here.