Another Chicagoan, Cordero came to Joplin as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Streets were nearly impossible to travel once he arrived, but nothing stopped him from building homes for those who lost everything.

Angels: not only a theme among many survivors’ accounts, but a defining feature for Courtney’s artwork. Her artwork inspires people to think differently about Joplin–as a memorial and as a hopeful, united community.

When disaster strikes, many consider the following: “What if this happened to me? How can I help those affected?” After hearing about the Joplin tornado, Papesh traveled from Chicago to aide the relief effort.

Joy and tragedy struck simultaneously for the Tsangaris family; in the midst of their daughter’s graduation day, the reckless tornado hit Joplin. Although they now reside in a trailer behind their home, they look positively toward the future.