Shantell Thomas, 18-year-old mother of two, gets parenting help to leave her violent upbringing behind at a crucial point in her children's lives. (Chicago Tribune)

Video series confronts the nightmarish consequences of exposure to the toxic chemical defoliant sprayed by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. (Chicago Tribune)

At 91, Ernest "Brownie" Brown shows he still has the chops to do a lively and joyous "chair dance" for entranced middle school kids. (Chicago Tribune)

An undocumented immigrant from Mexico uses a false ID to get medical care for cancer. Her dying wish? To return home to see her children. (Chicago Tribune)