Nick Sheaffer

6 days ago | kbia.org | Rebecca Smith |Nick Sheaffer

Perrin Dowse is a transgender lesbian and spoke about exploring – and accepting her gender identity and expression. Alphabet Soup shares LGBTQ+ Missourians’ stories through portraiture and personal narratives. Perrin Dowse: At the beginning, it was more like I was feeling a disconnect from masculinity. I had always considered myself, like, “Oh, I'm an effeminate guy.” I'm comfortable in being a non-masculine dude and turns out that was cope.

2 weeks ago | kbia.org | Rebecca Smith |Nick Sheaffer

Partners Sam Collins and Cricket Osborn met in Chicago and have been together for about three years. They spoke about the somewhat chaotic start to their relationship and their decision to choose love over fear. Cricket Osborn: Our story started on Tinder in 2021. Sam Collins: Yeah, in Chicago, and –Cricket Osborn: You slid into my Tinder. Sam Collins: Yeah, I messaged Cricket, and I think I was on Christmas break, so we, like, talked for a while, and then –Cricket Osborn: It was really awkward.

3 weeks ago | kbia.org | Rebecca Smith |Nick Sheaffer

Sarah Mosteller is a lesbian in her early 20s, and spoke about her desire for more safe, queer – and especially sapphic spaces – in mid-Missouri. NOTE: This piece includes a description of interpersonal violence. Alphabet Soup shares LGBTQ+ Missourians’ stories through portraiture and personal narratives. Sarah Mosteller: I’m gonna lie, it's hard out here. It's rough.

Jan 23, 2025 | columbiamissourian.com | Nick Sheaffer |Ezra Bitterman |Harshawn Ratanpal

NEW MADRID - The town of New Madrid seems obsessed with the fault lines that loom under its surface. Signs with the slogan "It's Our Fault" line the road into town, past the cotton fields and defunct factories that were once reliable employers.

Jan 17, 2025 | columbiamissourian.com | Audrey Stanard |Nick Sheaffer

As the start of the spring semester for the University of Missouri nears, thousands of students will return from winter break to Columbia. The sidewalks become more crowded, open parking more elusive and the city a bit livelier. Friday marks the first day of move-ins for most student housing, though some students were allowed an early move-in this week.