5 Story 5: Franklin

Franklin is a working-class Native American man from Maricopa County, Arizona.

Demographics

• Grew up working class
• Father worked in construction
• Mother worked in the education system as an administrator’s assistant
• Parents left the reservation for their careers and have lived in the city ever since
• As a family, they go back to the reservation 2 times a month in order to connect with their family/cultural heritage
• He has 2 younger siblings – 1 boy, 1 girl
• Completed high school at 16 years old and attended community college until 18 years old. He just graduated college at 20 with a 4.2 GPA in Cultural Studies with an emphasis in literary studies.
• He worked at the university while in college – with the Native American community centers within the school(s). He is well known in the community.
• 0 student loans or any other debt
• Lives alone in a small apartment, close to his family