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This story is part of a project The Hechinger Report did in collaboration with local public radio station WWNO in New Orleans. We wanted to do more to help readers understand the traumatic experiences many young children are dealing with at home. After our text and radio series ran last year, journalist and illustrator Sukjong Hong traveled to New Orleans to meet with Hechinger writer Katy Reckdahl and Sherlae to create this graphic rendering of her story. We are referring to Sherlae only by her middle name, to protect her privacy.

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