Carlos Salcedo/Arizona Republic

James Kottke shares his story the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix on June 28, 2017.

KJZZ partners with the Arizona Republic to bring you the Arizona Storytellers series. We record the live events and share them with you on the radio. In Phoenix, the storytellers sometimes share stories about our community or the life events that have shaped them in general. Megan Finnerty is the creator of the series. 

James Kottke's mother had a mantra when it came to helping people: Do something - anything. And anything is better than nothing.

Growing up, Kottke and his family helped anyone who needed it. As a kid, sometimes it meant he had to give up his toys and even his clothes. In the 1970s, Kottke's mother learned about the thousands of Vietnamese refugees who needed a place to go.

James Kottke is an architect living in Phoenix.

The next Storytelling event is Nov. 16, 2017, at The Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix.

→ Hear More Arizona Storytellers