Yahoo! News Launches 'Remake America,' an Unprecedented Docu-Series That Integrates Audience, News Coverage

Yahoo! News Remake America Family - John and Michelle (Photo: Erik Tanner )

 

• Tory Johnson, the workplace contributor committed to providing career services, tools, and resources toward successful small business ownership.
• Farnoosh Torabi, the personal finance expert and author dedicated to helping individuals and families take control of their finances, save, pay down debt and live a more fulfilling, goal-driven life.
• Dr. Richard Besser, the veteran health and medical expert with an expertise in public health

• Bill and Donna; Erin ( Calabash, NC ; Charleston, SC )
  Bill and Donna have always lived "the American dream," owning two homes, traveling the world and providing for their three children. But all that changed drastically when Bill suffered a stroke. After realizing he could no longer work at the level he did, Bill decided to open his own business which is now on the brink of collapse due to the economy.
  
  Erin G., Bill and Donna's daughter (and single mom of three-year-old twins), has been struggling to keep her head above water. Erin was facing foreclosure in the past year and has decided to take on a roommate, another single mom with a 4 year old child, to help supplement her mortgage payment.
• Kyle and Krystal ( Mt. Pleasant, MI )
  Kyle and Krystal are a young couple that has already survived more traumatic events than most families experience in a lifetime. Kyle, now a wounded veteran after losing his right hand, is facing a new chapter in his life both as a father and in a currently undetermined career. Kyle and Krystal's oldest child suffers from a rare genetic disorder, which makes it difficult for them to work full time since they must provide her with round-the-clock-care.

• Leslie ( Phoenix, AZ )
  Despite losing her job as a successful real estate agent, Leslie tries to keep a "glass half full" mentality, despite going on more than 100 job interviews with no result and finding herself a victim of job scams. Facing major financial difficulty, Leslie has been forced to live in her guest house while renting out her main home.

• Kirk and LaTosha ( Houston, TX )
  Kirk and LaTosha were a two-income family until Kirk was laid off from his IT job, the family was forced to drastically change its lifestyle. Now they're one paycheck away from homelessness. Ironically, LaTosha, who works as a government counselor connecting families with income assistance programs, cannot utilize those programs because her family's income still falls over the maximum amount to qualify for assistance.

• José and Starlight ( Austin, TX )
  After moving across the country for a law school program, Starlight became sick and lost her scholarship. Without a strong credit score, she was not eligible for a student loan and has been forced to withdraw from school. Following numerous health concerns for both Starlight and her son, who has been diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, the family is on the brink of homelessness with no income to pay for living expenses or health insurance.

• Tory Johnson — Workplace contributor for ABC News and CEO and founder of Women For Hire and Spark & Hustle, two organizations providing career services for women and conferences for successful small-business ownership. Johnson is a regular speaker at large conferences, a contributing editor to SUCCESS magazine and the New York Times bestselling author of Will Work From Home : Earn the Cash Without the Commute. Her sixth book on launching a small business, Spark & Hustle, will be published in June.
• Farnoosh Torabi — Personal finance expert, author and speaker. Farnoosh Torabi is a frequent financial contributor to "The Today Show" and host of "Financially Fit" on Yahoo! Finance. She was the resident money coach on SOAPnet's Bank of Mom & Dad, where she helped young women pay down debt and regain their financial independence, as well as the resident financial expert on TLC's Real Simple. Real Life, where she taught busy moms and families to how to better manage their finances. Torabi's work and advice has been featured in Real Simple, Glamour, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. She is the author of two books: You're So Money : Live Rich Even When You're Not, and Psych Yourself Rich: Get the Mindset & Discipline You Need to Build Your Financial Life.
• Dr. Richard Besser — Senior health and medical editor for ABC News, appearing regularly on " World News with Diane Sawyer," "Good Morning America" and "Nightline." Besser was formerly the director at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), where he was responsible for all of the CDC's public health emergency preparedness and emergency response activities. Besser has authored and co-authored hundreds of presentations, abstracts, chapters, editorials, and publications. He has received many awards for his work in public health and volunteer service including the Surgeon General's Medallion for his leadership during the H1N1 response.