Empire Builder

Following the launch of her new novel, 35-year-old writer Kate Conklin is invited to speak at her alma mater by her mentor and former professor. After accepting the invitation, Kate finds herself deeply enmeshed in the lives of an eccentric group of college students.

An eight-year-old girl living on the west side of Chicago finds a neglected toddler and decides to take her home.

An inner-city high school teacher discovers she is pregnant at the same time as one of her most promising students and the two develop an unlikely friendship while struggling to navigate their unexpected pregnancies.

A young woman from Chicago takes a trip to Costa Rica to recover from life issues, reconnect with a friend, and try to find herself.