The project, called Historias, also has potential for use in your school, perhaps as a way to promote the diversity conversation, as a hands-on project for students in Spanish classes, or as a unique service project that links Latinos in your school with those in the wider community.
Historias, which means "stories" in Spanish, aims to collect and archive interviews—informal conversations between family members or friends—from Latinos in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. "StoryCorps interviews are a meaningful way to capture personal, family, organizational, or community history," the Web site explains. "The process of being interviewed by a friend, family member, or coworker can have a profound impact on both participants, encouraging growth, appreciation, and understanding."
"Everybody's story matters and every life counts" is the foundation of StoryCorps, which, through its various projects, has collected tales from 50,000 participants throughout the United States. People talk about everything that matters to them. A daughter asks her mother, a cancer nurse, what it's like to tell someone he's going to die. A grandfather shares with his grandson about coming out as a gay man. Two ironworkers on the Golden Gate Bridge talk about rescuing suicide jumpers. A man tells a friend about meeting some of baseball's greatest players.
There are several ways to participate in the Historias initiative, which continues through August 2010.
- StoryBooth recording studios are located in New York City (ongoing), San Francisco (through October 2009) and Atlanta (through October 2010). Call 800-850-4406 to make a reservation. The lines are open 24/7.
- MobileBooths, Airstream trailers, fitted with a recording studio, are traveling the country collecting stories. The dates and cities for the next few months include:
- Through October 17: Colorado Springs, CO, and Grand Rapids, MI
- October 22-November 14: Norfolk, VA, and Wichita, KS
- November 19-December 19: Jacksonville, FL, and Houston, TX
- January 7-30: Yuma, AZ, and Miami, FL
- February 11-March 13: Pensacola, FL
- February 11-March 20: Los Angeles, CA
- Radio partners in those cities also offer recording opportunities. See the Web site for a list of stations and dates.
- If there's no location near you, you can still participate. For information on other recording services, contact Gabriel Higuera at 646-723-7020 ext. 47 or ghiguera@storycorps.org.
- Although they will not be included in the Historias archive, you can record your own interviews at home and start your own collection. A do-it-yourself guide is available on the Web site.
While the interviews are meant to be informal and natural, preparation is encouraged. You'll find tips for creating your interview on the site in the "What to Expect" and "Great Questions List" sections. You can also listen to others' stories online.
The project is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Historias interviews will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, with the participants' permission. Selected interviews will be broadcast on public radio programs, including NPR's Morning Edition and Latino USA.
Click here to find out more about Historias and the StoryCorps program.
