July 22, 2009

Dear StoryCorps Alumni,

It has been a busy summer for us at StoryCorps!

We've welcomed new Alumni from all over the country, including Eugene, Oregon; Berlin, New Hampshire; Wenatchee, Washington; and Rochester, New York.

We've raised $90,000 to keep the StoryCorps Mobile Tour rolling to communities like yours throughout the United States.

And we've published our 2008 Annual Report, which recaps many of our accomplishments over the past five years. You and the entire Alumni community have made StoryCorps what it is today!

Warmly,

Christa Orth
Alumni Coordinator
646-723-7020 x77
alumni@storycorps.org

Alumni make a huge difference through their contributions to StoryCorps. Here's what some Alumni are saying:

While the booth was in Eugene I had the opportunity to interview my fiancee, Kelly. The session was my wedding gift to Kelly; a recorded document of our love, affection, and dedication. It is our hope to listen to it on our anniversaries, and perhaps during any difficult times in our marriage when we need a reminder about what is important.

-Cole Southworth with his fiancee, Kelly Cadigan, Eugene, OR

My husband, Mark T. Kenmore, was diagnosed at age 52 with early-onset dementia. Three years later, I am the only carrier of his memories. I wish that he could still tell his children the family stories that I remember him telling me. So, in his honor, I donate this modest amount. I wish it could be more. My mom, my daughter, and I did StoryCorps in Buffalo — it was a great experience.

-Sue Tannehill, with her mom and daughter, Clarence Center, NY

I had the opportunity to meet my biological son and record a conversation with him while in New York. I listened to the recording and was deeply moved hearing my story in my own voice. I am so grateful that this has been preserved. Thank you for this wonderful idea!

-Teresa Shadwell, with Matt Workman, West Bloomfield, MI





We thank these Alumni for sharing their stories! To share yours, email alumni@storycorps.org.

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StoryCorps welcomed new Alumni this month from the NAACP Centennial Convention, celebrated in New York City. StoryCorps recorded a number of interviews at the convention through our Door-to-Door service, as part of StoryCorps Griot.

In honor of the NAACP's 100th Anniversary, StoryCorps produced a CD highlighting StoryCorps Griot interviews, including several with NAACP leaders and luminaries. Listen to these stories here.

The NAACP interviews recorded as part of the Griot Initiative will be archived at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture in addition to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

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Last month StoryCorps had a blast celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Pride on both the east and west coasts. StoryCorps staff, Alumni, and volunteers came together to march in the New York City parade and meet new folks at Pride festivals in New York and San Francisco. For more about StoryCorps at Pride, see the StoryCorps Blog featuring photos of StoryCorps at the San Francisco Pride festival.

StoryCorps is proud that we have recorded hundreds of stories of LGBTQ Americans and preserved them at the Library of Congress. We've also broadcast a number of LGBTQ stories on NPR and featured them in our best-selling book, Listening Is an Act of Love.

As part of this year's Pride celebrations, we announced StoryCorps OutLoud, our upcoming project to record and preserve even more stories of LGBTQ communities throughout the United States. Visit www.storycorps.org/outloud to get involved!

Want to hear more? Check out Michael Levine's story of witnessing a pivotal moment in LGBTQ history below.

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"He was a human being; I knew we had that much in common." Mamie Todd (R) tells her daughter, Ann Todd Jealous (L), and grandson, Benjamin Todd Jealous, about demanding supplies from the white school superintendent while teaching at an all-black school in the 1930s. Benjamin Todd Jealous is President and CEO of the NAACP. Listen...	"The lights went up, the music went off, and you could hear a pin drop." Michael Levine (R), who witnessed the Stonewall Riots on June 27, 1969, speaks with his friend Matthew Merlin (L). Listen...
"He got off the motorcycle and proceeded to show us card tricks..." Magician Ricky Boone, who has a rare bone disorder, tells his friend Patti Barber about learning magic. Listen...	"The Betsy Ross story intrigued me." Bob Heft remembers designing the 50-star U.S. flag as a high school student in 1958. At the time there were only 48 states in the Union. Listen...

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In addition to our weekly broadcasts on NPR, StoryCorps stories are available as downloadable podcasts! Every month, listeners download over 111,000 podcasts. You can subscribe to the free StoryCorps podcast on the StoryCorps website and through iTunes.

The podcast showcases the stories of everyday Americans recorded in our booths across the country. Don't miss a single StoryCorps experience - subscribe today!

Podcast listeners from around the world speak up:

I Iook forward to a poignant, touching story every week on the podcast. Thanks for all the work!

-Tomoko Shibusawa, Providence, RI

StoryCorps is a wonderful idea and is doing great things, on a personal level for those recording their conversation, but also,
on an international level, through the website and the podcast, by reminding people around the world that Americans are just like people in any other country: they're men and women coping with difficult situations, bringing up their kids, trying to earn a living, looking out for one another, and hoping they're doing the right thing.

-Alistair Christie, Edinburgh, UK

I am an avid StoryCorps podcast listener. I am amazed by the emotional depth in even the simplest of interviews.

-Emma Cavan, Des Moines, IA

Get the free StoryCorps podcast here.

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Major funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

 

StoryCorps is also made possible by generous support from the Annenberg Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, Ford Foundation, the Kaplen Foundation, and Joe and Carol Reich.

StoryCorps gratefully acknowledges Maxell, the Official CD of StoryCorps.

StoryCorps' podcasts are supported by the Fetzer Institute as part of its Campaign for Love and Forgiveness.

StoryCorps partners with NPR and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

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Question of the Month

We have a feature on our website that helps you to start a new conversation with your friends, family, and loved ones by simply asking a question. Each month we suggest a question for you to email to your friends and family.

This month's question is:
When did you first
fall in love?

It's simple: Send an email. Ask a question. Listen to what comes back. We'd love to hear what happens!

We need your help to continue to record, preserve, and share incredible stories from people in your community and others throughout the nation.

For more information about making a tax-deductible contribution to StoryCorps, please feel free to contact me.

Upcoming stops

Now! – July 25, 2009 Rochester, NY July 30 – August 22, 2009 Erie, PA August 27 – Sept. 2, 2009 Montrose, CO August 27 – Sept. 19, 2009 Akron, OH Sept. 3 – Sept. 19, 2009 Paonia, CO Sept. 24 – Oct. 17, 2009 Colorado Springs, CO Sep. 24 – Oct. 17, 2009 Grand Rapids, MI Oct. 22 – Nov. 14, 2009 Norfolk, VA Oct. 22 – Nov. 14, 2009 Wichita, KS Nov. 19 – Dec. 19, 2009 Jacksonville, FL

Make a reservation for another interview at one of our MobileBooths above. Or consider a visit to our New York or San Francisco StoryBooths.

Join Us Online

Friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay updated on the latest StoryCorps news and events, and to post your own comments.

Talk Back!

As we all know, a conversation takes two—or more! So, let us know what you're thinking and what you'd like to hear about. Or, if you have an experience to share, please send it our way!

Visit the StoryCorps Alumni Community online at www.storycorps.org/alumni

StoryCorps Alumni Coordinator
646-723-7020 x77

StoryCorps
80 Hanson Place, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217

www.storycorps.org

Founded in 2003, StoryCorps is a non-profit oral history project
which has recorded conversations between 50,000 everyday Americans
and archived them at the Library of Congress.
Our mission is to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening.
www.storycorps.org