October 22, 2009

Dear Storycorps Alumni,

Though it seems like just yesterday that StoryCorps opened its first StoryBooth in Grand Central Terminal, tomorrow, October 23, is StoryCorps' sixth birthday. Thanks to the dedication of our community partners, fans, and Alums, StoryCorps has accomplished so much in six short years.

StoryCorps keeps on growing. This month, StoryCorps has returned to Atlanta with a new StoryBooth. And we're encouraging everyone to share and record a meaningful conversation on our second annual National Day of Listening on November 27th.

Together, we're keeping the StoryCorps movement going strong!

Warmly,

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

Alumni Talk Back!
StoryCorps Atlanta
2009 National Day of Listening
Connections in Colorado
Listen to Stories

Alumni Talk Back!

We hear from our Alumni all the time about how special their StoryCorps interviews are to them. Here are some of the heartfelt notes we've received recently:

Having had the opportunity to record & preserve an interview with my Oma (Grandmother) 2 years ago means the world to me now that she is gone. One of the millions who came through Ellis Island with nothing more than a suitcase and a dream, or in her case her father's dream, she had a story to tell. Being there in the booth, recording her history with my sister, was so amazing and resonates inside me repeatedly. She lives on in my memories, in my heart and in her story...

-Melissa Thaisz, with her sister and grandmother, New Milford, CT

My daughter, Erika, and I had a great day together in Berlin, NH. While kids are growing up, time flies, and sometimes you don't get a chance to give them your history. It took me 50 years to understand my parents' history, but by making this recording and interview with Erika, she and her siblings understand me and my background much better. What a special project StoryCorps is!!

-Mark Messinger with his daughter, Erika, Manchester, NH

We thank these Alumni for sharing their stories! Please share yours! Email alumni@storycorps.org.

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StoryCorps Atlanta

We are thrilled to announce that this week, StoryCorps opened its newest StoryBooth in Atlanta, Georgia. We are ecstatic to be adding StoryCorps Atlanta as our southern hub to our existing StoryBooth locations in New York City and San Francisco!

Gloria (L), Madeliene, and Bennie (R),
three sisters who shared their story
during StoryCorps' visit to Atlanta in 2007

We are fortunate to be partnering with Atlanta's public radio station, WABE , which will host the StoryBooth within their studios. WABE previously hosted StoryCorps' MobileBooth in 2006, and StoryCorps Griot in 2007. "WABE is honored to be a part of the nation's most remarkable oral history project," said John Weatherford, WABE's Senior Vice President and General Manager. "We share StoryCorps' passion for sharing the powerful, meaningful, and inspirational stories of people from all cultures and walks of life."

During our first year in Atlanta, we will welcome approximately 1,500 new area Alums into the StoryCorps community. StoryCorps Atlanta staff (pictured below) will be partnering with local community organizations so all Atlantans will have the opportunity to record their stories.

StoryCorps Atlanta Team, left to right: Anthony Knight, Lola Ibitoye,
Lillie Love, Katrina Singh, Amanda Plumb.

To make a reservation to record another story with StoryCorps Atlanta, click here .

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Save the Date! 2009 National Day of Listening

StoryCorps invites Alumni to participate in this year's National Day of Listening on November 27, 2009. On this day, StoryCorps encourages all Americans to set aside one hour to record a conversation with a grandparent, an aunt, a neighbor, a veteran, or a client at a local soup kitchen and ask the big questions, such as, "How do you want to be remembered?" or, "What was the proudest moment of your life?"

National Day of Listening interviews can be conducted without spending any money, using recording equipment that is readily available in most homes - from cell phones and computers to tape recorders or even pen and paper. In addition, StoryCorps Alums can set aside time to listen to their StoryCorps CDs with friends and family.

Visit www.nationaldayoflistening.org to take the pledge to participate, to download a Do-It-Yourself Interview Guide, and to share your National Day of Listening experience.

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Connections in Colorado

by Laura Perry, Development Intern

As the StoryCorps MobileBooth travels around the country, StoryCorps Facilitators witness powerful connections between Alums. In Paonia, Colorado this fall, Facilitators were lucky enough to hear the story of two women who became friends as pen pals.

As StoryCorps Facilitator Sara Culver writes on the StoryCorps Blog , "When participants come into the StoryCorps Booth, they often tell the story of how they first met. It's not everyday, however, that participants meet one another for the first time at the MobileBooth!"

Marjorie (L) and Marylee (R)

Marjorie and Marylee quickly bonded over the similar approach to life their mothers had passed on to them, which Marjorie simply puts as: "If you know something good about someone, tell them so... I didn't truly realize until I was grown up the true beauty of that advice. It made me look for things to praise, and finding them made my world a better place."

Marjorie and Marylee's story reminds us of the ways our lives connect, and the importance of taking the time to celebrate our shared humanity.

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Listen to Stories

"She brought a glimmer of hope..."

Andrew DeVries remembers the impact that a hospitalist's support had on his recovery from a serious motorcycle accident.

Listen...

"I had a real extensive comic book collection."

Sharon Holley, a retired librarian, tells her husband, Kenneth, about preparing for her career at an early age. Holley operated Harambee Books and Crafts, a community black bookstore, for 29 years in Buffalo, NY.

Listen...

"I spotted this book that looked rather risqué..."

Judge Olly Neal tells his daughter, Karama, how he discovered African American author Frank Yerby while cutting class and hiding out in the school library.

Listen...

"It changed me from the moment my children came onto this earth."

Michael Cahn talks to his daughter Maya Leonard-Cahn about being a parent.

Listen...

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Sponsors and Partners

Major funding for StoryCorps is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

CPB

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

StoryCorps gratefully acknowledges Maxell, the Official CD of StoryCorps.

StoryCorps is proud to partner with NPR and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

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Check Your Mailbox

In the next couple of weeks, you'll be receiving a letter from us. We hope you will take a moment to read this letter and consider giving a gift to support StoryCorps this year. YOU are the StoryCorps community and we wouldn't be here without you! Thank you.

Question of the Month

We have a feature on our website that helps you 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:
What does your future hold?

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

For more information about making a 100% tax-deductible contribution to StoryCorps, please feel free to contact me.

2009 MobileBooth Dates

Upcoming stops

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 City, San Francisco, or Atlanta 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.

StoryCorps aims to have 6,000 Facebook fans before the National Day of Listening on November 27, 2009! Visit facebook.com/storycorps to become a fan of StoryCorps!

If you're already a fan, take a moment to spread the word to all of your Facebook friends!

Get Our Free Podcast!

Don't miss a single story! Download our free weekly podcast. It's a simple click of a button. Click here to find out how!

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 your story our way!

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

StoryCorps Alumni Coordinator
646-723-7020 x77

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

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.
storycorps.org