StoryCorps comes to OKC for recording experiences
Sojourners, survivors and those who just want to tell their own stories have an opportunity to share their lives with generations to come.
StoryCorps, a national nonprofit that started in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal in 2003, has brought its mobile recording booth to Oklahoma City, where Sooners may talk about their experiences, which will be recorded, then archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
The little studio, tucked into an Airstream trailer parked at NW 10 and Hudson Avenue, opened Thursday and will be available for storytellers through March 9.
“We want to record stories that might not end up in the history books,” said Morgan Feigal-Stickles, site manager for StoryCorps.
From couples and coworkers to grandparents and their grandchildren, StoryCorps has recorded thousands of Americans from all 50 states.
“There are a lot of themes that come up, but at the end of the day, it’s all about these people coming together,” Feigal-Stickles said.
StoryCorps is partnering with KOSU and Pop Up Park to record, preserve, and share the Oklahoma City stories.
In a culture deeply divided by politics, the StoryCorps project is a way for Americans to see how much they have in common, said Kelly Burley, station director for KOSU.
“It helps create a sense of place for what a community is,” Burley said. “It furthers the narrative for what Oklahoma City is. These voices are more important than ever as we move forward. Listening is love. It really is an opportunity to listen to other people and foster understanding.”
To schedule a storytelling session, visit storycorps.org.