​​​StoryCorps
​One Small Step

​December​ 7, 8, 9

2018

Baltimore


Brought to you ​in partnership with

​Story Detective

​Funded by the Johns Hopkins Idea Lab

​Events

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    Stoop Storytelling: Thursday, Oct 25, 2018, Getting it Wrong: Stories about Mix-ups, Mistakes, and Misunderstandings.  (Completed and awesome! Thanks to Stoop and seven amazing storytellers, and many volunteers.)
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    StoryCorps:  December Fri 7, Sat 8, Sun 9, 2018.  One Small Step recorded interviews.​
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    Story Detective: An online workshop where "Aha!" happens. Coming soon... ​

I want to participate in a recorded conversation with StoryCorps


The Challenge

Communicating well even when we disagree

​In 2018, Johns Hopkins University challenged its staff, students, and faculty to propose ideas to help people better communicate across differences.  As you know, this can be a big challenge at work and at home, but I've ​seen my students connect across differences. I wanted to bring some of the ideas and tools that have worked in the classroom to the wider community, and experiment with new ideas. I ​submitted a proposal (or 5) and was thrilled when the ​grant committee at the Johns Hopkins Idea Lab decided to fund my proposal to use stories to bridge differences. ​

Why Stories?

​​Imagine sharing stories at the kitchen table, around a camp fire, or on your front steps. Imagine an idealized village square where neighbors gather to shop, visit, and talk about the news of the day. Despite their differences in opinion, religion, race, and national origin they still treat each other like neighbors. Why? They know each other’s stories.


Of course, it​ doesn't always work like that in our real ​neighborhoods and cities. As I reviewed research for this project, I was reminded that stories can connect us, but they can also​ divide us. My goal is to ​harness the power of stories for good to connect us​ ​through two events and one workshop.

​I want to Know More!

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​Partners

My dream partners in this endeavor are the Baltimore based Stoop Storytelling​ and the national non-profit StoryCorps - two organizations who exemplify using stories to bring people together. ​

Stoop Storytelling

Laura Wexler and Jessica Myles Henkin, the founders of Stoop Storytelling, bring the village square to life in Baltimore through their Stoop events. They choose a theme for their events and then local folks share their stories that relate to that theme. And it works! If you’ve ever gone to a Stoop event, you know there is nothing like hearing your neighbors’ stories to open your mind and help you feel more neighborly and connected. They also have a podcast. We ​were partners in presenting the Thursday, Oct 25, 2018 Stoop Show Getting it Wrong: Stories about Mix-ups, Mistakes, and Misunderstandings

StoryCorps

StoryCorps takes a different approach to sharing stories. They bring friends and family together in pairs and record them as they interview each other. They are geniuses at helping people get to know their loved ones even better as they share their stories.

​​​We are asking people with different political views to record a StoryCorps interview with each other. Why? To break down boundaries created by politics and remember our shared humanity. To remind us that we have more in common than divides us and that treating those with whom we disagree with decency and respect is essential to a functioning democracy."


​StoryCorps​​​​

​One Small Step

For this project, I imagined using the know-how from StoryCorps to bring people together who disagreed, who perceived themselves as different from each other, and who might not know each other. I didn't know how I would sell this idea to StoryCorps. But it turns out that we were already on the same page. StoryCorps started a program this September (2018) called One Small Step. They are bringing people together who have political differences - friends, family, or strangers - to interview each other. We joined forces and they are coming to Baltimore this December 7-9, 2018. We are the last stop on their eight city tour.

StoryCorps: Audio from a Recent Interview


I want to participate in a

recorded conversation

with StoryCorps


​​Story Detective- Where Aha! Happens

In our upcoming Story Detective workshop, we start by investigating the darker side of stories. The stories we make up about ourselves and others can fool us and limit us. ​When we make up stories, especially about people who are different and distant from us, our stories tend to be simplistic, inaccurate, and often negative.


How can we crack the case and find the true(r) stories? We can find some clues in the ways our brains work. We use those clues to investigate our own heads, and to learn from other people by… listening to their stories.

lightbulb-o

A Simple way to Increase understanding

​​​Just ask... open-ended questions.

Join Us! 

Please sign up to ​participate in a recorded conversation with StoryCorps, and sign up to learn when Story Detective launches. Meanwhile, ask your neighbors some open-ended questions and open up those ears. Perhaps you and everyone you know is vaster than you currently imagine.

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I want to Know When Story Detective Launches!


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Copyright 2018, Story Detective