Experience
Since 2003 I have engaged in informal training and education on doing oral histories at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and through workshops at the Michigan Oral History Association and the Oral History Association. I founded a nonprofit in 2003 that gathered the stories of the African American community through creating family histories and conducting oral histories. Our archive includes over 30 videos and transcriptions. In 2006 I designed and acted as project director for a middle school oral history project that resulted in a published booklet. In 2010, I collaborated with the Western Michigan University Journalism Program in producing the Kalamazoo Community Race Story book. For that project I did community outreach to recruit narrators and trained college students in preparing for and conducting interviews and co-edited the resulting book. From 2013 through 2015, I collaborated with the Kalamazoo College English department to create the Engaging the Wisdom project. My role was to do outreach in the African American community, train students in preparing for, conducting interviews, and co-edit the resulting book.Currently, I conduct workshops and consult. I am a past member of the board of the Michigan Oral History Association and current member of the board of the Historical Society of Michigan.
Services
Project management, interview training, project development.
Regions Available for Work
Other Regions: Michigan - Kalamazoo|| Ann Arbor|| Detroit|| Chicago|| Texas - Dallas
Specialty
My focus has been on pursuing racial healing through oral history projects that foster intergenerational and interracial connections. Racism has a continuing effect on our lives. Learning the history of all sides involved or on-going events exposes the roots of the harm of racism. Connecting and forming community with the other enables alliances that can build a critical representative group to sort through the impacts of the harm and plan for a different future. Connecting young people and elders who share their stories is a powerful bridge-building technique that expands the thinking and awareness in youth and inspires a greater sense of self and self-worth among elders.
Purpose of Contact
- I am available to answer questions, or provide mentorship to other oral historians
- I am available for hire - as an oral historian, consultant, presenter, educator, or related services
