LITERATURE + LECTURES

Discovery Green and StoryCorps present StoryCorps Historias. Maconda’s Grove.

 StoryCorps Historias is an initiative to record the diverse stories and life experiences of Latinos in the United States. Sharing these stories celebrates our history, honors our heritage, and captures the true spirit of our community. When you record your story, you’ll have a meaningful experience captured on CD to share with your friends, family, and community, and with your permission, archived at the Library of Congress.

Historias, which means ‘story’ in Spanish, will capture and celebrate the diversity of Latinos and their culture. The interviews are informal conversations between family members or close friends who share their life experiences and stories with one another.

“Since StoryCorps first started its work in 2003, the aim has been to create a growing portrait of who we are as a nation. At 50+ million strong, Hispanics represent 15 percent of the U.S. population and are the fastest-growing segment, which is why it is so important that we record and preserve their stories,” says StoryCorps Founder and President Dave Isay.

StoryCorps Historias is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). “StoryCorps underscores that everyone has a story and each story counts,” said Pat Harrison, President and CEO of CPB. “It is one of the most innovative and authentic initiatives made possible by public service media and CPB is very proud to fund Historias.”

To ensure that Latino voices are made accessible to future generations, Historias interviews will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Selected interviews will air on Latino USA, an English-language news program broadcast in 31 states, NPR’s Morning Edition and public radio programs across the country.

Community partners involved in this national initiative include the Latino Public Radio Consortium, Latino USA and the U.S. Latino and Latina World War II Oral History Project. StoryCorps also wishes to thank Bill Lynch Associates, LLC, for their assistance with StoryCorps Historias.

During the first year of Historias, StoryCorps will visit cities across the nation, partnering with local radio stations, cultural institutions and community-based organizations to collect nearly 1,000 stories throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Make a reservation to record your story by calling make a reservation beginning November 5, 2009 at 10 a.m. by calling 1-800-850-4406, or at StoryCorpsHistorias.org.

StoryCorps Historias visit to Discovery Green is sponsored by KUHF Radio, Univision 45 and Hilton Americas. Special thanks to our media sponsors KPRC Channel 2, the Houston Chronicle, Comcast, Univision 45, Hot 95.7, and KUHF Public Radio.