The City of Erie and WQLN Radio bring StoryCorps to Perry Square

The conversation of a lifetime…

from WQLN and PBS

StoryCorps, heard on NPR's Morning Edition, will be coming to Erie's Perry Square from July 30th through August 22nd. StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate another's life through listening. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have shared stories and life experiences with family, friends, and their community through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share, and a copy is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

The process is quite easy. Two people go into StoryCorps' mobile unit and sit down to interview each other for about 40 minutes. The interview is conversational and can be about anything you'd like.

Sometimes a grandparent and grandchild participate, or a married couple reminiscing their first date.

Community organizations are encouraged to become a Community Partners, by emailing east@storycorps.org. 3-5 interview slots will be reserved for you at this time. Between July 16th and July 31st anyone can reserve a spot to be interviewed by logging on to www.storycorps.net, visiting www.wqln.org, or calling 800-850-4406.

WQLN Radio, sponsor of StoryCorps will post interviews online, and finish taping if there are any who may not have a chance while StoryCorps is in town. WQLN will also post photos, and viewers will be able to listen to the interviews done by community members. If you are interested be sure to check out the StoryCorps website and sign up to interviews for this interesting experience.

Additional info from Michael Mahler

In addition to individuals being able to make appoints to share their stories, community organizations (like Erie Gay News) can get 3-5 slots to make sure that all aspects of the greater Erie community can be heard.

To clarify: This is not the director of some organization sitting down and being interviewed by a professional journalist. This is 2 people who have some sort of connection sitting down and talking. This is a chance to have our community be part of the conversations taking place and being recorded.

If you and someone are interested in getting a special slot reserved, please contact me ASAP at info@eriegaynews.com or (814) 456-9833!

Community organizations can get slots earlier than the general public, so I want to hear from folks soon.