StoryCorps project shares lives

A nationwide project to record and document individual American stories visited Casa de Esperanza on Jan. 12.

Three participants from their Adult Day Health Care Center and three residents from La Posada recorded some of their most poignant memories.

In partnership with National Public Radio and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, StoryCorps is an independent, nonprofit initiative.

Created by award-winning documentary producer Dave Isay, StoryCorps is the largest multi-year oral history project ever undertaken. Since 2003, the project has traveled to all 50 states and recorded more than 23,000 individual stories; in 2006,

StoryCorps launched the Memory Loss Initiative to support and encourage people with memory loss to share their stories.

“Looking a loved one in the eyes and asking about his or her life is one of the greatest gifts we can give one another. The simple act of listening tells them how much they matter, and documenting that conversation for posterity tells them that they won’t be forgotten,” Isay said.

Participating in the Jan. 12 on-site recording were Green Valley residents Mike and Judy Meagher.

Mike, 71, has short-term memory loss and attends Casa’s Adult Day Health Care program.

Judy asked him questions so their children, grandchildren and future generations can have their voices and Mike’s responses for posterity.

“I asked Mike what he likes about our life here, how we met at Yellowstone. It was a very good experience,” Judy said.

In addition to everlasting photographs and family mementos, the Meaghers recorded voices will give family members a legacy unlike any other.

Headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y., mobile facilitator Chaela Herridge-Meyer said participants leave with a CD of their 40-minute interview.

Upon signing a release, a second copy is archived and is publicly accessible at the Library of Congress within about four months.

Some individual stories are edited down to two or three minutes and are broadcast weekly on NPR’s “Morning Edition.”

To allow others to participate, a mobile StoryCorps recording trailer was at the main branch of the Pima County Public Library in Tucson from Dec. 22 through Jan. 16.

Herridge-Meyer said they have been totally booked. Recording was open to anyone over age 8.

Appreciative of Casa de Esperanza’s involvement, Community Center Director Ellen March said, “This has been a tremendous opportunity for some of the amazing memories of our participants to be recorded for posterity. We who are fortunate enough to know these people personally benefit daily from their life stories. This recording day will allow others to share in these precious memories.”

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.