Whether your family is biological or chosen, every family has stories. Those stories help us know who we are, why things happen, and offer a glimpse into the past and a vision of the future. This workshop will explore how to collect family stories from living relatives. We’ll use crafted question lists, listening, and other techniques to encourage story sharing, and then talk about how those stories can be preserved for others and shared. This is a highly participatory workshop, so expect to practice, laugh, and ask questions. Class includes live event, recording, and handouts.
We will:
- Discuss how, when, and why to interview family members
- Practice interview and listening skills
- Explore the ethical issues that may arise
- Go through a step-by-step process to capture, process, and retell family stories
- And more.
This class will be live on Zoom. If you can’t make the live workshop, an edited, recorded version will be available.
Laura Packer is an award winning storyteller and folklorist. She has conducted numerous oral histories in families, corporations, and more.