Young African-American men speak up about what it’s like living in Oakland. For once the cover of a book does it justice. The Griots of Oakland: Voices from the African-American Oral History Project is a gorgeous volume, richly illustrated with dozens of photos of African-American males sharing their answers to questions from, “Are you going […]
This question is now being asked of Veterans in Madison, Wisconsin – and soon ten other locations around our country – through a program called, My Life My Story, an oral history project aimed at improving the healthcare of Veterans through the healing and transformative power of story. It is a project based on the […]
In a new and compelling report released by the Level Playing Field Institute out of Oakland, the answer to this question lies not in the tech industry itself, nor in the choices of our local youth. Rather, it resides in the all-important path between: the educational system that could – and should – provide that […]
May 4, 2015—ArtPlace America announced The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation today as one of 21 finalist organizations that have been selected from a pool of 261 applications to participate in the ArtPlace America Community Development Investments program. Six organizations will be chosen from the finalists in August 2015 to receive funds. The Jackson Medical Mall […]
We are over the moon and so very thankful to announce that Griots of Oakland has been selected for the In The Margins top 10 list. In the Margins is committed to promoting and highlighting diverse books and voices that have been in the margins. ITM strives to find the best books for teens living in poverty, […]
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, on MLK Day of Service, Americans nationwide gather to give back to their neighbors, to their community. Every year, on this day, people from every background unite with the common goal of finding […]
According to the University of Scranton’s Journal of Clinical Psychology, while nearly 50% of Americans set New Years Resolutions, only 8% of them actually achieve their goal. Why is this you ask? Because to set a goal is to set yourself up for failure. Let me explain… And I’ll do it with a focus on […]
One of the best ways to refuel and replenish is to change vantage points and engage the world from a different perspective. And so I write this from Jamaica; the home of my maternal ancestors. This is the refuel I needed to welcome in December, the last month of the year, before returning to short […]
What does it mean to be healthy? How do we take care of our health, and how do we contribute to the health of our communities? The #HealthistheNewBlack Campaign, a partnership between the Bay Area United Black Fund, Story For All, and Kaiser, uplifts the voices and images of a diverse range of people in […]
For the last several months, The Griots of Oakland exhibit has been housed at the Alameda County Office of Education headquarters in Hayward, CA. Day after day, educators, administrators, and many others have paused in the hallway to view the exhibit, watch the videos, peruse the book, and reconsider their perceptions of young African American men. […]
Greetings of IMANI (faith) Esteemed GOD (desses)S, May our Divine Mother-Father Creator of and in All – and Beloved Ancestors from yesteryear and yesterday – find you and (y)our extended family in healing Spirit. As Harriet Tubman, Health Conductor “#777,” I am so honored for being extended an invitation to participate in our “#HEALTHistheNEWBLACK” initiative, […]
What an amazing honor. A few weeks ago, I flew to Wisconsin to accept the Vox Populi Award, granted to Story For All for our design and implementation of the African American Oral History Project. This award is one of the highest honors in the oral history world. Vox Populi means “Voice of the People;” […]
Story For All’s latest book, The Griots of Oakland: Voices from the African American Oral History Project, has been nominated for the In the Margins Book Award. A national award, In the Margins strives to find the best books for teens living in poverty, on the streets, in custody – or a cycle of all […]
Today we honor the life, and death, of my husband’s grandfather. Father of five, war veteran, husband of 70+ years, this man offered so much to his family in every stage of his life. Now that he is gone, we all feel something is missing. Maybe this sounds familiar to you. Perhaps there is an […]
People have been telling stories for as long as we could make sounds and draw on cave walls. But it has not been until recently that the world of science has gotten interested in what makes stories special. Why do we tell them? How do they affect us? In his article The Science of Storytelling, Leo Widrich […]
