Upcoming Events
Storytelling in Practice: Films & Podcasts as Liberation
Virtual
Join us for a conversation with Kristal Sotomayor about the intersections of oral history, journalism, and filmmaking as acts of community and liberation. Kristal will share insights from their numerous films that touch on stories of immigration, queer identity, and community.
In this conversation, we’ll explore topics including:
- Filmmaking as an act of resistance and solidarity
- The production of “Expanding Sanctuary,” a film that amplifies the story of an immigrant mother (Linda Hernandez) who emerges as a community leader during the historic campaign to end the sharing of the Philadelphia police database with Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Current participation in VOW’s Storyteller Initiative and Kristal’s shift to podcasting to explore the rise of water privatization in communities in Pennsylvania through firsthand oral histories.
Storytelling in Practice: Collective Dreaming with Indigenous Communities
Virtual
Join us for a conversation with feini yin about using both oral history and visionary fiction to build community power. feini will share insights from their collaborations with Indigenous communities to conjure thriving futures for Wild Salmon.
In this conversation, we’ll explore topics including:
- Developing participatory interventions with and for Indigenous fishing communities
- Speculative fiction and dreaming as tools for envisioning collaborative co-existence with land, water, Salmon Peoples, and fish
- feini’s current participation in VOW’s Storyteller Initiative and creating “In Our Wildest Salmon Dreams,” a multimedia storytelling project showcasing oral histories and visionary fiction from Salmon Protectors and BIPOC activists working toward fisheries restoration and food sovereignty
Ask An Oral Historian: Year in Review
Virtual
Ask An Oral Historian consultation hours are your chance to dive into the intricacies of oral history and learn alongside fellow storytellers. Whether you’re wrestling with a current project or just curious about the craft, these monthly 60-minute working sessions are your space to grow and ask questions in an intimate, small-group setting.
In December, we’re reflecting on the year in oral history! It’s been a year of learning, challenges, and growth—and this session is your chance to process it all. Together, we’ll look back at the oral history landscape of 2025, discuss what worked (and what didn’t) in your projects, and explore emerging questions and trends that shaped our field. Whether you’re reflecting on a year of practice or just beginning your journey as an oral historian, you’ll walk away with clarity on lessons learned, fresh perspective on current conversations in the field, and momentum to carry into 2026 with renewed intention and confidence.
