GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A national oral history project is taking its work on the road and made a stop in Green Bay.
StoryCorps.’ MobileBooth arrived at the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Brown County for a free public event Thursday.
The MobileBooth is a recording studio built inside a vintage Airstream trailer. It travels the country, recording people from all backgrounds having conversations about their experiences, shared passions, community history and more. The recordings are preserved in StoryCorps’ archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.
On Thursday, the organization recorded a conversation among Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, Oneida Nation Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Melinda Danforth and local artists Laura Schley and Kent Hutchison. The group talked about their work on the ADRC’s mural and parklet.
“We do this because we’re trying to have an archive that’s representative of the United States — everyday people and their stories,” said Franchesca Peña, site manager of the mobile tour. “When people record with us, they always get a copy of their recording, and if they choose to share it with us, we’ll archive it… and it gives you a snapshot of what people are thinking about.”
Green Bay is one of 11 tour stops this year and may also be considered for a statewide broadcast on Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) or nationally, on National Public Radio (NPR).
StoryCorps and WPR are inviting people across the region to sign up to record. Underrepresented and marginalized individuals and groups are highly encouraged to participate. The recording sessions are free, and participants receive a digital copy of their recording. Reservations can be made by calling StoryCorps’ 24-hour, toll-free reservation line at 800-850-4406 or by going online. Virtual appointments are also available.
