I am a high school student. I started Housing Our Stories, an oral public history initiative, combining history and housing.
My connection to housing issues began when I was 5 years old, volunteering with my family at shelters for the unhoused. These experiences influenced my belief that housing is a human right.
I am also a student of history.
This has taught me that true history must include all voices. This is why I am recording these voices for posterity.
I am still learning how to conduct oral history interviews, thank you for your patience.
In Housing Our Stories, I use public history to highlight voices often ignored in housing discussions.
Public history includes sharing history outside of the traditional means through oral histories, museums, and films.
By collecting oral public histories, I uncover personal experiences that aren't widely known and I think about issues like:
Housing Our Stories partners with social impact housing non-profits to enhance advocacy and public awareness through oral histories through Youth Advocacy Through Storytelling.
For the first installment of Housing Our Stories, I was privileged to interview residents of an affordable housing complex in D.C. I'm grateful for their permission to share their stories and to Ms. Carol, the council president, for her support.
For Part 2 of Housing Our Stories, I had the privilege of speaking with residents of La Casa Transitional Rehabilitation Program. La Casa helps men experiencing homelessness achieve self-sufficiency. I'm grateful they shared their histories and appreciative of Ms. McCraney, the program director, for her support.
For Part 3 of Housing Our Stories, I had the privilege of speaking with DC residents who received housing through the Inclusionary Zoning Program. I am grateful they shared their histories and to Lydia House for their support.
For Part 4 of Housing Our Stories, as part of Youth Advocacy for Storytelling, I had the privilege of speaking with DC residents who received mini-grants through the birdSEED Foundation's Housing Justice Program. I am grateful they shared their histories and to Director Leslie Case for her support.
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