Story Collecting
Seeking out, listening to, and sharing someone else’s story is a precious and empowering responsibility. We believe that responsibility belongs to everyone, not just journalists.
Become a story ambassador
Stereotypes Divide us.
Stories connect us.
Our Story Collecting program gives Bostonians a reason to connect more deeply with neighbors they know and, more importantly, those they don’t know yet. Story by story, we’re building community- and creating a portrait of the people of Boston, by the people of Boston, along the way.
On being a story ambassador:
“You don’t need a Masters from Harvard. You don’t need to have a doctorate from anywhere. You just need to love your community.”
How it works
With coaching from Everyday Boston’s founder, Cara Solomon, a former newspaper reporter, story ambassadors go out into different neighborhoods in their free time and record the life experiences of people they find interesting. Those interviews are then edited and published in our multi-media story library.
Step 1
In a 2-hour group training, you’ll learn basic interviewing skills: active listening, framing effective questions, asking follow-up questions. (These are great life skills in general!) Then, in a community-building exercise, you’ll interview another person in the group about their life experiences.
Step 2
You choose: Of all the people living or working in Boston, who do you want to know better? It could be a neighbor on your street. It could be a stranger you see daily, and have always wondered about. Or you could trust us to pick someone interesting for you—a neighbor you haven’t yet met.
Step 3
We’ll go with you on the interview, transcribe the recording, and edit it down into a story. You’ll get to read a draft, and offer suggestions or raise concerns before we publish. It’s a precious responsibility to share someone else’s story with the wider world. We want to get it right.
Remote Story Collecting
During COVID-19
In the wake of the pandemic, we’ve pivoted to remote story collecting projects, with neighbors collecting each other’s stories through recorded Zoom conversations and phone calls. These projects are designed to ease social isolation and amplify critical voices during the pandemic. Anyone from Massachusetts is welcome to be involved.
Essential People Project
Zoom interviews with workers who keep our city running. These neighbors have always been “essential”; now they’re risking their health to support their neighbors.
How We Got Through Project
We’re connecting elders in the community with younger Bostonians for recorded phone conversations about their life experiences- and how they made it through tough times.
Kids Interviewing Activity Guide
We’ve released a DIY activity guide for young people, which teaches them how to interview the people in their homes.
Download the guide in English and in Spanish.
Who Are The Founding Story Ambassadors?
Everyday Boston began with four founding story ambassadors: George Powell, of Roxbury; Carmen Pola, of Mission Hill; Gabriela Follett, of Dorchester; and Kathy Whitehouse, of Charlestown.
Today the program is open to anyone who wants to connect with someone else in the city. No regular meetings required, just your curiosity, your desire to connect, and your willingness to learn.
Get involved
We welcome anyone who lives, works or grew up in the city to become a story ambassador. Story ambassadors are open-minded, curious people who are interested in others and believe in the power of stories to bring Bostonians together.