¿Qué proyectos merecen más amplificación?
Cuéntenos de los increíbles proyectos de historia oral que promueven la justicia social para incluirlos en el MixTape 2.0.
Read MorePSN Reportback: Immigration Law for Oral Historians
Last month, Groundswell's Practitioner Support Network Working Group teamed up with colleagues Patrick O'Shea and Shiu-Ming Cheer from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) to offer a special PSN chat: Immigration Law for Oral Historians. Check out some key takeaways and listen to the full audio!
Read MoreInformación sobre MixTape 2.0 en Español
Groundswell: Oral History for Social Change (en español, “Groundswell: Historia Oral para el Cambio Social”) es una red de historiadores orales, activistas, trabajadores culturales, organizadores comunitarios y artistas documentales que usan la historia oral para fomentar el desarrollo de movimientos sociales y el cambio social transformador. Creemos que la historia oral puede ser una fuente de poder, conocimiento y fortaleza en nuestras luchas por la justicia. La historia oral provee un espacio único para que los más afectados por la injusticia podamos hablar y ser escuchados en nuestras propias voces. La misión de Groundswell es proveer apoyo mutuo, capacitación y recursos en la práctica de la historia oral aplicada y basada en la comunidad para forjar la creatividad y poder de los movimientos por la justicia social.
Read MoreFreedom Archives Hosts Premiere of New Documentary, "Symbols of Resistance"
On Saturday, August 12th 2017, the Freedom Archives hosted the Bay Area premiere of their new documentary “Symbols of Resistance” at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. Speaking to a capacity audience of 250 people, the film crew opened the event by discussing the Symbols of Resistance event, held in Colorado in 2014, which originally sparked the filmmaking process.
Read MoreJune 26 PSN Reportback: "Working for Change: Listening to Workers' Stories
The PSN centered around reflecting on lessons learned during the project “Summer for Respect: Organizing and Oral History” which was inspired by the anniversary of the Freedom Summer of 1964. Terrell was working with Columbia sociologist Adam Reich when Reich was approached by the UFCWabout working together on a project with student organizers and Walmart workers. Students were to conduct oral histories as part of their work as organizers in the field. Terrell led the oral history component and the union did the fieldwork training and organizing. Terrell started the PSN with a description of the project.
Read MoreGroundswell Core Working Group Statement re: Events in Charlottesville
As the Core Working Group for Groundswell: Oral History for Social Change, the recent events in Charlottesville are at the forefront of our minds and hearts. We mourn the deaths in Charlottesville as well as the structural and state violence that perpetuate racism and white supremacy. Though we know that racism, white supremacy, and hate groups have always existed in the United States, we recognize that this is a particular moment in which white supremacists feel emboldened to act...
Read MoreAugust 14 PSN: Immigration Law for Oral Historians
This PSN chat is designed to give oral historians an opportunity to address some of the concerns and challenges they face when working with vulnerable immigrant populations whose stories could reveal legally compromising information.
Read MoreSymbols of Resistance: An Intern at the Freedom Archives Highlights Her Experiences
The Freedom Archives contains over 12,000 hours of audio and videotapes, as well as thousands of paper materials, which date from the late-1960s to the mid-90s and chronicle the progressive history of the Bay Area, the United States, and international movements for justice. The archives contain in-depth oral interviews; reports on social and cultural topics; voices of organizers, activists and political prisoners; and pamphlets, journals and other materials from radical political organizations and social movements. These materials represent a commitment to anti-imperialism, human rights, and highlighting marginalized voices and organizations normally unheard or distorted in establishment media.
Read MoreAugust 4 PSN: Tweeting, Posting, Sharing: As activists and storytellers, how can we effectively and ethically engage with social issues on social media?
During this PSN, we will take a look at the most popular social media platforms–Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram- and how each provides different types of opportunities for storytellers and oral historians, but can also raise ethical questions about the sharing of information.
Read MoreWhat are the projects that don’t get enough play?!
Groundswell: Oral History for Social Change seeks your recommendations for Mixtape 2.0, an online resource that compiles projects that center oral history for social change.
Read MoreMay 31st PSN – What Are The Radical Roots of Your Oral History Practice?
On May 31st, a group of six joined PSN moderators Fernanda Espinosa and Amy Starecheski to share ideas about the radical roots of our oral history practices. The topic is part of a larger project on the radical roots of public history. Amy and Fernanda are working to collect projects with a radical perspective to include in a future publication.
Read MoreJune 26 PSN: Working for Change: Listening to Workers’ Stories
In this fractured time, how do we listen to workers’ stories? This PSN is a chance for workers, oral historians, activists, and anyone else who considers listening essential to advancing economic justice share ideas with one another about how we listen to workers and what we do with what we learn.
Read MoreMay 31 PSN: What are the roots of your radical oral history practice?
Oral history is not just something that historians do to create sources for archives. As part of a larger collective research project to document the radical roots of oral history and begin a process of decolonizing oral history practices, we invite you to join this video chat to share the roots of your radical oral history practice. What inspired you to do this work? How did you learn? Who are your oral history ancestors and mentors?
Read MoreMarch 25 PSN: Storytelling and Fundraising
This PSN explores the role of storytelling and listening for activists and organizers who are, want to be, or need to be involved in fundraising. The chat will examine the various roles narrative can play in working with individual donors, volunteers, boards, grants, and foundations -- as well as the ways utilizing storytelling might support, or perhaps undermine, the social justice work of our organizations.
Read MoreReportback: E-Security for Social Justice Oral Historians
On February 3, a group of us met via video chat to discuss "E-Security for Oral Historians in the Age of Trump." Here is a reportback from our conversation, and some resources we collected. Thanks to all who participated!
Read MoreFeb 3 PSN: E-Security for Oral Historians in the Age of Trump
As people using oral history for social justice, we often collaborate with and record the stories of people, such as undocumented immigrants or queer and trans people, who are particularly vulnerable to potential harm if their stories are shared in ways they did not consent to. And as activists, we may be targets of surveillance. What do social justice oral historians need to know about cyber security? Where do we draw the line between being paranoid and being naive? In this chat, we will share strategies and skills for managing electronic security for oral history projects.
Read MoreFeb 21 PSN: Oral History and Decolonization: Reclaiming Stories and Ancestral Wisdom
Indigenous-led movements like that to protect the water at Standing Rock highlight the power of ancestral wisdom in transformative change. As movement-oriented oral historians and practitioners, how can the process and practice of oral history help us root ourselves in the wisdom of our own traditions and ancestors?
Read MoreBuilding Movements with Oral History in 2017
Dear Groundswell Community,
We experienced a lot in 2016. A presidential election that shook this country to its core. Native American led organizing against environmental destruction and for Native sovereignty. Black led organizing against police brutality and anti-Blackness. Movements led by undocumented people against their exploitation and criminalization. Many personal and collective tragedies and triumphs. And everything in between.
As we approach 2017, may we be reminded of the power of people’s voices (and the documentation of these voices) in the building of strong, inclusive, liberatory social movements.
Read MoreNov and Dec PSNs Now Open!
Learning from our Elders: Interviewing Activists from Past Generations: November 17, 3-4:15 PM EST
Oral History, Art & Activism: A Radical Mix for Social Change: NEW DATE & TIME: December 2, 2016 3-4:15 PM EST
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Fall 2016 Practitioner Support Network Video Chats are Starting!
Fall PSNs start Oct 20 with a conversation about how to talk about money in an oral history interview.
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