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Blog: StoryCorps

From my perspective, one of the most gratifying associations for WMUK over the past few years has been our partnership with StoryCorps. I can’t begin to say enough about the friends that WMUK has made through hosting and participating in StoryCorps initiatives.

  In 2007, I was pleased that WMUK was able to host the StoryCorps Airstream trailer in Bronson Park. We engaged many segments of the community and involved a wide range of individuals in telling and playing some of the stories on our air.

In 2013, WMUK, along with WMU’s Office of Military and Veteran’s Affairs, hosted StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative, to record the stories of veterans and their family members. A few months earlier, StoryCorps founder, Dave Isay had invited me to participate in the national launch of the Military Voices Initiative at the Library of Congress. My wife Elly and I attended, and while there, recorded the story of our son, Matthew, and his service and sacrifice. Needless to say I felt a particular connection with this project.

This November WMUK will partner with the Resource Center to host StoryCorps OutLoud. This initiative, will record and preserve stories from members of our LGBTQ community. In January, edited and selected story segments by some of the participants will be played in public forums with commentary from those who recorded them. Look for details later this year.

As part of this project, WMUK will present Dave Isay in an overview of StoryCorps Initiatives, live at the Fetzer Center, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, free of charge. Since the first StoryCorps booth began to capture stories more than a dozen years ago, Dave Isay’s work has transformed the way that Americans share stories with one another. 

I am pleased that WMUK has been and continues to be involved with good friends and partners, like those we are working with the StoryCorpsOutLoud Initiative. We can all take pride that we live in a community where stories, like the ones recorded and archived by StoryCorps, are heard, preserved and valued.

Gordon Bolar was WMUK's General Manager from 2011 to 2016. He joined the station in 2006 as Development Director. After retiring as General Manager, Gordon has continued to review theater for WMUK.