Alabama State University News October 28, 2010 WVAS-FM to Host 'StoryCorps Griot' By Timothy C. Ervin ASU's WVAS 90.7 FM will serve as Alabama's host for StoryCorps Griot, an exciting project that collects the oral histories of African-Americans throughout the nation. WVAS-FM 90.7, "The Voice of Alabama State University," will serve as Alabama's host for "StoryCorps Griot," a revolutionary project that is traveling the country with a mobile recording studio to capture the voices and life experiences of African-American families. The community is encouraged to participate in the program, which will visit the ASU campus on November. "'StoryCorps Griot' offers African-Americans a chance to record their personal stories and to become part of American history," said Candy Capel, WVAS-FM station manager. "The idea behind the project is simple: everyone has an important and interesting story to tell. Using the stories of everyday African-Americans, 'StoryCorps Griot' is creating an oral history of the United States." Since 2003, "StoryCorps Griot" has collected and archived more than 30,000 interviews from more than 60,000 participants. In the mobile booth, people participate in pairs - often with friends or loved ones - and one interviews the other. A trained facilitator is present to help guide the participants through the interview process and to handle the technical aspects of the recording. The recording process lasts approximately 40 minutes and upon completion of the session, participants will receive the entire conversation on a broadcast-quality CD. Each conversation also is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. "StoryCorps Griot" is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to the broadcasts on public radio and the web. For more information, contact Jackie Amis, coordinator of Community and Public Affairs, at 334-229-4708 or e-mail: jkamis@alasu.edu<mailto:jkamis@alasu.edu>, or visit the "StoryCorps Griot" website<http://storycorps.org/>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.