OurStoryBridge – Share Your Voting Story with Us!

We are asking the public to share short stories about their relationship with democracy in a recording studio set up in the Center’s library. The RHJC is proud of its long tradition of recording oral histories, this represents the first time we are collecting stories from the public at-large. To schedule a time to record your story during the exhibit’s residency, contact a staff member at 716-483-6646, info@roberthjackson.org, or book online.

Recordings must be under 6 minutes due to project limitations. Here are the categories and prompts to help you identify and refine your story:

Democracy & History Tell us about “democracy,” for example what does “democracy” mean to you; how do you think our current political processes impact democracy and is there something you would change; whether and how the American experiment with democracy has been successful; and/or other thoughts on democracy and history.

Citizenship Tell us about citizenship, for example, what being a U.S. citizen mean to you; how you think ideas surrounding citizenship have changed in your lifetime; how you interpret the rights and responsibilities of a U.S. citizen; and/or other thoughts on citizenship.

Voting Tell us about voting, for example, why you vote or don’t vote; do you vote in both local and national elections and if not, why; do you think our current voting system provides full access to the democratic process for all American citizens; how do you think our current voting system might be improved; and/or other thoughts on voting.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Tell us about diversity, equity, and inclusion, for example, what do you think diversity means for our nation; how do you think conversations about diversity can benefit our community; how have discussions about diversity impacted your life or changed the way you think about American democracy; and/or other thoughts on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Civil Rights/Activism 1. Tell us about civil rights, for example, what does the term civil rights mean to you; do you think that there are still civil rights that need to be fought for in America today; and/or other thoughts on civil rights. 2. Tell us about activism, for example, how would you define activism; have you ever been an activist; describe your activist experiences and the impact they have had; what activists do you admire and why; how have you reached out to elected officials to make your voice heard; and/or other thoughts on activism.

Power of the Press Tell us about the power of the press, for example, how do you think the press (newspapers, social media, websites, radio, television, etc.) influences American democracy; how have the ways you’ve consumed news media changed throughout your life; is it important to protect a free press and if so, how can we do it; and/or other thoughts on the power of the press.