Voice of Witness (VOW)
@voiceofwitness.org
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VOW is an oral history nonprofit that amplifies the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. We partner to document community voices, teach ethical storytelling, and develop educational resources. Website: voiceofwitness.org
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voiceofwitness.org
Hi! 👋 VOW is an oral history nonprofit illuminating human rights issues through community storytelling projects and an innovative education program.

We support folks with oral history and ethical storytelling practices through our trainings, resources, and partnerships.

Glad to be here with you.
voiceofwitness.org
The 23rd International Oral History Conference brought VOW to Kraków, Poland! 🇵🇱

Our very own Fanny García participated in the plenary about the complex challenges facing practitioners worldwide.

💡 Read Fanny's IOHA insights: voiceofwitness.org/ioha-2025

▶️ Watch the plenary now: bit.ly/ioha2025
Re-Thinking Oral History: Insights from IOHA 2025 - Voice of Witness
The 23rd International Oral History Conference brought Voice of Witness to Kraków, Poland!
voiceofwitness.org
voiceofwitness.org
In early August, VOW joined No Immigrants No Spice and our vibrant Bay Area community for BBQ Without Borders.

We hosted a Story Sharing table, inviting attendees to record & share their stories.

To hear some of the community stories shared that day, visit: bit.ly/VOW-BBQ
BBQ Without Borders: Celebrating Food, Community, and Immigrant Stories - Voice of Witness
This summer, VOW and our partner Gems Oral Histories hosted a Story Sharing table at BBQ Without Borders, inviting Bay Area community members to record and share their stories.
bit.ly
voiceofwitness.org
🔊 Community Voices Initiative is back! Applications are now open for Fall 2025 — apply by 9/28 to take a deep dive into the practice of oral history & ethical storytelling with VOW!

📅 Oct 7 - Nov 18, 2025
💻 Virtual
🚨 Only 20 spots available
📝 Details & application: bit.ly/CVI-fall25
voiceofwitness.org
This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina — a disaster of unprecedented scale in American history.

To commemorate this anniversary, we invite you to read VOICES FROM THE STORM, VOW's book that amplifies the voices of impacted New Orleanians.

📚 Order the book now: bit.ly/voicesfromthestorm
voiceofwitness.org
Join us in welcoming VOW's new board members!

After an extensive search process, we have 6 engaging, committed, and experienced professionals joining the VOW community: Lyndsie Bourgon, Giselle Chow, Vanessa Johnson, Louisa Morassutti, Sangeetha Rai & Tea Rozman

Learn more at bit.ly/VOWboard
voiceofwitness.org
We’re so excited to have kicked off VOW's new Ask An Oral Historian series with a sold-out first session! Don't miss the next open consultation hour in September:

📝 Narrative Editing
📅 Thurs, Sept 25 • 12pm PT / 3pm ET
🔗 Space is limited, so save your spot now: bit.ly/AAOH-2
Ask An Oral Historian: Narrative Editing
Open consultation hour with Fanny García, VOW's Editorial Program Manager and Oral Historian
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voiceofwitness.org
Meet Jonathan Menjivar—podcast producer, reporter & one of the inspiring mentors in VOW’s Storyteller Initiative. In a conversation with VOW intern Claire Reisberg, he discusses his career path, storytelling journey & transition from mentee to mentor.

💬 Check out the conversation at bit.ly/4or6IhN
“What's your story?”: Jonathan Menjivar on the Importance of Mentorship and Storytelling - Voice of Witness
In a conversation with VOW Intern Claire Reisberg, Jonathan Menjivar discusses his career path, storytelling journey, and transition from mentee to mentor.
voiceofwitness.org
voiceofwitness.org
📝 First up: Narrator Compensation

You'll learn when & how to weave compensation into your project (without breaking the bank!) and how to handle the nitty-gritty details like a pro. Bring your questions & curiosity and let’s learn together!

🔗 Spots are limited so save your spot now! bit.ly/AAOH-1
Ask An Oral Historian: Narrator Compensation
Open consultation hour with Fanny García, VOW's Editorial Program Manager and Oral Historian
bit.ly
voiceofwitness.org
We’re excited to launch Ask An Oral Historian—monthly consultation hours with Fanny García, VOW's Editorial Program Manager & Oral Historian!

Dive into the intricacies of oral history & learn alongside fellow storytellers in an intimate, small-group setting. 💡
voiceofwitness.org
We’re closing out our summer workshop series on 8/6!

Join us virtually for an intro to VOW’s oral history editing style, which combines journalistic integrity and a literary approach to honor narrators' voices and highlight complex issues through personal story.

🔗 Register: bit.ly/VOW-workshop3
VOW Workshop #3: Building Narrative Editing Skills
An introduction to VOW’s oral history narrative editing style that combines journalistic integrity and a literary approach.
bit.ly
voiceofwitness.org
We’re thrilled to share that our book, #BeginningAgain, has won a Silver Midwest Book Award! 🥈🏆 A heartfelt thank you to the Midwest Independent Publishers Association for this incredible honor.

📕 Haven’t read it yet? Grab your copy now at bit.ly/3IP9mh0!
Beginning Again
bit.ly
voiceofwitness.org
Still to come in the series:
📅 8/6: Building Narrative Editing Skill

💥 Special Bundle Offer: Register for both Workshops #2 and #3 by 7/14 and get 20% off grassroots and standard rates!
voiceofwitness.org
Our second summer workshop is just around the corner! 🌿

Join us on 7/23 for an intro to interview practices, focusing on the role of respect, reciprocity, curiosity, trauma-informed approaches, insider/outsider power dynamics, consent, and more.

🔗 Sign up now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop2
VOW Workshop #2: Exploring the Interview Process
An introduction to oral history interviews, trauma-informed approaches, and navigating common challenges.
bit.ly
voiceofwitness.org
The first session in our summer workshop series is TOMORROW 7/9! Join us for our skills-building workshop facilitated by VOW staff and Zaira Arvelo Alicea, a narrator from Mi María: Surviving the Storm, Voices from Puerto Rico.

It's not too late to register at bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
VOW Workshop #1: Narrator Experience & Storytelling Ethics
Intro to an ethics-driven oral history approach with a focus on centering the voices and experiences of narrators throughout the process.
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voiceofwitness.org
We recently led a comprehensive workshop on oral history planning and archiving for the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC). We're proud to support their work documenting Puerto Rican migration and identity in Chicago. 🇵🇷

🔗 Learn more at: bit.ly/VOW-NMPRAC
Preserving Puerto Rican Voices: Oral History Training with NMPRAC - Voice of Witness
Voice of Witness led an oral history project planning and archiving workshop for The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.
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The event will also feature a multimedia gallery and the debut of a printed zine sharing stories from Spanish- and Mam-speaking community members about their pandemic experiences. Thanks to @voiceofwitness.org for partnering with us to collect these powerful oral histories!
voiceofwitness.org
VOW's summer workshop series kicks off on 7/9! ✨

Join us virtually for an intro to our ethics-driven approach to oral history storytelling, with a focus on trauma-informed practices and centering the needs and experiences of narrators throughout the project.

🔗 Register now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
voiceofwitness.org
Not sure where to start? Read powerful refugee stories in VOW’s oral history project, #BeginningAgain — a collection of 12 narratives that traces the complex journeys of migration and resettlement in Appalachia.

📕 Order the book now at www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2229-b...
Beginning Again
www.haymarketbooks.org
voiceofwitness.org
This #WorldRefugeeDay, join us in uplifting and celebrating refugee storytellers. At a time when refugee and immigrant rights are under attack, their stories matter more than ever.
voiceofwitness.org
📝 Voice of Witness oral history resources and lesson plans provide students with opportunities to engage with diverse perspectives and cultivate understanding and belonging. Download here: voiceofwitness.org/resource-lib...

🗓 Bay Area – join us TODAY at the event at the West Berkeley Shellmound!
Oral History Resources — Voice of Witness
Voice of Witness creates oral history resources to support ethical storytelling, community-based oral history projects, and human rights education.
voiceofwitness.org
voiceofwitness.org
Today is the Teach Truth Day of Action! Students deserve to learn the truth about history & how to think critically so they can shape a more just future.

We're proud to be a co-sponsor of the #TeachTruth campaign w/ Zinn Education Project & more. Get involved:
Teach Truth Day of Action 2025
We invite educators, students, parents, and community members to host a mini-lesson, rally at a historic site, history walking tour, information table, or other event to defend the right to…
www.zinnedproject.org
voiceofwitness.org
The sessions will help you gain skills, reflect on best practices, and to document community voices. We'll explore the ethics of story-gathering and key processes.

➡️ 7/9: Narrator Experience & Storytelling Ethics

➡️ 7/23: Exploring the Interview Process

➡️ 8/6: Building Narrative Editing Skills
voiceofwitness.org
📢 Our summer workshop series is now open for registration! We're hosting three online oral history workshops for individuals and organizations interested in first-person storytelling.

🗓 Register soon to reserve your spot:

voiceofwitness.org/2025-worksho...

#OralHistory #Storytelling #Nonprofit
Summer Workshops: Oral History Storytelling Skills and Ethics
Sign up for VOW's online oral history workshops to learn about ethical storytelling and gathering first-person narratives.
voiceofwitness.org