Oral History as Community Practice
By inviting interviewers and narrators to share in-person connections, oral history emphasizes intentional listening. At its best, the work fosters deep humility and empathy in interviewers, as it acknowledges and affirms narrators as experts on their lived experiences. In addition to cultivating these personal attributes, students will also work to develop the skills, knowledge, capacities, and moral sensitivities essential to addressing the social and economic inequalities facing vulnerable populations. Using an IRB approved template of questions and working in partnership with staff at Charter House Coalition, students will meet with and interview individuals experiencing food insecurity, housing insecurity, or both, who are willing to share their stories and exercise ownership of their own narratives. To prepare for doing this work, students will study oral history theory, ethics, and methodology; learn best practices for doing audio and video interviews; and examine examples of other socially engaged oral history programs. They will also familiarize themselves with the historical and current crises of house and food insecurity in Vermont and study public policy responses to these crises. 3 hrs. lect.