2015 O Henry Middle School Finished Audio Pieces

Enjoy the completed audio documentaries from our Stories from Deep in the Heart program with O Henry Middle School. Stories include celebrity musician profiles, an insider's look at the formation of the ACL music festival, and many other stories about local Austin artists, businesses and O Henry Middle School legends.

Students from Patrick McNally’s 6^th grade Contemporary World Cultures Social Studies class worked with the Stories team to produce audio documentaries on a variety of communities in the Austin area. The stories were selected based on the students’ own community experiences, with guidance from Stories director Marcelo Teson and producers Brian Griffith, Carlos Salazar, and Sandra Olsen. Throughout the fall 2015 and beginning of spring 2016 semesters, student groups engaged in self-directed ethnographic interviews and research, which were then used as the basis of 3- to 5-minute public radio-style audio documentaries on the subjects of their choice.

The basis of the Stories in-school method is group partnership, where students partner with Texas Folklife audio producers with similar interests. Throughout the semester, producers work closely with students, incorporating their professional backgrounds in journalism, anthropology, media production, and folklore to help students frame and express their ideas. The expertise of producers and dedication of students means that Stories productions from Austin-area schools are often picked up for broadcast by public radio stations worldwide.

 “Stories from Deep in the Heart” is supported in part through grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art; the Shield-Ayres Foundation; the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and Department of Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs Grant for Technology Opportunities; and generous support from the Austin Independent School District and KUT News 90.5FM.

About Texas Folklife:
Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. For 30 years, Texas Folklife has honored cultural traditions passed down within communities, explored their importance in contemporary society, and celebrated them by providing accessible and joyful arts experiences.

www.texasfolklife.org 
1708 Houston St Austin, Texas 78756 
T (512) 441-9255 F (844) 386-2091

For more information, please contact Texas Folklife Programs & Development Director, Charlie Lockwoodclockwood@texasfolklife.org