Welcome to “Stories from Deep in the Heart” – Texas Folklife’s acclaimed digital storytelling initiative. Our program empowers community members to craft and share audio stories that capture the rich folklore, arts, and traditions of their families and communities. Here’s a glimpse into the diverse facets of our program:
Educational Outreach
In collaboration with Texas school districts, we integrate the Stories program into educational settings. Our Summer Institute is specially designed for educators, offering them the opportunity to learn digital storytelling skills from experienced folklorists, journalists, and radio producers. We offer a variety of formats, including in-person, asynchronous, and virtual programs, to cater to different learning needs.
Community Engagement
Our commitment extends to forging strong partnerships with cultural institutions across Texas. The Stories program offers workshops in folklore, oral history, interviewing techniques, and podcast production. In partnership with these institutions, we identify regional fellows who produce stories that illuminate the unique cultures and traditions of their communities. The Community Folklife Series nurtures emerging folklorists from across the state, providing them with essential training and project support. Additionally, our crowdsourced initiative, Little Texas Stories, invites community members of all ages to contribute their interview recordings for feature and hosting on our website.
Media Reach
The reach of our Stories projects is extensive. They are disseminated via PRX and are often featured on public radio stations nationwide. The Texas Folklife Soundcloud hosts playlists for each workshop, ensuring easy accessibility. Additionally, these projects gain visibility on our website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms, engaging a broad and diverse audience.