Creating Connections –
One Story at a Time
Listening for a Change promotes understanding and acceptance of human diversity through education, oral history, and the arts.
As our communities become increasingly diverse, it is imperative that we find meaningful ways to respect and understand the rich and complex cultures among us. Building connections. Fostering understanding. Working to dispel otherness. Developing oral histories and art projects based upon personal stories of community members is a catalyst for positive change.
Listening for a Change currently implements five dynamic programs. The Essence of Acceptance, Crosstown Conversations, and the Neighborhood Listening Project are for schools. Curriculum designed for elementary, secondary, and tertiary schools includes support materials, classroom modeling, and coaching. The Community Listening Project is for the community-at-large and the Inclusion and Connections program is for businesses and non-profits.
Embers of Awakening: From Firestorms to Climate Healing
Now accessible to all on YouTube for free.
Please watch and share!
Sixty mile an hour winds, tinder dry hills, firestorm tornadoes that melted cars while traveling the length of a football field every three seconds—in October 2017, Sonoma County lost 22 lives, 5200 structures, and awoke to the pain of climate change. Embers of Awakening blends the powerful personal stories of fire survivors with interviews from scientists and activists to inspire each viewer to take action.
Support our project and help heal our community and climate. To donate now, click here.
Connections. Compassion. Change.
Sonoma County Survivor Project
Our founding project shares the dramatic stories of Holocaust survivors, interned Japanese Americans, and Cambodian refugees living in Sonoma County. The exhibit documents their history and celebrates their resiliency amidst severe human rights deprivations.
Human Rights and Community Connections
History and Healing After the Fire
Justice and Equity Through Interviews
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Visit our touch-screen computer kiosks loaded with video stories of local residents.
Each interview is translated into Spanish or English. Interviews were conducted by students from multiple local schools. Oral history lessons, video camera recording, and editing by Listening for a Change. Through simple touch screen instructions, viewers are able to watch short videos of residents thereby beginning to know one another and creating a stronger, more inclusive community fabric.
The Cloverdale kiosk has been updated and is now located at the Windsor Library.
The Santa Rosa kiosk, currently at the Rohnert Park Library, has been uploaded with video interviews of community members.
