Project
Benefits
Need
Objectives
History
Members |
What is the Saving Our
Stories project?
Saving Our Stories is a far-reaching statewide
effort with the goal of preserving family history. Individuals
of all ages are encouraged to record family stories, gather
documents and artifacts from their great grandparents and great
great grandparents, and prepare timelines that show the history
from generation to generation.
|
In 2003, the coalition sponsored Saving our Stories family History
Day, in cooperation with the State History Expo. Displays were
presented in the rotunda of the Capitol asking citizens to place
their ancestors on the Migration Timeline, a map of Illinois,
and a world map and to explore how their ancestors came to American
and to Illinois. Students throughout the state met at the Illinois
State Library to share their family histories and discuss their
stories. In 2004, the coalition sponsored a workshop for students
in the rotunda of the Capitol, as well as meetings with State
Leaders. In 2005 the State History fair will be held on May 5.
Regional history fairs will be held in the spring.
The Saving Our Stories project is offering two new
awards in Family and Multicultural
History and a one-time award on the impact of Brown
v. Board of Education in Illinois.
|
Top
What are the benefits of
preserving Family History?
• For youngsters, to learn about their roots and those of other
cultures;
• For educators, the opportunity to address learning standards
and to incorporate service into the curriculum;
• For veterans and older adults, a chance to articulate their
legacy and receive visits from young people eager to hear their stories;
• For literacy programs, a way to make reading interesting;
• For all Illinoisans, a way to bring the past to the present
and to save it for future generations.
Top
• Prevent the loss of history with the passing of our elders
Fact: Over 1500 American war veterans die every day and their stories
are lost forever.
"Every day precious heirlooms are dumped
out because someone passes away and nobody understands the value of
Grandmother's shoes, immigrant passage tickets, or old books."
Alex Haley.
• Curtail students' declining knowledge of history
Fact: Only 43% of 12th graders had a basic knowledge of history according
to 2001 tests.
• Foster multicultural understanding in schools, the workplace,
and the community
Fact: Many children and adults live in total isolation from other
cultures, their histories, and their family stories.
• Stimulate writing that is interesting, meaningful and
frequent,
Fact: The National Commission on Writing found that only one of four
students was ranked as proficient.
Top
• Promote oral history interviews with family elders and encourage
historical research.
• Increase public knowledge about and understanding of the diversity
of cultures in Illinois
• Foster multicultural and intergenerational connections between
students and adults of all ages
• Stimulate writing that is interesting, meaningful and frequent
• Prevent the loss of history with the passing of our elders
The coalition for Saving Our Stories met for the
first time on May 29, 2002 at the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Dan LaVista, Executive Director, IBHE, convened the group in cooperation
with Jean Wilkins, Director, Illinois State Library; Joseph Cipfl,
President and CEO, Illinois Community College Board; John Johnston,
Director, Veterans Affairs, and Margo Schreiber, Director, Illinois
Department on Aging.
The coalition has established one main goal: to champion
the recording and preserving of family, cultural and community history.
The coalition plans to do this through publicity, emphasizing it as
a way of meeting educational standards; through intergenerational
service learning; and by fostering writing skills among all ages.
American Family History Institute, Chicago Historical
Society, Chicago Metro History Education Center, Illinois State Historical
Library, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Illinois State Historical
Society, Illinois State Archives, Illinois Press Association, Illinois
Association of School Boards, Intergenerational Initiative: SIU Carbondale,
Illinois Coalition for Community Service, Illinois Department of Human
Services, Illinois Humanities Council, Illinois State Library, Secretary
of State's Office, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago,
Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents, Illinois Association
of School Boards, Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community
College Board, Illinois Education Association, Illinois State Board
of Education, Illinois PTA, North Central College, Illinois Department
on Aging, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, AARP, American
Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Top
|
