UMass/NN Storytelling Project: Connecting Across Generations

Northampton Neighbors is once again partnering with public health students at UMass on a storytelling project.

The project focuses on building relationships between Northampton Neighbor members upper-level undergraduate class entitled The Epidemic of Loneliness:On Connection, Belonging, and Public Health taught by Professor Gloria DiFulvio PhD, MPH. 

Throughout the course, students will learn about different ways to build
connections, including through storytelling. Participating NN members can expect to commit a minimum  of 8 hours of time, mostly on Zoom, between February and early May. See below for the Project Schedule.

Hear StoryShares here.

Sign up by February 15, 2024
Email info@northamptonneighors.org by February 15th to sign up for the class. Include your name, phone number, and something about your background or interests that will help us make a match. The first 26 people will be matched with a student this semester, and we’ll keep a list for future classes.
Professor Gloria DiFulvio PhD, MPH, will confirm all participants by February 22, 2024.

UMass/NN Storytelling Project Introduction
We strongly suggest that you attend the Zoom meeting hosted by Gloria DiFulvio to learn more about the project.

Tuesday, February  20th at 6:00 pm 
Zoom Meeting Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/97039016157

The Project Schedule
On Tuesday, February 27, participating NN members will join the class via Zoom, 4:00 pm-5:15 pm.

You will:
Receive an overview of the class and project;
Hear directly from some students;
Meet your student partner and begin your journey together! 
You’ll have an initial conversation with your student partner, and establish a timeline together for future meetings. 

At 4 pm on Thursday, February 29th, we are asking that students and volunteers reserve time for their first “meet-up” (live or on zoom). As you get to know each other, you’ll decide on the topics you’d like to discuss during a culminating interview.
 
On Tuesday, March 12 (4-5:15 pm) and Tuesday, April 30th  (4pm-5:15pm), volunteers are invited to discuss Dr. Vivek Murthy’s book: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. In this book, Dr. Murthy talks about the crisis in public health spurred by disconnections and displacement of people around the globe. His book sparked the idea for the class and the project. Book discussions will happen via Zoom, with volunteers and students placed in small groups for ongoing conversations.

In mid-April, your student partner will interview you, which will be recorded using theStoryCorps format (click here for examples).

You’ll receive your recording by May 1 and you can decide if you would like to share your story more widely. 

Finally, on Tuesday, May 7th, from 4 pm-5:15 pm there will be a celebration at the end of the class when volunteers and students will come together (again, likely via Zoom). We’ll have time to share some stories and discuss the process together.