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Many great stories exist regarding the 710 Extension Freeway Fight and the Library wants to hear them, preserve them, and celebrate them. The South Pasadena Library is seeking stories that reflect the full spectrum of public or behind-the-scenes activities that opposed the 710 Freeway extension.
The Library hopes to gather stories about the 710 Extension fight and the shining legacy of community activism and engagement that grew out of that struggle. The Library wants to hear from long time residents and their families, newcomers, artists, community activists, nonprofit organization members, and civic leaders. Only 15 community members can sign up to participate.
Community members can sign up for the Library’s two-day workshop to digitally record their stories. Participants will learn the elements of great digital storytelling. They will also learn how to prepare a narration script, record their voiceovers, and digitize images.
The two-day workshop for signed-up participants only will be conducted by California Listens, a project sponsored by the California State Library and led by Berkeley-based StoryCenter. It will take place in the South Pasadena Library Community Room on Friday, June 29 and Saturday June 30 from 9 am to 5 p.m. on both days.
During the two-day workshop in the Library Community Room, each participant will create their own 2 to 4 minute video using their own personal and family images, videos, and archival materials.
The videos created will become part of a statewide archive of stories about various aspects of life in the Golden State. They will also, of course, be made available to the South Pasadena community.
It is necessary for participants to sign up and commit to attending on both days. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Spaces are very limited so interested individuals are asked to sign up as soon as they can by going to storycenter.org/southpasadena. For more information contact Steve Fjeldsted, sfjeldsted@southpasadenaca.gov or Joe Lambert, joe@storycenter.org.
“In the 21st Century, the library is becoming a place where the public expects to be able to not only check out stories, but to also check them in. Oral history, community journalism, digital storytelling, and other participatory media efforts have become a critical part of the engagement process for many libraries,” shared Joe Lambert, StoryCenter’s Founder and Executive Director and director of the California Listens project. “In working with local libraries, we have seen how hungry community members are for the opportunity to share the stories of their experiences, their causes, their struggles and triumphs.”
South Pasadena Library Director Steve Fjeldsted added. “South Pasadena has a wonderful history of community involvement, and a great collection of citizens, each with a unique story to share. This digital storytelling project is a chance for local folks to create a brief, lasting narrative for their family, their neighbors, and for their legacy as important parts of South Pasadena history.”
California Listens is being produced by StoryCenter with support from the California State Library and the Califa Group.
