Story Corps Comes to APHA!
Have you ever wondered how your esteemed colleagues came to be environmental public health professionals? When you consider the many unique roles we each play, do you wonder how to begin explaining what it is that environmental public health professionals do? Can you point out stories that highlight how your career choices have enhanced your personal and professional life?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re in good company. Many of your peers have accomplished extraordinary gains for the field of environmental public health. Yet many struggle with telling their stories in ways that engage new talent, educate the public and really connect with decisionmakers. This year, APHA’s environmental public health staff is working with StoryCorps, an independent, non-profit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening. StoryCorps will be onsite at APHA’s Annual Meeting in Philadelphia in November to capture stories from our environmental public health community.
Over the next couple of months, APHA staff will be reaching out to many of you in environmental public health to participate in this effort. StoryCorps will help conduct “conversations” between two individuals – a primary interviewee and an interviewer. This is a great opportunity to sit down with a close colleague, mentor, student or friend and share your life experiences.
We are very excited to gather all your wonderful stories through such an esteemed program as StoryCorps. We are beginning to outline opportunities to use your stories to showcase all the great people and work that occurs within our field. We also look forward to working with the Environment Section members in the coming months.
To learn more about StoryCorps and listen to other stories, please visit the StoryCorps We bsite. StoryCorps staff will also provide a one-hour presentation on Sunday evening, Nov. 8 for those interested in learning more. Amanda Raziano is the APHA staff lead and contact for this project.