We all share the story of us. We all have something to contribute. Sustaining us starts with knowing us.
— Office of Sustainability, College of Charleston
Have a story to tell? If so, the College’s Office of Sustainability is looking for you.
In preparation for Sustainability Week in April, the College’s sustainability office is recording personal narratives from members of the College community, asking them to recall a meaningful memory that occurred on campus.
Nicole Fernandez
It might be the day you met your best friend, joined Greek Life, took an incredible class, overcame challenges to find yourself, or discovered what you truly believed in… if it was important in your life and happened at the College then the Office of Sustainability wants to know every detail. The collected recordings will be posted online and shared through an exhibition in the Addlestone Library Rotunda during the College’s fifth annual Sustainability Week, which occurs April 4 to April 9, 2016.
“There is a great sense of empowerment and connection that comes with being able to tell our stories, and also listen to the stories of members from our community,” says senior Nicole Fernandez, an Office of Sustainability intern and Center for Civic Engagement Fellow. “Understanding that a place is comprised of more than just pretty buildings and historic sites is important because it’s the people who live and coexist in that place that add or remove value. These stories help connect us to each other in that strong sense of place, and therefore provide as a foundation for the future of this campus and the city in which it lies.”
The project was inspired by StoryCorps, a nonprofit that has recorded 60,000 stories told by more than 100,000 people. The oral history project aims to not only document and preserve personal experiences, but to foster listening and a sense of shared humanity.
Ashlyn Hochschild ’11
To share your campus story, please visit the Office of Sustainability at 284-A King Street from Feb. 8 to March 3, 2016, during the following times:
- Monday 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Tuesday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
You can also learn more about the project from Facebook.
And to set up an appointment outside of those times, please contact Ashlyn Hochschild ’11 in the Office of Sustainability. As Hochschild says:
“Everyone has something to contribute to this story of us. So many voices are never heard or valued; I’m really excited to provide a platform for the campus to share their story of an experience at the College. Individual stories are almost like puzzle pieces being fit together to form a greater idea of not only what the community is, but what it means to be a part of that community. It’s only through understanding our community (and everyone’s voice) that we can begin to work toward sustaining it.”
