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You may remember earlier this year when we launched our new, exciting initiative–StoryCorps OutLoud. We continued the OutLoud celebration at our StoryBooth location in Chicago!
The night was all about celebrating the LGBTQ communities in the Windy City with 150 guests gathering at Marwen–a beautiful community arts space in the heart of the city. Our host for the evening, La Tony, had the crowd in stitches all night as everyone got into the OutLoud spirit with powerful stories, performances, beats by DJ All The Way Kay, and, of course, great people.
All event photography credit goes to ALISSA PAGELS PHOTOGRAPHY.
We saw so many familiar faces from past participants, partners and supporters from all over the Chicago area–including Lambda Legal, Trans Oral History Project, and Affinity Community Services, just to name a few–and were happy to welcome some new friends to the party too!
From an incredible performance by LGBTQ youth performance group YEPP (Youth Empowerment Performance Project) to a fierce show by the Chicago drag queen Saya Naomi capping off the evening, the event was nothing short of awesome.
As our very own Shirley Alfaro (StoryCorps in Chicago's Regional Manager) put it during the event, "StoryCorps is here for the community." We cannot wait to hear the many voices of the Chicago LGBTQ communities as they record their stories with us–StoryCorps OutLoud in Chicago has begun!
Huge thanks to all the performers, YEPP, Saya Naomi, La Tony, All The Way Kay, StoryCorps in Chicago staff: Anne Ford, Adriana Cargill, Shirley Alfaro, Alicia Williams, Andre Perez, Gautam Srikishan, and Katie Klocksin; and finally, Andrew Wallace, OutLoud Manager, for making the night such a success!
PLUS check out all the fun photobooth shots from the event, thanks to GlitterGuts!]]>
Okay, we're going to just say it. StoryCorps loves libraries–a lot.
Why do we love them so? Well, for many reasons. Namely, we recognize the important role they play in communities across the country. Through our partnerships with IMLS and ALA, libraries nationwide have contributed countless interviews to the StoryCorps Archive because of their unique position in local communities. In return, through our Community Archive program, StoryCorps is committed to providing copies of interviews to various groups, organizations and repositories that can make the interviews accessible to the public.
It was in this spirit that a year ago, we announced a major Community Archive partnership with the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
The Schomburg houses one of the country's most significant collections of materials–ranging from books to photographs to manuscripts–related to African-American and African Diasporic experiences. From outreach efforts, during our Griot Initiative, and preceding the rollout of OutLoud, StoryCorps collected a significant number of interviews with LGBTQ people of color. These stories will be placed in the In the Life Archive at the Schomburg, a project "created to aid in the preservation of cultural materials produced by and about SGL [Same Gender Loving]/LGBT black people." We are proud to work alongside the Schomburg to preserve voices from a population often underrepresented in mainstream dialogue, popular culture and histories of both the African-American and the LGBTQ communities.
Under the leadership of the Steven Fullwood (Assistant Curator of the Schomburg's Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division), Natiba Guy-Clement (Librarian, Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division), Shawn(ta) Smith (former StoryCorps archive coordinator), and Tamara Thompson (current StoryCorps Archivist), we have transferred 243 interviews to Schomburg with black or African-American participants who identify as LGBTQ. The collection is dedicated to Diana Lachatenere (former curator of the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division) who was instrumental in securing the library's support for the collection just prior to her retirement after 33 years of service.
"We see the archive as the beginning of a fruitful relationship with StoryCorps to continue to help broaden public discourse about black LGBTQ life and culture through varied demographics of class, culture, age and educational background, to name a few," Fullwood says. "Our focus is to develop programming featuring the StoryCorps archive as a centerpiece to inform and inspire future conversations at the center, as well as with StoryCorps."
The interviews come from all across the country, and describe a broad range of experiences. To get a small glimpse into the collection, read some stories from this amazing partnership:
As we collect more stories through StoryCorps OutLoud, we will continue to contribute interviews to the Schomburg. The collection will soon be open to researchers, and we are aiming to co-host a program with the Schomburg this October for New York Archives Week.]]>
StoryCorps has been visiting the Pacific Northwest this summer for a project called "Finding Our Way." In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle University, and local homeless services providers, this project will record important conversations surrounding family homelessness.
On our first trip, we visited Catholic Community Services, based in Washington's Pierce County, and recorded stories with mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters as well as staff and volunteers.
We Are StoryCorps welcomes our guest writer of the week, Michelle Bova. Michelle works in our Custom Services department and has a firsthand view of how this amazing project has taken shape.
Finding Our Way in Seattle, WA
It's hard for any of us to take the time to stop and reflect. It's harder still to find that time if you're struggling to keep your family safe. When we arrived at the CCS Family Center in Tacoma, Washington, we hoped that families who had been through such struggles would find value in taking time to share their stories with us.
The stories we heard were at times painful, and at others uplifting, but always moving and sincere.
One participant told us about when she left her home–and an abusive relationship–with just $4. Another told us about how his faith helped him through an extended period of living in his car.
We heard from parents who discussed what kept their families strong, even through periods when they couldn't provide a home for their children. "A participant came with his wife and daughter. As a family, they laughed and cried together," said Luis Gallo, who facilitated the interviews alongside Anna Berlanga.
Tanya Mettlen, a CCS employee who conducted a number of the interviews with the members of the community they serve, remarked on the pride the women felt in their accomplishments, especially those who have successfully gotten their own apartments for themselves and their families. "They are still going through it, they're not done," said Mettlen.
Fully inspired by these inspirational individuals and their stories, we are excited to return to Western Washington in late July and August to record more interviews at YWCA locations in Lynnwood and Seattle.
We're actively recruiting participants who may have directly experienced homelessness with their family, either recently or in the past, or who have connected with homeless families through their work or volunteerism.
Recording Locations and Dates
August 11-14: YWCA Opportunity Place 2024 3rd Avenue Seattle, WA
August 15: YWCA Greenbridge Center 9720 8th Ave. SW Seattle, WA
If you have a story to tell or if you know someone who you would like to interview:
June marked the kick-off of our new initiative, StoryCorps OutLoud, amplifying the voices of LGBTQ communities across the country.
While June is only the beginning of OutLoud, we still could not have asked for a better way to launch this exciting multi-year initiative. We feel incredibly lucky to have celebrated such a significant beginning with all of YOU. It has been amazing!
So, we thought it would be fitting to share with you some of the great moments of all the OutLoud launch festivities so far–East Coast to West Coast.
Check out all the highlights below from our StoryCorps launch parties in both New York City and San Francisco! And a big thanks to KQED for helping us put on such a great event in San Francisco!
New York City Launch, June 17th (Photos courtesy of Eric Schwortz Photography):
San Francisco Launch, June 25th (Photos courtesy of Alain Mclaughlin):
Like what you've seen? We hope you will help us continue to record and preserve the experiences of LGBTQ communities. Support OutLoud today!]]>
Join us as we kick-off our new initiative StoryCorps OutLoud–amplifying the voices of LGBTQ communities. Using #ThisIsOutLoud, snap a photo that shows us what makes you proud!
#ThisIsOutLoud. We want to know what makes you…YOU. It's easy to participate. Here's how:
And that's it–a pretty simple way to join in a very excellent cause.
Check out how some of our friends and colleagues have started to get in the #ThisIsOutLoud spirit: (Special thanks to photographer Eric Schwortz and our friends at YEPP in Chicago!)
On June 28th, our new initiative, StoryCorps OutLoud, will begin–amplifying the voices of LGBTQ communities across the country. Why OutLoud? Why now? To explain the significance of this new initiative we begin–as you might have guessed–with a story.
45 years ago, police raided a Manhattan gay bar called the Stonewall Inn. It wasn't uncommon at that time for police to try to shut down gay-friendly establishments, but in this monumental instance, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back.
20 years later a young radio producer named Dave Isay (aka the future founder of StoryCorps), set out to collect stories from that time. Armed with a tape recorder, he collected interview upon interview with those who had witnessed the Riots first-hand. The stories would become the very first documentary to cover the riots: Remembering Stonewall.
As Dave puts it, "These conversations turned my world upside down, and gave me a feeling of deep connection to a culture I'd known nothing about." Making the documentary also further connected him with his own father, the renowned psychiatrist Dr. Richard Isay, who came out to Dave when he was 22 and Richard was 52.
Richard Isay died suddenly two years ago–and it was at that moment Dave realized he needed to launch OutLoud. Dave says his father "was very interested in seeing this happen, and I wasn't able to raise the money." After his father died, "that was it," he said. "I was going to find the money if it killed me."
We need your help! StoryCorps OutLoud is a multi-year initiative dedicated to recording and preserving LGBTQ stories across America. OutLoud will honor the stories of those who lived before the 1969 Stonewall uprisings, celebrate the lives of LGBTQ youth, and amplify the voices of those most often excluded from the historical record. The end result will be a diverse collection of stories that will enrich our nation's history.
Support OutLoud today!
Everyone loves a good party, are we right?
Get ready to help us launch our brand new initiative–StoryCorps OutLoud!
Join us Tuesday, June 17th in New York City as we celebrate the launch of StoryCorps OutLoud during Pride Month 2014! Party with a purpose with Tony award-winner David Hyde Pierce & JD Samson (Le Tigre and MEN) for this brand new initiative. (Look out West Village, here we come!)
Here's everything you need to know about the New York City launch:
*All sales are final, nonrefundable and nontransferable. Purchase of tickets to this event is not tax deductible. This is a 21 and over event.
We can't wait to see you there!
StoryCorps Records with the Kansas Humanities Council for the 60th Anniversary of the landmark Brown V. Topeka KS Board of Education case
Special guest post by StoryCorps' Custom Service Team.
A few weeks ago, StoryCorps Facilitators, Cristina Kim and Anna Berlanga, found themselves in Topeka, Kansas, working with our partners at The Kansas Humanities Council for the 60th Anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Topeka KS Board of Education desegregation case, whose decision was released on May 17th.
The trip was part of the other many town-wide celebrations for the occasion–including a High School graduation ceremony with a special Baccalaureate speech delivered by First Lady Michelle Obama who also commemorated the anniversary.
The Kansas Humanities Council hosted three StoryCorps recording days to capture conversations between generations of Topekans, about their school and life experiences, how those have changed over time, and how Topeka can grow from it all. Cristina and Anna were witness to moments of personal and community growth as they collected these stories. "They had the people that experienced segregation, but also 2014 high school graduates," Anna told us, "I thought that was impressive. They weren't just getting the VIPs, but regular people too."
From Darren Canady and Madison Wallace, who were strangers before coming to StoryCorps, who had a real conversation about race while attending Topeka High School to Katherine Sawyer, who remembered what it was like being a child plaintiff in the Brown v. Topeka KS Board of Education case and segregation in Topeka as she experienced it. The stories collected during StoryCorps 3 day visit were all interlaced with moments of reflection and personal connections, making it an important community event.
"The stories we collected provide an incredibly important perspective on one of the most important legal cases in the history of the United States," said Cristina. "However, and perhaps more importantly, the recording experience gave the community the opportunity to reconnect and reflect on the past 60 years since the 1954 decision. There is still a long way to go in the fight for racial justice and equity but preserving historical memories and sharing stories is an important part of that struggle. Recording the stories of Topeka, 60 years after Brown v. Board of Education, reinforced my belief that it is only by genuinely listening and talking with people that we can begin to strive and build a more just and kind world."
Big thanks to The Kansas Humanities Council and the city of Topeka for the amazing recording trip!]]>
It's officially the week of Mom as the countdown to Mother's Day (AKA this Sunday, May 11th) begins!
To celebrate, StoryCorps is sharing stories of the strong women in all of our lives using #momstrong! We hope you will join in the fun and show us why you admire your mom! Just share a photo with us on Facebook & Twitter using the hashtag #momstrong–we can't wait to see them!
In the meantime, We Are StoryCorps has a #momstrong story to get you inspired. Enjoy this "never-broadcast" exclusive story from our New York Times best seller, Mom: A Celebration of Mothers From StoryCorps.
Roselyn Payne Epps (R), 78, talks with her daughter, Roselyn Elizabeth Epps (L), 47. Both women practice medicine in Washington, D.C.
Roselyn Payne Epps: I always knew I'd have a career and children. It's interesting, you hear a lot of people talk about "Which can I have–one or the other?" Why not both? Coming from a family of African-American people the women have traditionally worked–so it has never been a big mystery about "either-or," just how you balance it.
I never let my children think anything was more important than they were, but I never let anyone at work think that anything was more important than my job. I never talked about my kids at work…
Roselyn Elizabeth Epps: …And you didn't bring work home.
Roselyn Payne: Nope, I left my work there. You make adjustments. I can recall when you all were starting school and I was working in a clinic. I was the only pediatrician there, so I had to be there every day. If anything happened at home that would keep me from being there, there may have been fifteen, twenty, forty parents bringing their children for examinations who would be disappointed. So I knew I had an obligation to be at work. But I also knew I had an obligation to my children.
You all were very responsible. For instance, I would tell you, "Tell me in advance when you're going to have a program. Ask the teacher: 'When is the recital going to be?' Don't tell me on Monday to come to a program on Friday–you've been rehearsing and rehearsing and rehearsing for months!" So then I had the opportunity to get someone to substitute for me. It was a partnership between us.
Roselyn Elizabeth: Well, as far as partnership was concerned, we all had our responsibilities. There were specific chores–there were days everybody was supposed to do dishes. If we were going to entertain, somebody was supposed to sweep, somebody else cleaned the walls, and somebody else pulled the weeds. I was the "A-One Sweeper." You and Dad were very creative with your names: "Oh, you're the best wall washer!" "Oh, boy, you really know how to pull weeds!" Only later we realized, Boy, we were bamboozled into our chores! But we were sweeping, and we were so happy.
Roselyn Payne: That was your name–"the A-One Sweeper."
Roselyn Elizabeth: We all knew what our jobs were and what our responsibilities were: you were the parents and we were the kids. It wasn't a time where people were friends and buddies; that wasn't our generation at all. You weren't smothering–I guess the new term is "helicopter parents." Sometimes you don't want your parent there every second to experience it and video it. Although you never missed a school play, never missed a parents' night, never missed anything. For four children!
Roselyn Payne: I would get there sometimes, and I would be one of two parents. I used to say, "Where are the people? Where are the parents?"
In the early days, your dad had evening office hours and he'd be late getting home. So we made a decision to sit down as a family and have dinner at six thirty–every night–no matter what. When you went off to college or medical school or wherever you were, you all knew if you called home at six thirty, you could talk to the rest of the family because that was our time. And if your dad had to go back to the hospital at night, didn't matter. He came home and we had dinner together every night, and we had breakfast together every morning. We had two meals together every day.
Roselyn Elizabeth: Did your experiences in medicine affect being a mother and vice versa?
Roselyn Payne: One thing I learned is that all parents want their children to succeed, and all children want to succeed. I used to go to talk to sixth graders, and I'd say, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I never heard a child say, "I want to be a drug dealer." I never heard a child say, "I want to stand on a corner." But somewhere in between, something happened.
I think being a mother helped parents respect me. I would give them advice, maybe about feeding an infant. I was young then–you know, I finished medical school in my early twenties, and I guess I looked younger than that. I would tell them, "You don't have to think about feeding the baby every moment," or whatever it was. And they would look at me like, Well, what do you know about that? She doesn't know what's going on! And I'd say, "I have four children." Oh! That gave them new respect: Well, maybe she knows what she's talking about!
Looking back, people will say, "Oh, you were a pioneer–there were only five women in your class!" But I didn't see it. I was following my dream to be a pediatrician and have a family.
You all have done very well. But I take no credit and I take no blame. People say, Aren't you proud?" My mother always said, Don't be proud; just be thankful. So when you were coming along, I said, "I won't take credit because I'm not going to take blame either!"
We never encouraged you particularly to go into medicine. When our oldest son was about twelve, he said that he thought he would go to law school. So we said, "Why are you going to go into law?" He said, "Doctors work too hard." At the time, he had a very good friend named Bruce whose father was a lawyer, and Bruce said he was going to go into medicine. "Ask Bruce why he wants to go into medicine when his father's a lawyer." He did, and Bruce said, "Lawyers work too hard." So I said, "The truth of the matter is, you work hard if you're successful–no matter what you do. So you have to decide to do something you enjoy, because you're going to work hard." So he said, "In that case, I'll go into medicine." [laughs]
Roselyn Elizabeth: Well, of course you're my one and only mother, and it has evolved towards friendship also. A lot of people laugh and say, "You all act like sisters."
Roselyn Payne: True. We are very close, and we're a lot alike. We're buddies. We talk every day all day long. Your dad sometimes says, "What are you all laughing about so much?" I love you very much, and I'm very pleased with who you are. As I've said, I'm not proud; I'm thankful.
Recorded in Washington, D.C., on July 10, 2009.
Enjoy the read? You can find more amazing Mom stories like this in Mom: A Celebration of Mothers From StoryCorps–now available in paperback! Pick yours up today!]]>
Stories from 20 Years of Extraordinary Museums & Libraries
Our partners at the Institute of Museum and Library Services announced the winners for the 2014 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. We Are StoryCorps is featuring guest bloggers from our Custom Services department to talk about their experiences with this amazing institution.
"Four years, 50 trips across the country, and nearly 900 interviews recorded." This is how we could catalogue our relationship with The National Medal for Museum and Library Service. But the most important number to note–the number of lives touched by the libraries and museums we have visited during our travels–is countless.
Each year, our partners at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), awards the annual National Medal to ten museums and libraries that "demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach." This year, for the 20th anniversary of the National Medal, we had the honor of recording the stories of the people who make these institutions remarkable.
IMLS sent StoryCorps Facilitators high and low to find the unsung heroes of these institutions–the librarians, tutors, artists, security guards, and so many more. We rolled our recording equipment from big city cultural centers–such as the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx– to small town staples–like the Naturita Community Library in Colorado who serves a population fewer than 500 people. So what do these institutions have in common? It is not just that they are amazing at what they do, but that they constantly defy expectations. For example, Virginia's Park View High School Library hosts live World Music celebrations–breaking away from the traditional "shhh!" of a library by bringing in joyous noise performed by student bands!
Here are some other story gems that we've heard among the gallery walls and library stacks:
"I'm not a nurse, I'm not a teacher but I'm kind of like combination of that. I'm helping people grow." –Blossom Smith, Librarian, Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County
"People like you can never be forgotten, because you helped shape who I am."–Oscar Mansfield, poet, to his former tutor, Lora Osterloh, Contra Costa County Library
"I know it feels good to make something, so I want to give girls a space and a reason to do that."–Jillian Hernandez, Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami
Congratulations to this year's National Medal Winners! We can't wait to meet you and hear the unique stories that make your communities special. Thank you for the important work you do every day!]]>
It's time again for another stop on our nationwide MobileBooth tour–which also means another edition of the Mobile Lowdown! This time around, Jesse Gutierrez (Associate Manager of Mobile Tour) and Diana Velez (Associate Manager of Marketing and Communications) brought in some reinforcements–Mr. Jordan Bullard (Jesse's friendly, Southern colleague in the Mobile department).
So, as the Mobile Crew kicked off the stop today in Durham, Jordan and Diana took over the blog to give everyone another quick look at one of our many awesome MobileBooth city stops!
Let's start off with the basics–what's happening in Durham?
What: MobileBooth Visit to Durham, NC
When: April 17–May 16, 2014
Where: The Booth will be parked at the American Tobacco Campus, 705 Willard Street Durham, North Carolina, 27701
Public Radio Partner: WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
Opening Day Insider Information:
Diana: "First things first: Captain Luke, brought to us by the Music Maker Relief Foundation, was both the first VIP interview and performer on Opening Day. Captain Luke's interview partner was Tim Duffy, also from the Music Maker Relief Foundation. Durham has a rich heritage of folk music, which the Music Maker Foundation has been preserving since 1994."
Jordan: "Our second VIP interview was between Matt Victoriano and Ryan Wetter. Matt and Ryan have a very interesting story about life after being deployed (Iraq and Afghanistan respectively)."
City Highlights:
Diana: "Our MobileBooth will be parked at the historic American Tobacco Historic District, home to the Lucky Strike Tobacco Tower (Don Draper would be jealous), and the Durham Bulls.
Which reminds me, Bull Durham, the MOST* popular sports movie of all time, was shot in Durham at the Historic Durham Athletic Park, home field of the very real Durham Bulls."
*According to Diana and this random Sports Illustrated Article.
Jordan: "Durham has become a pretty serious foody town. You can basically take a walking food tour across downtown Durham. All of the spots below are within about a 20 minute walk (5 minute bike ride) of each other:
Cocao Canela – Mexican inspired coffee hangout
Parker & Otis – Biscuits, Gravy, and knick-knacks
Full Steam – Microbrewery in Downtown Durham
Piedmont Restaurant – Farm-to-table Americana kinda stuff
Geer Street Garden – tasty food in an old gas station
Cookout – the best fast food drive-through this side of the Mississippi (maybe the world) — multiple locations around Durham
Durham also has local breweries, hipsters galore, and people on bikes. The American Tobacco Trail is great for bikers and joggers. You can catch the trail on the south side of the American Tobacco Campus and follow across all of Durham County."
Durham sounds both exciting and delicious! We cannot wait to hear what amazing stories our team collects this time around!
Thanks as always to our Mobile Lowdown-ers for all their help!]]>
A travel guide from our Midwest Crew–StoryCorps in Chicago.
Spring is in the air, fellow story-lovers! While that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people (such as allergy sufferers and love-crazed teenagers) we always seem to get the travel bug around this time. Which is why we thought it's the perfect time for our second installment of our travel-inspired series: "My StoryBooth, My City."
Last month, we began exploring the stories of our StoryBooth cities as told by the ones who would know best–our local StoryCorps staff. As we huddled near heaters up here in our New York-based offices, Amanda Plumb, Manager of StoryCorps in Atlanta, took us on a virtual tour of her lovely (and warm) Southern city and gave us a peek at what it's like to collect stories in the ATL.
This month, since Spring seems to have sprung, we believe it is finally safe for us to travel to our StoryBooth location in Chicago, IL without fear of frostbite.
Chicago is a special place to StoryCorps. It was the home-base of famous oral historian and our hero, Studs Terkel, and where our founder, Dave Isay, set the stage for his acclaimed documentary, "Ghetto Life 101." So we were excited to hear what local facilitator, Andre Perez, had to say about Chicago these days.
So while we dig into a nice slice deep-dish pizza here, we hope you'll enjoy our brief travel guide to the Windy City!
Around the StoryBooth:
"Chicago's Storybooth is located in the historic and beautiful Chicago Cultural Center. While you're here, you should check out the art exhibits and performances going on. We are a hop, skip, and a jump away from the iconic bean sculpture in Millennium Park and world-class shopping on the magnificent mile."
Eating Good in the Chicago Neighborhoods:
"While you could spend days checking out the touristy parts of downtown, I encourage you not to limit yourselves. Our location is close to all major public transportation including the suburban commuter train and city train lines. Especially when it comes to food, the neighborhoods are where it's at. Enjoy excellent Ethiopian food off the Thorndale red line. If you have access to a car, then take in Indian food on West Devon, Puerto Rican food on West Division Street, or Mexican food on 26th Street or Vegetarian soul food on the Chicago's south side.
Each neighborhood also has its own unique feel complete with community centers, cultural institutions, and shopping experiences."
A Day in the Life at the Chicago StoryBooth:
"On recording days, we start our day by opening the booth. We make sure all the equipment is working well and that our supplies are restocked. After I get caffeinated, I call future participants to confirm their appointments and email partner organizations.
When participants come in, we guide them through the process, answering questions along the way. At the end of our recording, we say goodbye to our new friends, and begin the archival process. When the next participant comes in, we start all over. In between recordings you can often find me telling a stranger what StoryCorps is or researching new organizations to partner with."
Partnership to Note:
"We've recently begun partnering with the Trans Oral History Project, a community-driven effort to diversify the range of stories available from within the transgender and gender variant communities. This group is developing a ToolKit for youth leaders and educators to use in teaching about issues impacting the transgender community. This partnership is especially exciting for me because it is by and for the transgender community. We get to work with community leaders who are making change by bringing their truths to LGBTQ young folks around the country."]]>
Just a couple of months ago, we began our 2014 Mobile tour. A team of facilitators and their fearless Mobile Manager hit the road with open ears and a shiny airstream trailer.
You may remember We Are StoryCorps' look into some of the lives of our Door-to-Door facilitators, Jill Glaser and Luis Gallo. They taught us a lot about what it is like to hop on a plane, train, or automobile when great stories need to be recorded. Now, we want to look at another side of StoryCorps facilitator life–our Mobile Crew! While our amazing 2014 team is hard at work recording the voices in Huntsville, AL (next stop Durham, NC!), we were able to hit up the dynamic facilitating duo from our previous Mobile tour–Anna Berlanga and Callie Thuma.
In Fall of 2013, Anna and Callie hit the road from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Los Angeles, California and many, many places in between. Listening to these two ladies talk about their experiences was so incredible–reminding us how abundant stories are and how everyone has something incredible to share.
Full disclosure: this interview may give you the sudden urge to pack up and travel the country recording stories!
W.A.S: "What was one of your most interesting experience during your time as a facilitator?"
Callie:"In Cheyenne, WY, two men recorded a full 40 minute interview all about the atlatl, which is an ancient spear-throwing weapon used by our early human ancestors around the globe. Later on, one of the men, Russell Richard, came back by the MobileBooth with atlatls, darts, and a foam 'coyote' target. We set up a range outside of the library, and Russ taught us how to launch darts using the atlatl. It was a lot of fun, and also totally unexpected. I never know what I'm going to learn next when I'm facilitating in the Booth."
W.A.S: "Where was your favorite or most memorable city?"
Anna: "Each city I've visited has given me great memories. If I had to pick a favorite, I think it would be Phoenix. I really liked Phoenix because of the people I met. I got to meet many young Latinos. Their presence made me think about my own identity and how I have chosen to express it. It was a real growing experience for me. I always felt fully Hispanic, but I didn't grow up around a lot of Hispanic peers. I spoke Spanish to my family, never to my friends. Seeing these twenty-somethings who were truly bicultural with their friends and family made me more invested in expressing both sides of my identity. That being said, I loved every city I visited with StoryCorps. I played trivia in Santa Fe, danced in Las Vegas, floated down a river in Boise, rodeo-ed in Cheyenne, and went to free concerts in Yakima."
W.A.S: "Did you or the team create any favorite driving games on the road?"
Callie: "Aside from holding our breath when we drive through a tunnel, no."
Anna: "Yeah, we didn't really create any driving games. But to pass the time, we would stop a lot. Driving from Cheyenne, WY to Yakima, WA, we decided to take the northern route. In so doing, we drove through Yellowstone National Park. We went on a hike, had a picnic and saw thermal springs. On that same drive we stopped in Missoula, MT for lunch, a fair, and a dip in the river. We stopped in Coeur d'Alene, ID and went to a farmers market, and swam in the lake. Having these long stops, getting out of the car, and meaningfully divorcing myself from the drive kept me rested and refreshed."
W.A.S:"What is the best part of the job?"
Callie: "The stories. Getting to travel and see the country is amazing, but the best part is listening to people. The things I hear make me laugh, cry, shake my head in disbelief, and marvel at the complexity of human beings."
Anna:"I bet it sounds cliche', but I love meeting people and hearing their stories. I have said many times before but a common theme is love. People bring grandma in to record her story because they love her. They bring in their spouse to talk about the day they met because they love each other, or they talk about someone who has passed because they love them. Our interviews remind me of the people I love. Once, a mom came in to talk about a son who was murdered and her daughter that committed suicide. It was a really sad story, but it reminded me of a mother's love, and how much I love my mother. I told the participant that I was going to call my mom immediately. She was comforted to hear that her story could move me to action."
W.A.S:"Is there anything you've learned as a facilitator that you did not expect to learn?"
Callie:"I didn't expect that listening to others would teach me so much about myself. Hearing others' stories regularly forces me to confront my preconceived notions about people, and that can be incredibly humbling. Listening allows me to see humanity in a different light. It's a gift to be present with people in that way."
Interested in becoming a StoryCorps facilitator? We are accepting applications for Bilingual Facilitators for our Mobile team as well as at our Atlanta and San Francisco StoryBooth locations.CLICK HERE for more information.
Upon entering the hallowed halls of our dear StoryCorps offices (located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn) you will notice a lot of things going on. You'll notice an array of audio cds, audio equipment, and even an assortment of StoryCorps orange decoratively placed here and there. However, what you probably will notice the most is the people–our dedicated staff whose passion to ensure that every voice matters and every story is heard.
Among this wonderful, hectic StoryCorps family of ours are the brave interns who embrace this unique lifestyle for months as part of the internship program. Our interns are rockstars–the most dedicated kind and on behalf of the entire staff, we are intern-ally grateful (see what we did there?).
We stopped by a few of their desks this week and asked them more about their time at StoryCorps. Here's what they had to say:
"My favorite thing about StoryCorps' internship program has been the opportunity to integrate my passion for creative expression and social justice into practice in support of StoryCorpsU. I have learned more about the challenges and rewards of implementing an experiential youth development curriculum within the context of mainstream pedagogy that focuses on standardized measures of educational outcomes. It was inspiring to be surrounded by a community of people in the office every day that is so sincerely driven towards making the impact they believe in."
–Kelly Adams, Education
"I really have enjoyed the professional development sessions that StoryCorps offers as well as the opportunity to meet and hear stories from our StoryCorpsU students."
–Mirielle Clifford, Education
"What I was happiest to find at StoryCorps is the degree to which people as individuals are the focus of what we do. It seems so basic, but I've learned that when everyone communicates as genuinely as they can, with respect and playfulness, ideas spread and come to fruition so much more easily."
–Devon Olson, Recording & Archive
"I've learned that the story is powerful. It's incredible what people are willing to share about their lives when given the opportunity."
–Marion Rice, StoryCorps Legacy
"As the Community Engagement intern, I've been helping with both the Military Voices Initiative (MVI) and the soon-to-be launched OutLoud initiative. In the past, I didn't know much about the issues facing either community, but by listening to participant interviews and conducting further research, this internship has allowed me to gain some valuable insight into each community."
–Cherie Buenaflor, Community Engagement (CE)
Thanks to Cherie, Devon, Kelly, Marion, and Mirielle for talking to us as well as the entire Intern Team!
If you are interested in being a part of the StoryCorps Internship Program, you are in luck! We are currently accepting applications for our Summer/Fall 2014 Session. CLICK HERE for more information.]]>
March is Women's History Month!
For your listening pleasure, we rounded up a collection of stories from our archive that feature ladies who take the lead, charge ahead, and make a difference in both their lives and others. We hope these stories of powerhouse females remind you that inspiring women are kicking butt not just in March, but all year long!
So grab your headphones and enjoy 8 Stories of Everyday Leading Ladies…
1.) Seniesa Estrada
17-year-old amateur boxing champion Seniesa Estrada talks to her father and coach, Joe Estrada, about how she got started in the sport.
2.) Carrie Conley
Jerry Johnson interviews his mother, Carrie Conley, about raising six children as a single mother.
3.) Tia Smallwood
Tia Smallwood tells her daughter, Christine, about becoming a business woman in the 1970s.
4.) Panchita Espitia
Bishop Ricardo Ramirez remembers his grandmother Francisca "Panchita" Espitia.
5.) Dee Dickson
Dee Dickson remembers trying to get a job as a shipyard electrician in the 1970s.
6.) Lourdes Villanueva
Lourdes Villanueva tells her son Roger about growing up in a family of migrant workers.
7.) Dorothy Kelley
Joyce Butler remembers her mother, Dorothy Kelley, who worked in a shipyard during World War II, in an interview with her daughter, Stephanie.
8.) Marilyn Gonzalez and Jessica Pedraza
Sergeant Marilyn Gonzalez and her daughter Specialist Jessica Pedraza remember deploying together to Iraq in 2010.
Jesse Gutierrez (Associate Manager of Mobile Tour) and Diana Velez (Associate Manager of Marketing and Communications) are back for a second installment of The Mobile Lowdown!
Last month StoryCorps' Mobile Tour parked at Gainesville, FL, and Diana and Jesse were nice enough to give us all the details. Now, we're hitting the road once again to Huntsville, Alabama.
Today (March 13th) happens to be Opening Day for Huntsville, so it is the perfect time for Jesse and Diana to do their thing once again and give us the official Mobile Lowdown: Huntsville Edition.
Jesse, Diana–what do we have to look forward to this time?
What: MobileBooth Visit to Huntsville, AL
When: March 13 – April 11, 2014
Where: The Booth will be parked at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (1 Tranquility Base Huntsville, Alabama 35808). Parking for participants will be available in front of the Education Building at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, just past the Marriott Hotel.
Public Radio Partner: WLRH 89.3 (http://www.wlrh.org/)
City Highlights:
Diana: "Huntsville seems to be all about the stars–literally. The city is nicknamed 'The Rocket City,' because it has a lot of involvement with various U.S. space missions and is also home of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center."
Jesse: "StoryCorps will be in the center of this unique town culture too. The MobileBooth is actually going to be parked at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center for our time in Huntsville."
Opening Day Insider Information:
Diana: "Once again, it's all about the stars, baby. Our first set of VIP Participants is the current CEO of U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, and Edward O. Buckbee, the first CEO of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. This interview will be followed by our second VIP interview with Ivy Joe Milan, soul singer and local celebrity, and Simba Foluke, Djembe drummer and musician."
A travel guide from our team down South–StoryCorps in Atlanta.
When you are in the business of professional story-collecting, you grow to appreciate the fact that some of the most amazing tales can happen in the most "everyday" places.
In our animated short,"Eyes on the Stars," a local library in South Carolina became the setting of a one kid sit-in. From our book Ties That Bind, Marvin Goldstein's standard childhood apartment became the place of a legendary fall and a life-saving catch. In a subway train, you might make a connection with someone you'll remember for the rest of your life. A New Mexico ranch might teach you life lessons you never thought possible.
The point is, everywhere you look, there is a story worth remembering. This is why we are dedicated to hearing voices from far and wide, in communities all across the nation–including our three StoryBooth locations in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco.
After years of listening to our participants, the StoryBooth staff knows that their city is not just a city, but the backdrop to a million amazing stories. We decided to ask our remote staff to share some of that local wisdom with us in a series we're calling, "My StoryBooth, My City."
We begin with a little Southern hospitality. This week, We Are StoryCorps gets the 4-1-1 on the ATL from Amanda Plumb, Regional Manager at the StoryBooth in Atlanta, GA. She filled in the blanks on a few great things unique to her StoryBooth city.
So grab yourself some sweet tea, put your feet up, and enjoy this quick and easy travel guide from Amanda.
Welcome to Atlanta, y'all!
Favorite spot:
Amanda's pick is Oakland Cemetery.
"My favorite spot in the city is Oakland Cemetery – an old Victorian cemetery with mausoleums, brick paths, beautiful plants and majestic trees with a view of downtown Atlanta. It's a great place for a walk, picnic, or to sit and read a book."
Neighborhoods to Check Out:
Amanda recommends East Atlanta and Little 5 Points.
"The eats are good in East Atlanta. Try bahn mi at We Suki Suki, sandwiches at Urban Cannibals, the lasagna at Grant Central Pizza, bun from Soba and anything from Delia's Chicken Sausage. If it's nice out, you'll find me on the Holy Taco porch with a margarita, bacon taco, and fish taco. We also have a coffee shop (Joe's) and a number of bars and music venues.
Meanwhile, Little 5 Points is a funky neighborhood with vintage shops, record stores, and great food. I'm partial to the grilled Caesar salad at the Porter (though everyone else seems to go there for the beer), a chevre, roasted garlic, and red pepper sauce pizza from Savage, or any burrito at Elmyr."
You might not know this but…
Atlanta has pretty solid literary crowd.
"Atlanta has a booming literary scene and each month is packed with various literary events. For example, Write Club: a fight club inspired event where authors go head-to-head performing pieces they wrote based on their assigned topic. The crowd votes for a winner and money goes to the charity of the winner's choosing. There's also True Story, Carapase, and Scene Missing Magazine."
The city also has super secret food markets.
"Each month, I look forward to Atlanta Underground Market–a pop-up food court of sorts featuring home cooks from all around the city. The location is a secret, so you have to sign up for the listserve to get the details."
The Skinny on StoryCorps in Atlanta:
Our StoryBooth in Atlanta has been open since October 2009. Amanda walked us through a few of the basics.
"We record at the Atlanta History Center, a museum with a historic form and mansion. Even though we know the names of participants, part of the fun is not knowing what they're going to talk about. Over the years, we've been quite surprised by some of the stories–including a man interviewing his psychic advisor and another guy proposing to his girlfriend in the studio.
Half of our interviews come through community partnerships. Local organizations will either send pairs to the booth or borrow our StoryKit (portable recording equipment) to record their own stories, or we may spend a day recording at their offices. Recently, we've worked with Friendship Baptist Church, Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, the American Red Cross, Southern Order of Storytellers–to name a few."]]>
Attention class! We Are StoryCorps has an exciting announcement to make. (You might want to take notes on this one–it may be on the test later). Introducing StoryCorpsU.org–the brand new website for our youth development program, StoryCorpsU!
On StoryCorpsU.org, you will find student produced content that gives a bird's eye view into the classrooms and lives of students across the country. At the same time, the site acts as a great resource for the students to view their own hard work, as well as that of their peers. Also featured on the site are unique lesson plans about identity, history, and culture, featuring select broadcasts and animations produced by StoryCorps.
StoryCorpsU (SCU) is an interactive, year-long youth development program for high-need schools. The program uses StoryCorps interview techniques, radio broadcasts and animated shorts, to support the development of identity and social intelligence in students. Through the course of the year, the kids get to record and share their own stories about where they're from, who they are, and where they are going. StoryCorpsU is currently working with schools in 4 major cities: New York, NY, St. Louis, MO, Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.
We've found that SCU is also an especially powerful tool for strengthening school relationships–a key factor in academic achievement. The program enables students to see their teachers as interested in not only their learning, but who they are as individuals as well.
As our students share stories among their teachers, families, and fellow students, real human connections are established and this plays an important role in high school completion.
SCU benefits educators as well. In a third-party evaluation conducted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education for the 2012-2013 school year, teachers reported that they, themselves, knew their students better, were more effective teaching diverse students, and were more interested in their students.
Check out StoryCorpsU today!
The heart of StoryCorps is a 40 minute conversation between two people who care about one another. This moment happens within the space of a soundproof booth whose walls bear witness to stories in 54 different languages and contributed to recording 30,000+ hours of audio.
From San Francisco to Atlanta with Chicago in between, plus the countless stops along our Mobile Tour, tens of thousands of people enter our booths and immerse themselves into a different world for the next 40 minutes. Those 40 minutes are held with great reverence and pride at StoryCorps and we know how much the physical space of our recording booths impact the experience.
That's where Elaine Kamlley comes in. As StoryCorps' Manager, Recording & Operations, Elaine holds the (metaphorical and physical) keys to all StoryCorps facilities and ensures that they are the most ideal environment to share stories in.
We knew she'd be the best guide for touring our sites and explaining what makes them so unique. So join us now as we take a walk through the StoryCorps real estate, one soundproof booth at a time…
Before we go any further, let's just run through the basics of our recording facilities. Here are some key terms for your reference:
MobileBooth: Airstream trailer outfitted with recording equipment to collect stories in various cities year-round.
StoryBooth: Publicly accessible recording studios permanently located in one individual city.
So in sum, the MobileBooth is like a recording studio on wheels…
While a StoryBooth stays in one place…
"The StoryBooth is basically an 8′x8′x8′ cube," says Elaine. "This model is currently in San Francisco and Chicago and is deliberately designed to be easily disassembled and reassembled. The recording booth is made of 12 interlocking panels that can be fitted together without using any power tools." This design comes in particularly handy when a change of venue is in order. For example, our most recent move in San Francisco.
The StoryBooth had to be moved from The Contemporary Jewish Museum to the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) last month. The ability to construct and deconstruct the StoryBooth at any given time certainly helps in such instances. In fact, the StoryBooth currently residing at SFPL has been through the process a few times.
"That model of the StoryBooth has been installed and operated in 3 locations–Milwaukee Public Library (2007-2008), the Contemporary Jewish Museum (2008-2014), and now SFPL," says Elaine. "After our fifth installation, we've really taken advantage of that modular design."
FUN FACT: In the five locations these specific models have been in, they have collected 3,617 interviews and approximately 7,000+ people have sat at its microphones.
Okay, so the ease of assembly (and dismantling) is great for those who have to move the StoryBooth from one place to another. But how does this affect the quality of the interview process? Elaine explained that the design of the booths very much "reflects the simplicity of the storytelling process itself." The materials of the StoryBooth might seem simple–aluminum, acoustic wood panels, and foam–but painstaking care goes into every StoryBooth site from concept to design.
Elaine mentioned that when choosing a site, accessibility, quality of sound, and level of comfortability for our participants are all measured and considered.
"During that first site visit, we are looking for a place that is quiet, welcoming for participants, and supportive to our staff," she says. These checks never truly end, as upkeep and management of the already installed facilities are an ever-present necessity. "My work doesn't just include one initial visit prior to installing the StoryBooth," she added. "I visit and maintain the sites year-round."
As one can imagine, these many trips have resulted in a lot of experiences during her adventures on-site, particularly with the people she works with. "What is most memorable about site visits is getting to know our field staff," she told us. Elaine trains our facilitators and field staff during her visits–ensuring they are masters of audio recording. "The brilliance, passion, and scrappiness that our field staff exude makes my job so much fun and worthwhile," Elaine says. "Plus, they know the best places to get local eats."]]>
StoryCorps in San Francisco re-launched last week and we have the whole story in pictures…
StoryCorps in San Francisco made the big move last week to a brand new location at the San Francisco Public Library, sponsored by Airbnb. We captured all the moments from our trip–opening a new chapter recording even more vibrant stories of the Bay Area.
Staff from our Brooklyn headquarters hopped on a cross-country flight to prepare for the launch.
Our partners, Airbnb, graciously provided some of their finest San Francisco lodging for our Brooklyn crew. What a warm welcome! (Literally–the New Yorkers had almost forgotten what sunshine felt like).
The Brooklynites said they learned a lot from their travels. Here are some vital tips they shared with us:
–In a pinch, a screwdriver can be used as a corkscrew for all your wine-opening needs.
–The equivalent of one coffee filter can be replicated with precisely five kleenex or one paper towel.
–When in doubt, locate your nearest taqueria. Delicious chorizo nachos and mariachi music will get you through any busy travel schedule.
And, of course, the number one travel tip: secure yourself some amazing Airbnb hosts during your stay. Big thanks to our hosts Alyssa, Nina, and Amanda!
After everyone had finally settled, it was time to celebrate. Thursday, February 20th, we co-hosted a launch party at Airbnb's headquarters. The night was a big hit with awesome people and great stories.
A huge thanks to the Events Studio for helping us throw such a great party!
Before anybody knew it, Friday morning was upon us. Press, San Francisco partners, and community members attended the official ribbon cutting ceremony of our StoryBooth at its beautiful new location–the San Francisco Public Library.
Our brand new chapter in San Francisco wouldn't be possible without SFPL, Airbnb, KQED, KALW, and the BayTree Fund. This is definitely the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
For all the updates on StoryCorps in San Francisco, visit http://storycorps.org/san-francisco/]]>


text:
Hey I'm emmy and here is some info you should know about me beforeI start the story.
My name is Emily Hale,I was born in Manchester,England on a chilly December.
When I was 4 year old my Dad had got a job in America and we moved there.
I used to live in Wycoff New Jersey,I had made a new best friend, Nick Jonas.We were close as heck,Nick and I would do everything together and we always cared for eachother.
When I turned 10 Nick gave me a promise ring telling me he would never leave me.
but unforutnetly Nick got a band with his brothers and left for LA.
The next day I had found out that my Dad got killed in a Car crash and died.After that we moved Back to England.
3 years later.
I was 14 and I went to a Jonas concert in London England,By the end of the concert when I met Nick,He acted as if he didn't regonize me,He told me he didnt want to see me and it would be better if I left before his girlfriend came.
I knew fame went to his head soI left.I cried miserable for the next 2 monthes and I never got over it.
I had made a new friend ,Sam,He really helped me get over Nick and was very understanding.He were close but not as close as Nick.
sam also has a girlfriend who is a friend of mine.
Ever since then I hated Nick.
Okay lt's start the Story!(Me: we're still in England and emmy is 16)
"EmilY William Hale! Wake up this instant!"My mum yelled at me.
"Mum it's freakin summer!"I yelled sleepily.
"I dont care,You have a friend waiting for you ,Now get up! My mum ordered me.
"fine "I said as I got out of bed.
After my mum left I went into the bathroom to get dressed.
I wore a Britsh flagged t-shirt with soft sliver jeans and converse with a scarf aroud my neck and blue fingerless gloves.
I put on some lip gloss and a bit of mascara ,Im not too big on makeup.
I turned on the Radio to hear some music but to my luck the Jonas brother's song was on.
As soon as I heard that I grabbed the radio and smashed it, right
on my bedroom floor.It was now broken and made a loud thud.
"emmy what was that sound!" My mum yelled from downstairs.
"uh I fell?"I lied stupidly.
"Be careful,I swear you becoming more like you dad every day!"My mum replied.
I went downstairs and saw my friend talking on the phone with someone as soon as he saw me,Sam hung up and showed me a goofy smile,Uh -oh I thought to my self. Whenever sam has a goofy smile he either got in trouble or he has some good news
"Okay sam what's up? Either You won a million bucks or ya got busted for breaking into school?"I asked him jokily.
"haha very funny but neither"Sam replied with that goofy smile.
"then what's up dude!"I asked again.
" come on"Sam said to me.
He pulled me hand and took me upstairs to my room and locked it and turned to face me with that goofy smile.
"sam what are you doing!!!!!"I asked him.
"chill out ,Im not gonna murder you!"Sam replied to my sudden yet crazy outburst.
" then what the heck is up for the millionth time"I said.
Sam lookd over at th broken and smashed radio on my floor.
I followed his gaze.
" what happend to that?!"Sam said in shock.
"Jonas song"I told him looking down.
"wow do you hate themalot!"Sam said while laughing.
" okay you idoit tell me what's up or else im gonna smash you likeI mshed that radio!" I told him.
Sam took a deep breath and closed hs eyeswhich was funny to me since it looked like as if he was falling asleep.
"I know your going to hate me for this but I got you tix andbackstage passes to the JB concert for 2morrow night!"Sam said with his eyes still closed.
I looked at him with shock and anger,Didn't he knowi HATED THEM.
I hated Nick and his stupid band with his stupid voice and his stupid songes!!
I couldn't belive sam would do such a thing even though he knew I never got over Nick.
I ran out of my room as fast as I could
but Sam was faster than me so He caught up with meand pulled my my hand so I would turn to face him whichI did but I kept looking down.
Sam lifted my chin so he could look into my eyes .
"Emmy Listen to me,Joe called earlier when you wee sleeping,He wanted you to work things out with Nick"Sam told me.
"Joe called?"I asked eagerly,But not like i care.
"Yes "Sam said.
"But what if Nick still hates me and still is a jerk"I told him.
"He won't"Sam told me.
"why cant you take you girlfriend Lauren!"I said.
"Because joe wantes you not Lauren"He said.
"Fine but i still hate him!!!"I said not wanting to argure anymore.
Sam smiled at me so wide I thought is jaw would break but I didnt hug back.
We both went back downstairs and saw my mum with a smile almost as big as sam's.
"did sam tell you!?"My mum asked.
"Yes I did and she's willing to go" Sam said with a hug smile kinda like demi lavatos only on a guy.
"That's great hun!"My mum said cheerily, My mum walked over to her purse and took out two Hundered pounds(me: thats britsh money)
She gave us both a pound which is a bill for americans.
"here is your money and now go spend it!" MY mum told us.
Sam and I bust out the door and went to the mall as fast as we could.
Sam drive us to Manchester Creek Mall and just to tell ya sam drive CRAZY!! I was supirsed he even passed his driving tests.But riding with him was awesome.
During the ride I tuned on the radio and Too close for comfort was on by Mcfly(me: britsh band)
Sam and I started singing to it on top of our lunges but it was more of screaming than singing but i didnt care at all.
We arrived at the mall and Sam and I got out of his car.
"ready sam!"I said.
"ready emmy"Sam replied.
I jumped onto his back and he carried me on his back while singing Let The Flames begin by Paramore on top of our lunges ,People thought we were mad which we were.
I got off of sam's back and went into Gothic Rebublic.
I bought 4 skinny jeans,3 scarves,some converse with Band t shirts and 2 hates with 4 pairs of fingerless gloves.
I gave my money to the Cashier dude and went to find
I found him at a Music store buying a few cd's and a used electric guitar which was pretty sweet.
Sam saw me and came over to me.We decided to go and eat some lunch.
We went into Mcdonalds,I ordered a cheeseburger combo and Sam chose a hamburger.
As we ate sam kept talking to me about guitars and I wasn't really paying attention. All I could think about was Nick 's concert 2morrow.
"EMMY"Sam yelled into my ear.
Which startled me and I fell backwards off my my chair and onto the floor.
Sam started laughing at me like a LUnatic which got me ticked off.
"sam you idoit ,help me!"I said which got sam to stop laughing and help me up.
After my fall we decided to go back home.
During the drive back home.
"emmy what's up?" sam asked me worridly
"nothing"I lied to him.
"emmy you could never lie to me and now tell me whats up?"Sam asked
"It's about Nick" I admitted.
"I know why dont you take a nap and get ready for 2morrow because im taking u to a water park"Sam said with a smile.
"thanks" I told him.Sam really knew how to cheer me up.
Sam gave me a hug and dropped me back home.
I took a hot bath and then fell asleep thinking about Nick
I stil love nick I thought as I fell asleep.
A Jerk like no other(a Nick Jonas love story)hey peeps im in England right now,yup on vacation Z!! this is my new sory but dont worry im still contuing dream drama life p.s: this story IS NOT ABOUT ME!!.
Hey I'm emmy and here is some info you should know about me beforeI start the story.
Did you like this story? Make one of your own!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Spooks Without Sprinkles: 19 Frightfully Fun Indoor Halloween Activities
Seattle weather can be fickle in October. And if this Halloween is anything like the last few, your kiddos will be sporting their Gor-Tex coats and rain boots over their costumes. Since we don't want the cold weather and rain to put a damper on your Halloween festivities, we've compiled a list of 19 fun, indoor Halloween events happening on the days leading up to Halloween and on the 31st. To view all of the upcoming Halloween activities, be sure to check out our events calendar. Have a happy, safe (and dry!) Halloween from all of us at Red Tricycle.
1. Pee Wee Monster Bash. The North Kirkland Community Center is throwing a carnival style monster mash where little ones can wear their costumes and participate in a cookie walk and monster movement course, go swamp fishing, make monster crafts and more! Pre-register early to guarantee your spot.
Where: North Kirkland Community Center, 12421 103rd Avenue NE, Kirkland, Wa
When: October 25 from
Cost: $10.95 – $13.14
2. The Moonpaper Tent Un-Haunted House. Avoid the scary monsters and make your kiddo's Halloween experience a happy one at The Moonpaper Tent. Walk through the enchanted house full of interactive characters and silly surprises and enjoy collaborative crafting, face painting, and magical treasures. This event is uniquely created to provide every guest with their very own happy Halloween experience. Bonus: If you have a bunch of little ones who would like to walk through together, make a group reservation. Call 206-708-6741 for reservations.
Where: The Moonpaper Tent,
When: October 26 & 30 from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Cost: $10/person (reservations required)
3. Spookfest Celebration. Start your morning off with Halloween pancakes served hot off the griddle. Then, enjoy The Great Pumpkin Race (think Pinewood Derby with pumpkins), a show with Kimmie the Witch, haunted miniature golf, and a costume Halloween zumba party!
Where: Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 26 from 8:30 am – 10:00 pm
Cost: Activity fees vary
4. Pumpkin Decorating Party. Bring your costumed little ones to Cafe Flora for some pumpkin decorating fun. Sequins, feathers, pipe cleaners, pens and other arts-and-crafts supplies as well as guidance will be provided by Thrive Art School. While you're creating your pumpkin masterpiece, enjoy festive fall snacks by Cafe Flora including, Rockridge Orchard spiced cider, pumpkin bread, kids pumpkin pancakes, and other fall treats!
Where: Cafe Flora, 2901 East Madison Street, Seattle, Wa
When: October 26 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Cost: Free
5. MIPA Halloween Party. This fun, non-spooky Halloween party will have tons of Halloween themed activities for kiddos ages one to six. Try your hand at spooktacular crafts and games and enjoy some tricks and treats. Be sure to wear your costume for the costume show and dance party!
Where: Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th Street, Mercer Island, Wa
When: October 26 from 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
Cost: $2 per child for MIPA Members; $4 per child for non-members
6. Spooktacular Costume Contest. Take your costumed kiddos over to Westfield Southcenter Mall for some Pre-Halloween fun. In addition to a costume contest, there will be free activities for kiddos of all ages and Radio Disney will be on site hosting family games and entertainment. Don't forget to visit the balloon artist and have your photo taken at the spooktacular photo booth!
Where: Westfield Southcenter Mall,
When: October 26 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cost: Free
7. Halloween Bash at Northgate Mall. Radio Disney will be rockin' Northgate Mall with lots of fun Halloween activities on October 26. Come in costume and make masks inspired by The Croods, try out Monsters vs. Aliens temporary tattoos, and design a dragon like the one in Dragon Riders of Berk. Plus, try the Kung Fu Panda chopstick game and take a photo with a life-size Croods standee. All kiddos will receive a Croods treat bags, a chance to win a DVD, coupons and more.
Where: Northgate Mall, 401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle, Wa
When: October 26 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Cost: Free
8. Halloween Fun at the Seattle Aquarium. Underwater pumpkin carving demonstrations? Spooky Halloween activities and games? Treats hidden throughout the aquarium? Need we convince you more? This under the sea celebration of Halloween goes on all weekend too, so your kids can get even more mileage out of their costumes.
Where: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, Wa
When: October 26 & 27 from 10:30 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: Free with admission or membership
9. Float in Fright. You may be trying to avoid the rain outside, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy getting wet in the pool. Bring your floaties and other pool toys and catch Monsters, Inc. on the big screen. Now if only our kids' costumes were waterproof.
Where: Samena Swim & Recreation Club, 15231 Lake Hills Boulevard, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 26 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost: $8 – $24 (members free)
10. The Museum of Fright. Ghosts, witches, and bats take to the skies at the Museum of Flight's annual Halloween celebration. Make your very own ghostly creature that floats through the air and have lots of spooky fun in the Museum's galleries. Get even more festive with face painting, ghost stories, pumpkin bowling, spooky flight simulator rides and a Halloween movie!
Where: Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South, Seattle, Wa
When: October 27 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cost: $5 – $10 (under 17 in costume free)
11. KidsQuest Halloween Spooktacular. Play mad scientists at this Halloween Spooktacular with kooky and loopy experiments that will give your kiddos thrills and chills. Play games for sweet treats and show off your wild, crazy, or cute costumes.
Where: KidsQuest Children's Museum, 4091 Factoria Mall SE, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 28 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: $7 – $10 (pre-registration required)
12. DIY Halloween Cupcake Decorating Party. Do your little ones still want their sugar fix even if the weather doesn't allow for them to venture outdoors? How about the chance to frost and decorate their very own Halloween cupcakes with the help of the Cupcake Royale staff? Be sure to come in costume and pick up your free babycake card and some delish ice cream pints for the road. With the $2 off coupon during the party, how could you not go home with cupcakes and ice cream?
Where: Cupcake Royale – Queen Anne, 1935 Queen Anne Avenue North, Seattle, Wa
When: October 30 from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Cost: $5/person
Where: Cupcake Royale – Bellevue, 21 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 30 from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Cost: $5/person
13. Monster Fest: Kids Halloween Extravaganza. Take the family to EMP this Halloween to experience trick-or-treating in Sky Church, frighteningly fun crafts, and special screenings of the 1949 Disney classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the 2012 computer-animated fantasy comedy Hotel Transylvania.
Where: Experience Music Project, 325 5th Avenue North, Seattle, Wa
When: October 31 from 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: Under 12 free ($5 discount for adults)
14. Halloween with Radio Disney. Put on your costume and head over to the Marketplace @ Factoria for lots of trick-or-treating as well as spooktacular music, games and prizes with Radio Disney!
Where: Marketplace @ Factoria, 4055 Factoria Square Mall SE, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 31 from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Cost: Free
15. Costume Carnival. For a truly weatherproof night of trick or treating, head to the Seattle Children's Museum where costumed kids can wander the halls looking for treats at various booths. When their treat buckets are full, visit the not-so-scary haunted mountain, enjoy silly spooky story times, and go on a "Where in the World is Dracula?" scavenger hunt.
Where: Seattle Children's Museum, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, Wa
When: October 31 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: Free
16. Halloween Family Fun Fest. Visit select merchants at The Bellevue Collection for lots of Halloween treats and enjoy roving balloon-tying clowns, a mad science booth where you can experiment with slime and dry ice, photo booths (be sure to bring your camera!) and a live Halloween performance with Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies (at 5:00 & 6:00 pm). Dance-friendly costumes encouraged!
Where: The Bellevue Collection, 575 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 31 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Cost: Free
17. Spooktacular Haunted Party at WiggleWorksKids. In addition to lots of hands-on activities, your lil' ghosts and goblins will enjoy treats, arts and crafts, ghost bowling and a witch hat ring toss at WiggleWorksKids. Be sure to stick around for the costume parade so your little ones can show off their Halloween duds.
Where: WiggleWorksKids, 15600 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 31 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Cost: Free with admission ($1 off admission with costume)
18. Trick-or-Treating at Northgate Mall. Come one, come all to the Ben Bridge Court at Northgate Mall for lots of trick-or-treating fun. In addition to treats, get your family's picture taken by a professional photographer.
Where: Northgate Mall, 401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle, Wa
When: October 31 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: Free (photos extra)
19. Mall-Oween. Take your costumed kiddos to Crossroads Mall for trick-or-treating, a special Halloween show by Ko Ko Jo and a fun photo booth.
Where: Crossroads Bellevue Shopping Center, 15600 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, Wa
When: October 31 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: Free
How do you plan to stay warm and dry on Halloween? Do you have a favorite indoor Halloween activity that isn't on our list? Let us know in a comment below.
–Kristina Moy
photo credit: Seattle Aquarium Facebook page, David Wiley via Flickr, The Moonpaper Tent Facebook page, Erin Kliphardt and Cupcake Royale
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I bet he would be like:
Sonic: Ahh..... *mild nosebleed*
1. Don't know her.
2. Don't know her.
3. Ok
4. I hate her, but I don't want to do anything with her anymore.
5. Viacom is arrogant... They remove anything that is just 1 little spec of their stuff...


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The security week that was: 06/26/09
A weekly surveillance of the news shaping your profession
In other news:
Bank cybercrime, cargo screening, facial recognition
Bank robbers didn't hit the Dwelling House Savings & Loan Bank with guns drawn or notes passed to tellers. The bank is reported to be teetering on the edge of financial collapse thanks in part to a cybercrime ring that digitally transferred funds out of the bank's accounts. ... An ADT-led consortium has been selected for a cargo screening pilot project. ... A Japanese retailer is testing out a facial recognition system that uses Hitachi's technology and the retailer's security cameras to spot known criminals. ... Finally, it's not too late to still register for this afternoon's webinar on Retail Security & Loss Prevention. The program starts at 1 p.m. ET.
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Google Nexus Jellybean Concepts Are Ready! YOU Imagined Them, Bob Freking Designed Them!May 18th, 2012 | by Thrystan |
on this article and made 5 different Nexus devices, just like recent rumors said Google would. All of them are Android 5.0 Jellybean models and the companies involved are ASUS, Sony, Motorola, HTC and Samsung. Bob also posted a dedication at the end of the article for you all! Thank for the feedback!Remember when we said you could design your own Nexus Phone? Well Bob Freking took the feedback you posted on Facebook and
First of all you should know that Bob Freking sees Android Jellybean as getting new tablet features, a voice assistant called Majel, Google Chrome included in the final version and merged with Chrome OS. Dual boot with Windows is also expected to be supported in the heavy Chrome OS/Jellybean combo. And finally… Adobe Flash will be gone. And now moving on to the devices, we've got all of them in the pictured above and each of them pictured below. What they seem to share is 2GB of RAM, 4G and Android 5.0 Jellybean, plus some CPU choices (S4/S5/Tegra 3/4).
This is the ASUS Google Nexus, the Google Nexus Infinity:
- 7″ Super IPS+ 1080p HD Screen (Possible, but since it's gonna be a budget tab, not counting on that.
- 8MP Camera like on the Tprime.
- Same back design.
- Nvidia Tegra 3 or an S4 Processor
- Will feature the new tablet capabilities of Jellybean.
The Google Nexus One X
- 4.8″ Super LCD2 Display (Same on the One X but larger since it will feature on-screen keys)
- 16MP (HTC Titan) Camera with Image Sense
- Poly-carbonate Body
The Google Nexus Razr
- Packs it all in a 7mm body.
- Also packs the best battery, a 3000mAh Battery.
- The one with 1600×900 resolution, (I'm guessing on this since Motorola was once the first users of qHD) but pentile / 4.3″
The Google Galaxy Nexus II
- Mixes the design of the S III and Original Nexus
- Exynos 5 Processor
- Super AMOLED 4.8″ RGB HD
The Google Xperia Nexus
- Bravia Engine Display @ 4.5″ HD
- Cybershot stacked 13MP Exmor R Camera (The same the Xperia GX is using)
- xLoud and further Walkman features
As usual feedback is welcome!
[via Bob Freking]


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"You said when they captured you that they dragged you into a room and that there was a body in it."
"What body?"
"Erica. You said it was Erica."
So better be happy now that the boy's going home.
The boy's gone home.
Sebastian Smythe is my perfect little prince who just wants to be loved and to feel wanted and he just wants everything Kurt and Blaine have to offer, he just wants to feel their love and their warmth, he just wants to be able to bask in it oh baby please let me hold you all through the night it's okay it's gonna be okay shh prince I'm here I love you


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Landfall Foundation grant helps students become successfully employed
The Landfall Foundation's $5,000 grant to Cape Fear Community College's health science programs is enabling more students to become certified in their field of study and increasing their opportunities to become successfully employed.
This year's grant is assisting students finishing CFCC's Dental Hygiene Program. Upon successful completion of program coursework, students are required to take certification exams to further qualify them for employment. The Landfall Foundation's funds cover a portion of the costs of the certification exams, which many students struggle to pay.
Regina McBarron, chairperson of CFCC's health science programs, says that the funds provided by the Landfall Foundation help students complete one of the final steps toward employment. "These certifications help our students get jobs. Often, students have difficulty affording the exams on top of all their other expenses. The Landfall Foundation grant will help students pay for the exams, and in turn, help them attain good jobs in our area.â€


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Giessenlanden House Rental Photos and Description
Holiday home, 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, (Sleeps 5)
This holiday home is at the edge of the small town of Nieuwland. The town is in the Province of Zuid-Holland. It is in the 'River Area', near the River De Linge. You can enjoy delightful, uninterrupted views of the surrounding meadows from the garden. The garden is shared with the holiday home next door.
You can enjoy plenty of interesting excursions in the area. And there are many cycling and walking routes nearby. The 'Glass City' of the Netherlands, Leerdam, with its many glass museums, is 6 km away. The fortified City of Gorinchem is 9 km. The City of Utrecht, which is excellent for shopping, is 30 km away. De Biesbosch National Park is 35 km.
There is a small, quiet campsite in the grounds.
These costs are charged on site. They are not included in the rental price.:
Deposit; € 100 (On arrival, you must pay the security deposit in cash)
Cleaning; Mandatory: € 45
Pets; Max. 2; € 1/Pet/Night
Bed linen; For rent, € 6 p.p./Stay
Bath towels; For rent, € 5 p.p./Stay
Kitchen linen; For rent, € 3 per Stay
Electricity; Included
Gas/Oil; Included
Wifi; Free
Tourist tax; Mandatory, indication € 1,30 /person/night
Breakfast; € 8,50/person/night
Cot; € 3,50/night
High chair; € 2/night
Miscellaneous; Bike rental€ 7,50/night; Use washing machine € 3,50/ wash; Use tumble dryer € 4 / wash; Breadservice; Cleaning supplement (for pet(s)) € 20 /Stay; Optional extra cleaning € 30 EURO
Further details for this vacation rental
Centre 4.0 km., Forest 4.0 km., Lake 9.0 km., General supplies 4.0 km., Public transport 1.0 km., Public swimming pool 6.0 km., Public indoor swimming pool 9.0 km., Tourist information office 0.0 km., Motorway junction 4.6 km., Other 0.0 km.


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Find out more about the characteristics of students who attend MU.
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Estimate your cost to attend MU in a few simple steps.
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Discover ways to be actively involved in your education at MU – inside and outside the classroom.
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Discover how many students who start at MU finish their bachelor's degree and how long it takes.
Figure out what learning gains to expect in critical thinking, writing, and other important subjects at MU.
There Is Only One Mizzou
Founded in 1839 as the first public university west of the Mississippi River, the University of Missouri in Columbia is a member of the nation's most prestigious group of 60 U.S. public and private institutions: the Association of American Universities. Today MU is a $2 billion enterprise with more than 34,000 students and 271,000 alumni worldwide.
MU offers 306 degree programs through 19 colleges and schools and has the largest research operation of any public university in Missouri. In fact, the National Science Foundation has recognized Mizzou as one of the top 10 universities in the country for integrating research into undergraduate education.
Home to the world's first School of Journalism, Mizzou offers many strong, unique programs on its 1,262-acre campus and is one of only six public universities nationwide with medicine, veterinary medicine and law on one campus.
More than 30 percent of MU students come from another state or another country, and a strong international community thrives in Columbia, a city consistently ranked among the top U.S. cities for its excellent quality of life.
Best Education from the Heart of the Nation
MU is committed to student success. We invite you and your family to visit our campus. You will visit with our admissions staff, explore the campus during a student led tour, interact with faculty in the academic areas in which you have the most interest and visit our wonderful student focused facilities. Once admitted, students and their families return for Summer Welcome, our new student orientation program. We work with you to develop a personalized academic plan for your first semester. You may join a Freshman Interest Group (FIG), a Learning Community, or consider joining a Greek organization or more than 600 student organizations. At the start of the semester, you participate in Fall and Spring Welcome activities to get better connected with the campus and your department. We want you to have a successful start at MU. The Learning Center, Academic Advising, Academic Retention Services and other programs are available to help you develop learning strategies to enhance your success. Our freshman retention rate indicates our students are well served by these programs. We want to help you define, clarify, and achieve your academic, personal, and professional goals throughout your program of study at MU.


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Favorite Surfas Item
There was a thread recently about your favorite Trader Joe's item. I can't seem to find it; perhaps it was moved to another board. But in light of the suggestions for housegifts from Surfas, I'm wondering whether people wish to toss out their favorite Surfas (store not cafe) item?
I like the sturgeon and smoked Sslmon and landtjaegers and summer sausages. Sometimes they have pretty good cheeses. I actually recently bought a too-smelly cheese from them -- an absolute first in 30 years of cheese-adoring. I really can't remember ever having met a cheese I didn't like before now! No hard feelings though...
Mini-valhrona choc chips are good too. Edible markers are appreciated!
Several brands of high quality European BULK chocolate for baking and hot chocolate! I have some choice about how much I buy and the price is good.
The bread flour in the refrigerator. It feels silkier than my usual King Arthur, and I could tell as soon as I mixed in water that it has a higher gluten content. My dough rose better and had a chewier center using the same recipe as I use for other flours.
I'm very curious about the big tubs of frozen puree in the freezer section. Has anyone tried them? I can't remember the name, but they're in long rectangular tubs and have great harder to find flavors like passionfruit in addition to the usual berries, etc.
Surfas carries so many wonderful items, but my favorite this week is their Aunt Polly's Dill Pickles in the refrigerator along the wall.
(I just called the product number that was on their jar - they are local in Van Nuys - and the lady that answered the phone told me that she is very ill and does not know if they will continue production...so sorry to learn this.)
The pumpkin ravioli. And the burdock root soda in glass bottles. And the frozen game sausages.
White Lily self-rising flour: even a hamhanded clod like me can make tender, fluffy biscuits with that!
Also: Spanish smoked paprika, Italian tuna in olive oil, whole-grain grits and polenta, all the different rices and dry legumes. I also love it that they have such an array of cured meats and game; I just wish I could afford them!
Coming up from The OC (not often enough), I'm half-swooning whenever I make the trip to Surfas ! I love all the Monin syrups (great for latte's or for summer coolers), also the tremendous selection of dried pastas, the game and duck sausages, the tremendous selection on olive oils and vinegars...
The BOOZE!!! Now Surfas has the most amazing selection of Beers and Wines... real winners... :)
Agreed with the monin syrups (love the rose & violet varieties) -- and also the Vosges chips/bars. Speaking of which, I need to stock up! ;)
The cafe surfas baked goods are also pretty tempting.
Hate to be sancrosanct here, but Surfa's is very expensive for many items you can find elsewhere. Just a caveat. On the other hand, they do carry white sprinkles made from chocolate – the only sprinkles I've ever found that don't contain partially hydrogenated oil. You can also buy good boxes there for packaging your cupcakes after you sprinkle them :) Regarding pickles, we could really have a whole thread just on that, but I stand by two kinds: 1) Gus Pickles, at some Whole Foodseses (imported from NY) and 2) Strubb's, newly at Ralph's. They have just the right flavor and crunch.
re: ChickenNWaffles
I recently got some refrigerated half sour dills at Trader Joe's that said they were made in Canada and I did a check and they are made by Strubs for TJ. A really good pickle, I must admit. I think they also make their refrigerated bread and butter chips too. Checking the Strubs' website it says they make pickles for TJ. I would assume they are cheaper than Ralph's. I pick up Delicieuse ice cream at Surfas. Really nice stuff.
Callebaut unsweetened chocolate in blocks. Valrhona and Callebaut bittersweet chocolates in blocks. Valrhona Equatorial 55% chocolate feves and Callebaut bittersweet chocolate chips in 2 lb. bags. Baudat Oranger Tree Honey (very crunchy). Last time I bought some bulk pastas where you scoop it yourself into bags and pay a set price per bag. Other interesting pastas.
I love the little fig caramels from France... decadent. I cannot really say I have one favorite item at Surfa's. I agree that some items can be hig-priced, but some items are so hard to find that I appreciate the convenience in knowing that if I cannot find something at Surfa's, it probably is not available in my area. Last weekend, my cart included Valhrona cocoa, two types of salt, a Fra'Mani salami, a fig caramel, some balsamic vinegar, and some smoky bacon ends/pieces. It was an entirely random shopping trip. I went in with only the cocao and balsamic on my list.
I'd like to add that after introducing my father-in-law to this place, he gave me strict instructions to either take him whenever I went or to ask him for a shopping list. Don't think I've seen the old bird so happy about a store in years!
re: Clare K
Oh and their cranberry Pumpkin Cheesecake they had these fall.... The best dessert I had ANYWHERE this year... I also love the Laura Ashley Bars! :)
re: Clare K
I just went and got the caramel chocolate brownie..delicious!! So decadent but not overly sweet, also very moist. I also got the duck asian salad and it was really great. Not heavy on the dressing and so many wonderful flavors. It was my first time eating there and definately not my last.
re: donnival


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A slow start didn't hurt No. 19 West Virginia on its way to a 55-12 defeat over the visiting Norfolk State Spartans Saturday afternoon.
West Virginia found itself trailing at halftime, but head coach Dana Holgorsen rallied the team for an impressive second half performance in front of a crowd of 51,911 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"Obviously, I'm not really pleased with the first half, but I was pleased with the second half," West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen said. "We're a young football team and inexperienced."
Norfolk State placekick Everett Goldberg nailed a 50-yard field goal to give the Spartans an early 3-0 lead.
West Virginia's first drive of the game began at Norfolk State's 26-yard line after an unsuccessful onside kick. Following a three-and-out, West Virginia placekicker Tyler Bitancurt missed a 35-yard field attempt wide left. The score remained 3-0.
After Bitancurt's missed field goal, both teams posted scoreless possessions before Tavon Austin seemed to have the Mountaineers in business. Austin returned a punt 64 yards to the Norfolk State 12-yard line. However, West Virginia failed to record a first down, only to turn the ball over on fourth down.
At the end of the first quarter, West Virginia had found itself deep into Spartan territory two separate occasions, but had no points to show for it. In fact, the home team didn't record a first down until the 13:58 mark of the second quarter. Norfolk State added a 39-yard field goal to begin the second quarter giving the Spartans a 6-0 lead.
But, Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith began to find his rhythm on the next drive. He found Tavon Austin for 25 yards that led to first-and-goal at the one-yard line for WVU. Once again, the Mountaineers were unable to punch it in and had to settle for a 17-yard field goal by Bitancurt that cut the lead in half, 6-3.
The West Virginia defense and special teams unit held strong throughout the first half, and gave the offense great opportunities. Wide Receiver Devon Brown, a transfer from Wake Forest, gave West Virginia its first lead of the game on an 18-yard pass from Geno Smith with 5:53 remaining until halftime. However, the Spartans responded by adding two field goals to take a 12-10 lead into the locker room.
"The team came out and played pretty lackadaisical in the first half," Smith said. "Norfolk State came out and played us hard."
Dana Holgorsen's offense made four appearances in the red zone throughout the first half, but was only able to manufacture 10 points.
Were the Mountaineers focused on their counterparts?
"We don't overlook anyone around here," Smith said. "I just think we didn't come out and play our game in the first half. For whatever reason, I don't know."
The second half was a different story for West Virginia. Geno Smith got the scoring started by marching the Mountaineers down the field in three plays. Freshman running back Vernard Roberts capped off the impressive drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, his second of the season. And, in a blink of an eye, the home team was leading 17-12. The drive proved to be the turning point in the game, as West Virginia seized the momentum and scored a touchdown on their next five possessions.
Much like his team, Geno Smith started slowly but finished strong on his way to another impressive offensive performance. Smith finished 19-33 for 372 yards and four touchdowns.
His 372 passing yards was the seventh-best single game performance in school history.
Smith was also able to spread the wealth to a variety of receivers, with four different receivers catching a touchdown pass from Smith on Saturday.
The rushing attack was a bit improved this week, but not much. Running backs Vernard Roberts, Dustin Garrison Trey Johnson and Andrew Buie all saw action on Saturday. The four combined for 99 yards rushing and two touchdowns
"Our run game was not good," Holgorsen said. "It's not what we want right now and we have to get better. I'd say Vernard (Roberts) ran the hardest."
Backup quarterback Paul Millard saw his first collegiate action against the Spartans. He entered the game midway through the fourth quarter. Millard led the Mountaineers on a 10 play 67-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bradley Starks.
The touchdown was the final score of the game for both teams.
Following the 55-12 victory for West Virginia, Geno Smith wasted no time to recognize the play by Norfolk State.
"My credit goes to Norfolk State for coming in with a good gameplan and playing hard," Smith said.
West Virginia outscored Norfolk State 45-0 in the second half.


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Shouting for help as he cradled the body of a dying girl in the fourth-floor window of a burning building, John Steinmetz was captured in an iconic 1979 Sun-Times photo that embodied the bravery of Chicago's firefighters.
The mustache has since grayed, and his face now wears a few wrinkles, but Capt. Steinmetz was unmistakably still the same strong, wiry man Sunday morning when he showed up for the final shift of his 34-year career at his Edgewater firehouse.
But more than three decades fighting fires could not prepare the 63-year-old for the surprise waiting at his final roll call: his two sons, Eric and Chris, standing at attention with the Engine 70 crew Steinmetz usually commands.
In an exception to the rule that prevents family members working the same shift together, the proud brothers — who work as a paramedic and a firefighter on the South Side — were assigned to work Sunday at their father's station as part of a moving tribute that saw dozens of firefighters honor the respected veteran.
"It's been a privilege," a visibly touched Steinmetz told them.
The captain had been on the job just two years when he was named Firefighter of the Year for his heroism at the apartment arson that killed six on Dec. 29, 1979.
Video footage of the blaze at 5406 N. Winthrop played during Sunday's tribute shows Steinmetz pass a child from the window to firefighters on a ladder, then repeatedly go back into the smoke-filled apartment to try to rescue more victims. Photos of the rescue were printed in newspapers around the world.
For Sunday's ceremony, colleagues nickle-plated and mounted Steinmetz's "Chicago bar" — a crowbar he carried for luck to every fire and accident scene — as a retirement gift.
Engineer Jim Bragado said he had some awkward moments explaining where the bar was after "borrowing" it for the ceremony.
"He carried that thing everywhere like a security blanket," Bragado said as friends shared fond memories of Steinmetz's career.
"It's not going on the living room wall!" joked Steinmetz's wife, Peggy, a nurse.


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