This is an excerpt from the “About Us” section on the StoryCorps website: “Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 45,000 interviews with nearly 90,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.”  I have always enjoyed listening to StoryCorps interviews on NPR, and was excited when they introduced their animated shorts.  I featured one of them, “Eyes on the Stars“, on this blog at the beginning of this year.

To me, StoryCorps embodies the message that “You Matter.”  I have found so often in my own life, whether in my classroom or at home, that the simple act of truly listening to someone honors them in a way that many of our actions cannot.  That is why I was thrilled to hear about their upcoming television show, “Listening is an Act of Love.”  Premiering on November 28 at 9/8c on PBS, this show will feature 6 animated stories from the last 10 years.

I suppose it’s ironic that I am recommending watching a television show while I am trying to promote that we listen more to each other.  However, if you even watch one of the animated shorts on the StoryCorps page, I guarantee that you will see the value of these conversations and be inspired to begin one with someone close to you.  If so, you might want to use some of the ideas on the “Great Questions” page, such as, “If you could hold on to just one memory from your life forever, what would that be?”  StoryCorps also has an iPhone app with recommended questions and other resources.  (This could be a great project for Genius Hour. Just be sure to preview the questions, first.)

You can read more about the team behind the StoryCorps Animated Shorts here.  If you have a chance, watch or record “Listening is an Act of Love” this Thursday.  If not, at least take a look at some of the Animated Shorts.