StoryCorps in Roanoke

StoryCorps in Roanoke

11.17.08 - Mark Smith of Roanoke shares his story of coming out as a gay man...and what it took to open up to loved ones. He's interviewed now by his friend, Jason Carlin. Listen.

11.10.08 - Dr. Perneller Chubb-Wilson, with the Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, is often credited as being the central figure in making the downtown Roanoke statute of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reality. Here is just a snapshop from her life in civil rights - as she talked recently to her friend and colleague, Bishop E.M. Mitchell. Listen.

Dr. Perneller Chubb-Wilson of Roanoke pictured with her friend and colleaque, Bishop E.M. Mitchell.

11.03.08 - PART THREE: Recently, we brought you the story of Lillian Howell of Hardy, Virginia. Visiting the StoryCorps booth, she told her son Tom about her family's struggle with the stock market crash 79 years ago. Today, Tom Howell's story.... While his parents were children of the depression, Tom's story centers around another American era. He's dropped out of college, he's avoiding VietNam... and he leaves Virginia for San Francisco's Haight Ashbury District. Listen.

10.27.08 -PART TWO: StoryCorps memory now-- about the financial hardships of 1929. It centers around a story that Lillian Howell of Hardy, Virginia told her son Tom-- about the stock market crash of October, 79 years ago. Howell's father lost his job with Kroger in Ohio, and the family hit the road to stay with relatives in Virginia.  It was a three-night trip in their Model T, and the family slept in the car. Now, Howell continues as the family arrives, in the middle of the night, at the home of her aunt and uncle, who were sharecroppers living in Bedford County. Listen.

10.24.08 - PART ONE: Today’s grim financial news, for some, brings back memories of this same week in October - 79 years ago - when the stock market crashed. That was the topic of conversation in the StoryCorps booth, recently parked in Roanoke - Lillian Howell of Hardy, Virginia told her son Tom all about that fateful week - in the midst of the crash, her father lost his job at Kroger’s in Cincinatti.
The family decided to hit the road, and head to the home of with relatives in Virginia. Coming up Monday on Morning Edition, part two from Lillian Howell’s story. We’ll hear what her family found, when they called on relatives to take them in—sharecroppers in Bedford County. Today's interview was produced by WVTF's Connie Stevens. Listen.

Lillian Howell of Hardy, Virginia with her son Tom

10.17.08 - The Story Corps booth moves on this weekend, heading down the road after calling the Virginia Museum of Transporation in Roanoke home for a few weeks. Today, three generations of Kilgore men sit down for a chat.  Grandfather Marvin Kilgore of Chatham; his son, Timothy, of Danville; and Tim's son, Jason, who lives in Pennsylvania, had a talk about the changing ways of child-rearing.  Today's installment was edited by WVTF's Connie Stevens. Listen.

10.10.08 - One fitting topic this month discussed in the StoryCorps booth, parked in Roanoke, is breast cancer.  And October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Hear now, a discussion between John Anderson and his wife, Sharon Rapoport.  John has helped several women in his life-- his mother, a close family friend, and more recently his wife and his sister, all battle breast cancer. Listen.

Sharon Rapoport and John Anderson own an advertising business together, called "The Farm."  Anderson is now working on a book, a guide for men when their loved ones are diagnosed with breast cancer.  Today's StoryCorps audio was edited by WVTF's Connie Stevens.

10.7.08 - StoryCorps on Evening Edition - Listen

Michele Morris & Rob Neukirch

Nikki Giovanni & Jeremy Helton

Jonathan & Kimberly Marye

10.3.08 - Earl Reynolds of Roanoke, who works in Community Development was interviewed by his daughter, Ashley, about growing up in the 1960s on Roanoke's Henry Street and helping out in his father's barber shop.  Earl Reynolds is a former Assistant City Manager for Roanoke and a former Martinsville City Manager.  He got his start in city government working for the Sanitation Department as a garbage collector, and now works for Total Action Against Poverty in Roanoke.  His daughter, Ashley, is awaiting the results of her bar exam. Listen.

Roger, Karen, Whitney, Jeremy and Nina in front of the booth.

StoryCorps' opening day in Roanoke. Chilly but fun!

Whitney inside the booth.

Everyone has a story to tell. Now, here's your chance. Make a reservation in the StoryCorps Mobile Booth when it stops in Roanoke. The booth will be in Roanoke at the Virginia Museum of Transportation from Sept. 25-Oct. 20.

More reservations open to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 26th. You can make a reservation online at http://www.storycorps.net/record-your-story/locations/roanoke-va or by calling 800-850-4406.

Suggested donation is $25.

Each conversation is recorded on a CD to take home and share, and is archived for generations to come at the Library of Congress. Millions listen to our award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet.

StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, creating a growing portrait of who we really are as Americans.

What is StoryCorps? Find out by visiting the StoryCorps website.