Vocalo Storytellers

Vocalo Storytellers receive training from #teamvocalo to share stories about things they care about. Our 2015-2016 workshop series is funded by the Chicago Community Trust & the Field Foundation.

[barbershopshow]

On this installment of the Barber Shop Show we featured two of our newly-minted Vocalo Storytellers: • Brittney Leeanne Williams, and • Gloria Guaderrama They shared excerpts from their final projects. We also heard be some live drumming in the shop (Gloria interviewed her Latin drumming instructor for her story). Then, we heard from Daniel Ash of the Chicago Community Trust (and formerly of WBEZ). He filled us in on this year’s On the Table initiative. The Barber Shop Show airs live on Fridays at Noon on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 9am on 91.1FM and on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM

[vocalostorytellers]

Gloria Guaderrama - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1.                   Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller?

I became a Vocalo Storyteller because I feel that Vocalo truly represents “real” Chicago communities.  I love the quality and soul of the programming, and I appreciate that Vocalo gives everyone a voice by airing stories that perhaps would never be told.

2.            Your piece in two lines.

My piece is about my search for healing and how a overcoming a difficult decision to take my first music class as adult changed my life as I look back 10 years later. For my piece I interviewed Carlos Cornier the teacher that made this happen for me.

3.            Why did you tell this story?

I wanted to tell this story because I want to inspire Chicagoans who may perhaps feel intimidated to express themselves through music to block all doubts and to just go for it. I also told this story because I feel that sometimes we go through life without taking a small step to pause and acknowledge those that help us on our journey and I feel that music teachers share a special part of their soul with their students, especially drum teachers because they help us connect with our ancestral traditions.

4.            How are you a better storyteller and producer?

I feel I am a better storyteller/producer because I learned to listen for intent and to make each line matter in order to invite the listener into the story and make them see what they hear.  I learned to write for the ear, to keep it simple, interesting, active, and most importantly to keep it honest and real.

[vocalostorytellers]

Tracy Montes - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1.       Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller?

I’m relatively new to Chicago and I wanted to be more involved and get to know the community better. I also wanted to  learn how to put a story together, from start to finish and explore interviewing people and using the audio software and learning from professionals in the field was something that inspired me to apply.

2.       Your piece in two lines.

My piece explores the question "What are you going to do with a degree in Art History?" even though that question can apply to any creative art field. My piece attempts to explore the skepticism towards art careers.

3.       Why did you tell this story?

Because it is a question that will continue to be asked and I want people (specially young, creative people) to listen and realize that they don't have to justify or explain or doubt what makes them happy and nurtures their passion for learning and creating art.  

4.       How are you a better storyteller and producer?

I am no longer apprehensive when  taking risks as a beginner audio documentarian and I am inspired to keep exploring other stories through storytelling and to keep producing my own pieces.

[vocalostorytellers]

Brittney Leeanne Williams - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1.       Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller?

My interests were peaked with the Vocalo Storyteller program because I have such a deep love and investment in storytelling as a craft/media art form. Because of that, I wanted to learn the tools to create my own stories as well as gain knowledge in podcasting.

2.       Your piece in two lines.

Interviewing Black artists that are in her community, Brittney Leeanne Williams speaks to curator Janice Bond and artist Hebru Brantley. Looking at the journey of their careers, Williams inspects how they've evolved and grown into creative giants.

3.       Why did you tell this story?

Because I'm an artist, I wanted to learn and listen as much as Vocalo listeners. As they listen and take heed to Bond and Brantley, I too am soaking up their creative wisdom. My project ended up being for the Vocalo listeners as much as for myself.

4.       How are you a better storyteller and producer?

Learning the programs and equipment was a major portion of my education at Vocalo Storyteller. In addition to that, I really learned how to write a linear script that takes listeners on a journey.  

[vocalostorytellers]

Elisa Shoenberger - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1. Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller? I wanted to learn how to have better interviews and learn how to produce a piece. I have over 50 interviews of women in the arts in Chicago already recorded for my oral history project and I wanted to learn what I could do with all that tape. 2. Your piece in two lines. I interview three women artists, Nora Moore Lloyd, Carron Little, and Meida Teresa McNeal, about their community focused work here in Chicago. Each woman does important art with society in very different ways.   3. Why did you tell this story? It’s not a story that’s often told. Women are doing incredible work here in Chicago and I want to make sure that their amazing contributions to art and society are known. 4. How are you a better storyteller and producer? I have learned how to get better tape through better recording techniques. I have also learned how important it is to keep rolling, to get those unexpected moments. I’ve also learned to think about sound opportunities, like recording someone while they show you their camera or review an album with them, in order to help a story come alive. I’ve learned how to write a good radio script to help tie the piece together. Finally, I’ve learned how to think of the piece as a whole in order to tell the story.

[vocalostorytellers]

Elizabeth Cambridge - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1.       Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller?

I became a Vocalo Storyteller because I wanted to learn how to use my voice to tell the stories of others.  I wanted to learn how to be a better producer and storyteller.

2.       Your piece in two lines?

A look at the conflict between black immigrants and African Americans and the spaces that allow communication and growth between the two groups.

 3.       Why did you tell this story?

I wanted to tell this story to enlighten others of the conflict between the two groups.

4.       How are you a better storyteller and producer?

I am a better storyteller and producer because I now have a better understanding of how to tell a story. how to write for radio, and how to properly use audio equipment.  

[vocalostorytellers]

Aaron Arreguin - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1. Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller?

I've been wanting to be a Vocalo storyteller for a while, the previous stories and the radio is amazing! I wanted to craft a story about what I was going through at work and knew this would be a great opportunity and time to do so.

2. Your piece in two lines.

Through several interviews with Chicago Public School teachers and a Chicago Teachers Union delegate, we hear their perspective first hand about their thoughts and their experience in the midst of a contract negotiations for our careers and dignity.

3. Why did you tell this story?

This story is personal because I too belong to the teachers union and felt like there wasn't enough content in the media that gave light to the staff involved with the contract.

4. How are you a better storyteller and producer?

Listening to people have the same problem, created a unity that was unique to understanding several levels of empathy with the teachers in my school and other schools across Chicago.

[vocalostorytellers]

Danielle Echols - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1. Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller?

I became a Vocalo storyteller mostly because I wanted a new experience.  I listen to podcast all the time and I think that they are so interesting. I have had my hand in a lot of different things in the media world, so I really saw joining this workshop as an opportunity to learn new skills and enhance the skills that I already have. I also felt like it was going to be a opportunity to meet some new artists and expand my friend base.  I must say that I accomplished both missions.

2.  Your piece in two lines.

A story of a granddaughter getting to know the rich life of her grandfather.

3. Why did you tell this story?

I told this story because I had to. I learn a lot of wisdom from my grandfather, and I always know there is more to learn.  The story of the record label DaRan records, was one that he wants so badly to share with the world.  This was a good opportunity to make that happen.

4. How are you a better storyteller and producer?

This project made me get up and do something.  This particular piece about my grandfather is something that I've been wanting to do for a while and I majorly procrastinated.  I now have some more confidence when it comes to creating a project. I also learned to role with the punches. During the making of this piece, we had a major family shift that directly affects me and my grandfather. I didn't know if the piece was going to get done or not.  Other things certainly had to take priority.  In the end, this tuned out to be a great bonding experience, and I learned to really push for my work.  I learned to not get so caught up on perfection, and to let the work guide you. I learned a lot from listening to other people in the class about their experiences getting interviews and what not. I feel I'm stronger for being in this class.  I have so much more to learn, but I definitely have learned a lot.

[vocalostorytellers]

Colin Hanner - Vocalo Storytelling Workshop Winter 2016

1. Why did you become a Vocalo Storyteller?

When I listen to NPR or StoryCorps or Vocalo, I am often amazed. By sound and description provided by the storyteller, I’m taken back by the storytelling abilities of people. I wanted to be a part of something where I was able to connect with myself with someone interesting and someone in peril and bring them to the forefront by putting them on the air.

2. Your piece in two lines.

Maurice Perkins grew up on the south side of Chicago and never left. He couldn’t – he owed something to the place that took so much away from him.

3. Why did you tell this story?

I attempted to tell Maurice’s story as best I could. I came across Maurice by accident and wanted to meet him and his story told itself. He’s a veteran on the streets (and in the military), a cop, a former club owner, a could-be millionaire, and now a struggling non-profit owner.

4. How are you a better storyteller and producer?

I think that I have a better grasp of what works in radio and how to setup and end a story. Though my piece may not reflect all that I’ve learned, I think that going forward I will want to continue to tell stories through this medium.

[vocalostorytellers]

Voice Over

Elisa Shoenberger -

Saturday was the last day of the Vocalo Storytelling Workshop before the final piece is due. We spent the day at the Navy Pier Vocalo offices working on our voiceovers for the pieces! It was very exciting to be in the studio booth. I apparently can’t pronounce photography or photographer particularly well! Oh well. We got there eventually. 

The voiceover is essential to the piece; it ties the whole thing together!  I started working on bringing the entire piece together and it sounds really neat to have all the audio! I have some work to do to edit it down to eight minutes. I can’t wait to share this with everyone!

[vocalostorytellers]

Vocalo Storyteller Elizabeth Cambridge working on logging her audio during or Drop-In Session.

[vocalostorytellers]

Christopher Johnson and Elisa Shoenberger work on a final edit of her script during our drop-in session.

[vocalostorytellers]

Chicago Women Artists

from Elisa: The third artist is photographer Nora Moore Lloyd for the piece. She has been taking photographs of elders and other members of Native American tribes all over the US. She’s also gone overseas to take photos of indigenous peoples like Bolivia. We met through the Illinois State Museum’s summer exhibition “Footprints Through Time: Artists Inspired by History.” She had shown several photographs of a family with each family member’s story. It was an incredible exhibition filled with important history and stories. Sadly, this was the exhibition that was cut short due to the Governor’s decision to cut the budget of the entire ISM.

Nora Moore Lloyd and I met several months later in July to talk about her work and career. It was a night filled with cicadas and beautiful birds (You can hear it on the July tape). We met again in February to talk more specifically about her work photographing Native American elders. She has an incredible story and I can’t wait to share it.

Check out her work here: http://www.nativepics.org/index.html

[vocalostorytellers]

Chicago Women Artists

From Elisa:

Meida Teresa McNeal is another artist I’m featuring in my piece. She is the Artistic and Executive Director of Honey Pot Performance. Honey Pot is “an Afro-diasporic creative collaborative community centered on feminist and fringe sensibilities.” I’ll be talking with Meida Teresa McNeal about their 2014  work “Juke Cry Hand Clap: A People’s History of House Music and Chicago Social Culture” that focused on house and social culture in Chicago.

This is a photo of Honey Pot Performance’s 2013 piece “Price Point” through the Out of Site series.

Check out more information on Honey Pot Performance here: http://honeypotperformance.com/

Learn more about their upcoming gala  \SHIFT\ on 2/27 to fundraise for HPP and their newest work Ma(s)king Her in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on April 14 thru 16.

[vocalostorytellers]

from Tracy:

Me during my trip to Mexico City, where I had the chance to interview people for my story. #teamvocalo #vocalo

[vocalostorytellers]

from Tracy:

Last week I traveled to Mexico City to interview a couple of people, one of them read from one of the articles she published as an art historian. Can’t wait to start editing and working on piecing the story together!  #teamvocalo #vocalo

[vocalostorytellers]

From Tracy:

This is me with Eva Davis, a gallery guide at the Guggenheim Museum. I had the chance to interview her for my story. She offered valuable insight and an honest perspective of her background and life as she immersed herself in art history. Thanks Eva!  #teamvocalo #vocalo