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Iowa City Senior Center. I was in my 20s, with no living grandparents; their <br />stories brought me into worlds I’d not lived in, one with party lines and draft <br />notices, outhouses and Beatles concerts, and shaped the instructor and <br />person I’ve become. <br />Yet elder voices are often discounted as outdated or uninformed. As the <br />chasm of technology widens, connections between young and old shrink <br />further, increasing loneliness across both populations. A class comprised <br />of elders would allow those who have lost their voice (or were not <br />permitted to have one) to find and share it with a wider community, bridging <br />the connection between young and old. <br />I am excited to forge a new partnership with the Seymour Center and <br />continue the fruitful collaboration with the ArtsCenter who has staffed <br />performances and helped with advertising and marketing. As documented in <br />the attached, both organizations have committed to contributing to the next <br />year of Story Connection. <br />I feel fortunate to have received OCAC funding in the past and do not <br />submit this request blithely; I realize funds are limited and Story Connection <br />is not the only worthy project. But a small amount of money will go a long <br />way, allowing Story Connection to become a self-sustaining storytelling <br />series we can count on, a space where our individuality is welcome, where <br />the sacred and joyful act of storytelling reveals the complexity inside each <br />of us, where community grows stronger, one story at a time. <br />Community Impact This proposal specifically seeks to elevate the voices of underrepresented <br />populations, including people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ <br />community, disabled folks, immigrants, and anybody else who has been <br />silenced because of their identity. It also seeks stories from our elders, <br />whose voices are often ignored because of ageism. The intersection of <br />these populations is also an important terrain for storytelling—some who <br />are elderly and a member of an underrepresented group have received <br />layers of messaging that their voice doesn’t matter. <br />Specifically recruiting the voices of our elders and underrepresented <br />communities and giving them space to be shared and heard is a conscious <br />effort to enrich our community by breeding understanding and familiarity <br />between people who may not otherwise intermingle. Each of these classes <br />will include a final performance open to the public (2 at TAC, 1 at Seymour <br />Center), with a target attendance of 75 people each. Performance <br />recordings will become podcasts to be more widely shared. <br />According to feedback collected anonymously from storytellers and <br />audience members in the last year (250+ people), this is powerful work. <br />Nearly all respondents said they would recommend Story Connection <br />classes and shows to others and that they would attend again. In their <br />written feedback, respondents frequently named authenticity and <br />connection as an essential part of their Story Connection Experience. Here <br />are some additional thoughts from <br />audience members: <br />“Stories were unexpected and showcased a variety of experiences. I <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 48EE4C0A-782B-4356-9910-53E4A5C88C34