hello from STOP

Hello STOP Partners!

 

A lot has happened since our last update.

 

What we did on our summer vacation. We were able to check in with some of you at the Allied Media Conference over the summer and meet some of you for the first time.  We had a really great session with participants who helped us think through some of the limitations and possibilities for the project.  Thanks to everyone who came through to make the session so successful!

 

We also held a story collector training with participants from New York and Oakland.

 

 I was lucky enough to get to spend a month in Australia connecting with organizers and advocates from a range of sectors.  Through conferences and smaller meetings, I got to share lots of information about STOP and learn tons about what's happening on the other side of the world.  In Melbourne we held another story collector training and I'm happy to introduce a new crew of STOP partners to you all.  Welcome, welcome to the Melbourne STOP group!  Isaac and I are already itching to get back over there and work more closely with you.

Back on the road.  We'll be heading back out on the road to do a listening tour.  We'd like to check in with all of you and check out any stories you've collected, make some plans for using those stories, and establish some next steps for integrating them into your ongoing work. We'll also be sharing new stories from each stop on the tour. First stop is Durham, NC.  If you haven't heard from us yet about possible dates to be in your town, get in touch.  We really do want to check in with everyone.

Creative uses.  We've heard from some of you that you're using the stories in great ways.  We've heard about a children's book in the works, about a training curriculum incorporating Phoebe's story, outreach happening to prisoners, and stories being used in study groups.  We're compiling all these uses to share across the project, so if you have used the stories in your work, we want to hear about it!  Please send descriptions, curricula, artwork, and any ideas our way.  With your permission, we'll make these uses available through the STOP website.

 

New stories.  Over the summer we collected at least 12 new stories and we hear that two more are in the works in Durham.  Many thanks to all you transcribers out there!  We're still looking for people who are willing to translate stories, so let us know if you're up that challenge. 

 

Isaac is putting two new stories up on the website (again, that's www.stopviolenceeveryday.org), so check those out.  Also, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement about the new, beautiful Creative Interventions organizational website and the community -based interventions toolkit that should be out in the next few months!

 

Thanks for all your work in making STOP move forward.  We'll see you in your town soon!

Rachel

For the STOP team