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UMass/NN Storytelling Project: Connecting Across Generations

Northampton Neighbors is once again partnering with public health students at UMass on a storytelling project. Hear StoryShares here.

Throughout the course, students will learn about different ways to build connections, including through storytelling. Participating NN members can expect to commit a minimum  of 8 hours of time, mostly on Zoom, between February and early May. See below for the Project Schedule.

The Epidemic of Loneliness:On Connection, Belonging, and Public Health is taught by Professor Gloria DiFulvio PhD, MPH. 


Sign up by January 29, 2025
Click
here
 to complete the online sign up.
The first 26 people will be matched with a student this semester, and we’ll keep a list for future classes. Professor Gloria DiFulvio PhD, MPH, will confirm all participants by February 4, 2025.


 

The Project Schedule

Tuesday February 18 – First Meeting with NN

Tuesday March 11 – Book Club Part 1

Tuesday April 29 - Book Club Part II

Tuesday April 22 – Target date for completion of interview

Tuesday May 6 – Celebration of Stories 



First, participating NN members will join the class via Zoom.

You will:
Receive an overview of the class and project;
Hear directly from some students;
Meet your student partner and begin your journey together! 

You’ll have an initial conversation with your student partner, and establish a timeline together for future meetings. Students and volunteers then reserve time for their first “meet-up” (live or on zoom). As you get to know each other, you’ll decide on the topics you’d like to discuss during a culminating interview.

Next, we'll discuss Dr. Vivek Murthy’s book: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. In this book, Dr. Murthy talks about the crisis in public health spurred by disconnections and displacement of people around the globe. His book sparked the idea for the class and the project. Book discussions will happen via Zoom, with volunteers and students placed in small groups for ongoing conversations.

In mid-April, your interviews will be recorded using the StoryCorps format (click here for examples). You’ll receive your recording by May 1 and you can decide if you would like to share your story more widely. 

Finally, on Tuesday, May 6th, there will be a celebration at the end of the class when volunteers and students will come together. We’ll have time to share some stories and discuss the process together.