Stories Promote

Cultural Understanding

The large portraits draw you in. They're images of twin girls in twin wheelchairs; a Latina teenager surrounded by her family and a boyfriend with an intense spiky red hairdo; a lanky, mixed-race youth with an Afro that stands a foot high. The pictures confront the viewer and speak to the complexity of life, both inside and outside classroom walls.

The photographs—numbering more than 100—are part of the Stories Project, which explores the strength and diversity of Portland Public Schools' students, families, and teachers. In May, a selection of pictures will be on display at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center in Portland (see information below); they'll serve as the backdrop for community dialogues, teacher trainings, and other events organized by the school district and the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.

The images and accompanying stories have inspired and challenged educators, students, and families around Portland and beyond. "They remind us that at the center of educational success are trusting relationships: people who see us, know our strengths and challenges, and are willing to stand by us," according to Shauna Adams, a clinical social worker with Portland Public Schools.

Adams conceived the Stories Project in 1999 as "an educational tool that invites educators and communities to take a closer look at the racial and cultural issues that impact teaching and learning in our schools." It was a time when the district was developing its strategic plan and talking about diversity. Adams remembers, "We wanted to make that visible, give depth and breadth to what we meant when we said 'we will build on the strength of our diversity.'"

Adams, together with NWREL's Keisha Edwards, photographer Kathleen Nyberg, and consultant Lisa Race, asked students about their families and cultural background; their ability to connect in school; and whether they really felt they were seen and heard. Intrigued by those stories, the team expanded the project to include teachers, a state youth summit, and one local high school's Gay-Straight Alliance. In April, the project will be brought to a leadership retreat for Oregon and Washington youth.

Edwards, a research and training associate at NWREL, says the pictures and text have traveled to Denver and San Jose as well as to some of NWREL's partner sites. "They're used as a catalyst for conversation around culture and differences in schools," says Edwards, who has worked with other school districts to create their own story projects.

As the exhibit summary eloquently states, "These stories remind us of the tremendous potential for us to see and understand each other in new ways. They also inspire us to tell our own stories with hope, compassion, and strength."

For more information about the exhibit and scheduled events, contact edwardsk@nwrel.org or check the Web at www.nwrel.org/partnerships/events/stories/

The Stories Project
May 6–27, 2004
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
5340 N. Interstate, Portland

Stories Promote

Cultural Understanding

The Stories Project May 6–27, 2004 Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center 5340 N. Interstate, Portland

The Stories Project
May 6–27, 2004
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
5340 N. Interstate, Portland