Photography or video contests invite members of a community to submit photos on a certain topic, generally community character or special places, to collect different perspectives on how residents see the community's heart and soul.
The HeartSpots project, an interactive storytelling project created for the Heart & Soul project of Biddeford, Maine, allows citizens to record stories and memories through cell phones at many of their favorite locations on Main St.
Modeled after traditional storytelling gatherings, Story Circles allow people to come together to share experiences and stories. This process can help communities explore and identify unifying values, which can inform the planning process.
Spurred by a tragic fire in which much of the Island’s recorded history burned to the ground, the Swan’s Island Memory Project aims to revive recollections of the small Maine Island through recorded histories and historical photographs.
The New Orleans Survivor Council Story Circles were a meeting facilitation tool used in a larger grassroots effort to organize community members and ensure that post-disaster efforts met the needs of all those affected.
Everyday Democracy is a national leader in the field of civic participation and community change, helping people of different backgrounds and views talk and work together to solve problems and create communities that work for everyone.
Community Theater projects expand upon the concept of local theater to produce shows that are based upon or document the character of the community itself or explore issues the community is dealing with.
Starksboro, Vermont is working to balance a growing population with a rural lifestyle. The Art & Soul project used storytelling and a series of community arts projects to engage citizens and identify common values that can guide planning decisions.
Story Interviews, typically recorded conversations between two or more people, are a way to collect and share memories, personal experiences, and connections to a place. They can celebrate a town, spark discussion, and influence future plans.