Erin Shaw Street

Storycorps in Birmingham, Alabama: Our First-Hand Experience

 

Of my 34 years, I've spent 18 of them, half a life, interviewing people for a living. (OK, I spent more time at USC writing about moody postmodern Irish poets, but I spent plenty of time in the summers cutting my teeth as a newspaper intern, so that counts!)

But today I did one of the most, if the not most important interview of my life -- interviewing Dad for the StoryCorps Project.

For those not familiar with StoryCorps, it's a non-profit that travels the country and offers people the opportunity to quite simply tell their stories. In short, you bring a partner and ask anything of him or her in the span of 45 minutes while sitting in their tricked out Airstream (more about this in a moment). Participants are then given a CD and their stories are archived in the Library of Congress, with some of the best being played on NPR.

Their motto: "Every Voice Counts."

***

I've been a big fan of their NPR broadcasts for years, and was excited when StoryCorps announced a visit to Birmingham. So, when tickets went on sale, I was sitting by my computer, nervously hitting the refresh button to get a spot. (It's a good thing that I did, since all the spots were taken within a few minutes.)

I didn't think twice about who I would interview. My Dad is such a great storyteller, and despite the tales he's told me and shared on his blog, we'd never sit down and done a formal interview, never mind a recorded one. He seemed a little trepedatious, but I promised that I wouldn't throw him any crazy curve balls.

Preparing the list of questions was tough -- there were so many subjects I wanted to cover. Going over that list was like a flashback of our family's life, and more than a few tears welled up when I got to some of the more difficult questions.

Against the advice of some, I actually shared the list with him. I get why in general it's not good to do this (and as a journalist I rarely share). But I asked Dad if he would feel more comfortable getting a general outline and he said yes, so I respected his wishes. (It worked out well for us, but I also understand not wanting to compromise the spontaneity too -- everyone has to decided on the best strategy for theme.)

***

We arrived a few minutes early to the shiny silver Airstream parked outside the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum and were greeted with warm welcomes by a young woman who would help facilitate our discussion. The first step was filling out paperwork. (On a side note, I thought it was interesting that they listed "transgender" as a category -- right on. Not sure about the difference between "gay" and "queer" -- meant to ask aout that.)

I was getting really nervous at this point, mostly because I wanted to get the interview right -- and because I'd never interviewed my Dad before. Before we got started, asked him how he felt:

Before we knew it, our host was ushering us into the Airstream, which felt a bit like hallowed ground. The Airstream! We were lead to its studio, which takes about half of the space (the other half has a small space with a desk and seating). She closed the door and was great at explaining what would happen.

Dad and I sat face to face in a booth similar to that of a restaurant. In fact, she stressed several times to think of our talk as a conversation that would take place at a kitchen table, which is always good advice. She advised me to just use the question list as a guide and to feel free to go wherever the story took us.

We were asked to turn off our cell phones and advised that any noise, including the shuffling of papers, would be recorded. (She even took away my beloved pen cap -- they know what they are doing!) We were also given small cups in which to pour our drinking water. Shhh...

She explained that she would help us keep time by giving simple signals when we were reaching 10, 5 and one minute points. I also put my father's watch on the table to help me gauge time. And we were off ...

 

(Note: both of these images were taken afterwords.)

The conversation flowed effortlessly. We talked about questions I'd prepared -- about how a boy who grew up in New York ended up in Alabama, about his time at Woodstock, about the evolution of technology and its influence on his life, and advice on how he did such a great job of raising three kids (ahem).

But we also talked about things I hadn't planned for, like the state of his religious beliefs (I seriously didn't know I would ask about this) and the time he could have gotten a full ride to Harvard (wo.)

There were many other things we shared too, which were recorded on a CD and handed to us right after we finished. Some of them are a bit private to talk about now, but we might share later. And heck, you can look it up in the LIbrary of Congress to get the real skinny.

***

Why did I think it would be so difficult to interview Dad? Maybe, in addition to admiring him so much and always wanting to make him proud, it's because I knew that long after we're gone, great-great-great Shaws and Streets could listen to the recording and learn about this great person's history -- and our family's history. That's pretty serious stuff.

At the end we were both pretty relaxed, and posed for photos that they take to go along with the recording. We listened to the CD in the car before he dropped me off, and the audio was remarkably clear.

I'm eager to hear about the experiences of others who participate in Birmingham (and elsewhere). Thankful to have been given this opportunity.

And wanting to record more stories of my family, with a reminder that sometimes the best stories are right in front of you.

 

Related Links:

WBHM 90.3

MagicCityPost: StoryCorps To Record Birmingham Stories In Birmingham

The Terminal: StoryCorps Comes To Birmingham

Al.com: Birmingham-Area Residents Tell The Tales of Their Lives

Birmingham's Biggest Flash Mob Unveiled: Breast Cancer Research Foundation Strikes Again!

  

This morning I was thrilled to be a part of Birmingham's biggest ever, Flash mob at the Riverchase Galleria. Hundreds of dancers, who had all been taught the "Thriller" dance broke into "random" dance, much to the delight (and surprise) of mall passer-bys. (Which just so happened to be a lot of Florida fans in town for the Alabama game. This is how we do it in Alabama!)

The whole purpose of the event was to bring attention to an organization I deeply believe in: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama.

During the dance, the volunteers, who came from all over Birmingham, revealed bright pink shirts with a question mark and the BCFRA's website (click here).

Plus there were many fantastic Birmingham bloggers who volunteered their time to participate (@EatBhm even danced), Tweet, and blog about the event.

The ulltimate goal: to get people to visit the BCRFA's website so they can:

1)Learn about the foundation and its mission (to fund cutting-edge research at UAB, with 100% of funds raised staying right here in Birmingham and going to research).

2)Spread the word about their many incredible events scheduled for this October and beyond.

So it was much more than a fun dance (though it was awesome to see moms and daughters and grandmas -- and a number of men too -- shake their groove things).

It was to introduce a whole new community of people to the BCRFA's lifechanging work, with the hopes that maybe one day they will volunteer their time or support the cause by attending an event/making a donation.

No one embodies the Foundation's mission more than my friend Dolly O'Neal, who helped found the non-profit in Birmingham 15 years ago after she was treated for breast cancer.

Dolly, a mom of three (and now grandma) didn't know then that they money she raised would benefit her personally, but it did.

When she was diagnosed again last year, UAB doctors used a treatment that was made possible by the investment the BCRFA made in its development. Pretty amazing stuff.

Today Dolly danced in the flash mob, surrounded by other survivors and the people who care about them.

I was so proud of her, and of the Foundation's director, Jennifer Galbreath, for pulling this off!

But now starts the real work: encouraging people to go to the Foundation's website to let them know about the remarkable, lifesaving work these volunteers do. Unlike some organizations, they don't have a huge marketing budget, so they need all the help they can get.

So, if you live in Alabama, won't you help me spread the word? Tell your friends about the Foundation, check out their website and the events they're doing throughout the month, and if you are considering making a donation this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please consider them. (They also have an Alabama license plate, which is an easy way to donate. Click here for info on that.)

If you have a question, please let me know. If I can't answer you I'd be happy to put you in touch with Jennifer. And if you were there,  I'd love to see your photos/videos/hear your thoughts!

On Twitter:

@BCRFAlabama

@whoispink_2010

 

Related Links:

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Now We Know Your Color, Here's How To Help

Check Your Charities

Sneak Peek: Oscar's at The Birmingham Museum of Art

Today I had the great fortune of attending a soft opening for Oscar's, the new restaurant at The Birmingham Museum of Art. With a menu chock full of ingredients from local farms, it's a welcome addition to Birmingham's beloved arts hub.

Run by local company A Social Affair, the menu consists of starters, sandwiches, salas, desserts and kids' items (aka "Bart The Art Bat's Favorite Bites.")

Each meal starts out with a complimentary sample -- today it was a scoop of pimento cheese with carrots and celery.

They call it "upscale comfort food," which works.

I ordered something a bit unusual for me -- the beef tenderloin sandwich -- because I wanted to try the grass-fed beef tenderloin (it also comes with caramelized onions, gorgonzola, arugula and homemade smoke mayo, and tomatoes for those tomato loves -- not me). Served on cibatta bread with fresh strawberries, blackberries, and melons, it was a perfect lunch.

 

My friend had the mahi mahi special, which I snagged a bite of (also divine). We finished off our meals by splitting two of their signature desserts: a banana pudding served in a Mason jar (nice touch) topped with Meringue and the grilled plantation cake (with fresh local berries and peaches, topped with chantilly cream). I'm not even sure what chantilly cream is, but it was absolutely decadent, with both desserts being worth the splurge.

In addition to the delicious, locally grown food (coming from Jones Valley Urban Farm, among others), they've also nailed the ambiance. The mod lime green chairs set the tone for a meal that's part of the entire experience of the museum.

They open to the public July 7, and will be a great gathering place at an already stellar jewel of a museum.

For a complete menu, directions, and information about reservations, visit their new homepage: Oscar's At The Museum.

Related Links:

al.com: Cafe At Birmingham Museum of Art Set To Re-Open Mid-July

FoodRevival.com

Lettuce Write Poetry: DISCO Writing Booth at Pepper Place

Super Star Onion

Snapshot from Pepper Place Farmer's Market, where I chilled at the DISCO Birmingham writing booth. The vegetable of the week was onions, and despite the rain, we had great turnout of kids.

Chip, Shaun, and I had fun working with the kids, using vegetables as an inspiration for their creative writing. We agreed that one of the best parts about working with them is that it reminds us of the joy of the writing process.

It's a joy that, frankly, gets obscured in our daily challenges. I don't need to wax poetic here: a writing life is never easy, and that goes for those of us making a living of it during these tumultuous economic times and changing creative landscapes.

So much to process -- the potential of technology, faltering old media, struggling new media, sprinkled in with groceries to buy, and bills to pay. It's nice to dream, but mama needs new shoes.

Here we are in the middle of it all, this bridge generation of writers and creatives who were raised on print but just as agile with an iPad. It's a little mind boggling.

Events of the past couple of weeks (see my previous post about Poynter) have made me realize that part of my purpose now is to foster discussions with other writers and creatives in my community.

By talking, we're going to help each other through this. Just like we're encouraging kids to write, so should we encourage one another. One poem, one website, one published (or unpublished) story at a time.

More on this later -- it's all taking shape in my head. But for now, this is the start of an essay I'm writing about the Farmer's Market, where I shop for produce and words:

"The morning rains had scattered the crowds, and rows of produce remained untouched. Squash, cucumbers, herbs, tomatoes -- so much possibility.

I walked through the aisles admiring the colors and smells, the big men holding little dogs and farmers perched on flat bed trucks. Free range eggs, organic goat cheese, bunches of zinnias covered in rain drops. 

I didn't have a clue what to do with any of it, of course. Under the awning I confessed to Shaun that I'm a foodie without food skills. 'Not even a few dishes?' she asked. 'Nope, just Bagel Bites,' I replied.

So here were all these rows of greens, and Chilton County peaches still with leaves, blackberries by the bucket full. What to do with them? I wasn't even sure where to start.

My hair got frizzy, toes wet. Then the sun came out, and farmers packed up their stands.

Overwhelmed by the possibilities. What to do next? Pick up a pen and start cooking."

Writing farmers, how can we work together to support and encourage each other? Share your ideas.

Related Links:

CBS42 "Wake Up Alabama" -- Desert Island Supply Company (Video)

826 Valencia: The Writing Center

Lettuce Write Poetry! DISCO Birmingham Writing Booth At Pepper Place

Had lots of fun yesterday at DISCO Birmingham's writing Booth at Pepper Place. We're going to be there each week at the farmer's market, encouraging kids to get their writing on.

Each week Jones Valley Urban Farm will give us a different food item, and we'll be working with kids to help them write poems about the produce. How great is that? Plus it's free. Stop by and see us! And if you're interested in volunteering with this great, growing organization, let me know.

Here's a video of what it's all about:

What's the Yummiest? The Social in The Media, Birmingham Style

Any night during which I can eat fries from a pink paper cup decorated with glitter is a good night.

Tonight was the myscoop.us Yummy Mummy party at the Matt Jones Gallery.

A fundraiser for Jenny's Light, a non-profit that brings attention to postpartum mood disorders, it was a beautiful party. Burger sliders and passion fruit cocktails, and tons of Birmingham women supporting the event.

I was really honored to be named one of five Birmingham women honored at the event (see photo above), and stand alongside truly accomplished mothers.

The best part? Connecting with old friends and new, weaving old ties and forging new bonds. 

It's what we've always done as women, but now, in the digital age, we have more opportunities than ever. In sharing our blogs, our Tweets, and our Facebook posts, we're sharing what women have done for ages over coffee.

Tonight I met women that I've "followed" on Twitter for the first time. Instantly there is a connection, because we've been sharing details of our lives -- the challenges of toddler tantrums, long hours of work, and finding our own voice in that elusive "spare" time.

There's something energetic when you meet virtual friends in real life, and you introduce them to people you've known long before we wrote Tweets and status updates.

So that what was cool tonight. I did like wearing a pretty dress and getting my hair did (what girl doesn't?)

But I really smiled when a good friend said that someone, who I'd never met, voted for me because she could "relate to me."

That's what it's all about.

It's happening around the world, and it's happening in Birmingham. Women (and men folk, too), connecting. I am glad to be part of the revolution. Social media getting social. That is yummy. 

I didn't take home the title -- Carol Pizitz, a grandmother and breast cancer survivor (awesome lady!) did.

But I win every day as a contributing member of Birmingham's digital, real, far reaching digital community.

More photos to come, thanks to my paparazzi Dad (the best). And thanks to my friends for supporting me -- virtual pals, real ones, and a mix in between.

Related Links:

BirminghamMommy.com

Birmingham's Yummy Mummy: For Jenny's Light

Jenny's Light

Birmingham's Yummy Mummys: For Jenny's Light

I stopped in my tracks the other day (actually, stopped in the middle of the staircase at work, where I can often be seen running and Tweeting) when I got a message from my friend Kelly Taylor. No, not Kelly Taylor from West Bev, Birmingham's Kelly Taylor, sassy PR maven.

Anyhow, Kelly was writing to tell me that I'm one of the top five finalists for www.myscoop.us Birmingham"Yummy Mummy" contest. Honestly I was a little mortified but then flattered, especially when I learned more about the event during which the finalists will be honored: May 6's Yummy Mummy Night Out at the Matt Jones Gallery (6-9 p.m.).

It's going to be a fun event, with food and swag bags, and the announcement of Birmingham's "Yummiest Mummy" (tee hee) based on votes. Click here to read about all of the finalists, and, if you're so inclined, please vote for me :)

Click on this link to be directed to an email to vote for me -- Just put "I vote for Erin Street for Yummy Mummy" in the subject line.

But most importantly, consider attending the event, because ticket proceeds benefit an incredible organization, Jenny's Light.The group raises awareness of postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders and the much needed resources to help women who struggle.

Many of my friends know Jenny's story (she worked at Southern Progress before my time). For those who don't, please click here to read.

********************************************************************************************************************

The feeling of isolation and sadness that some women experience postpartum can be suffocating, myself included. I got help; many others don't.

Jenny's Light does an incredible service by bringing these issues to the forefront. Among their offerings are providing grants to organizations that work to support women and sharing of these survivor stories.

So, I am flattered to be nominated for this fun title, and would love your vote. But more importantly, I want to encourage my friends to support this event because of the cause. Tickets are $20; RSVPs go to [email protected]. If you're part of our social media community here in Birmingham please spread the word that way.

Related Links

Jenny's Light: Frequently Asked Questions About Pospartum Depression

Fried Chicken For The Cure? Cause Related Marketing Fail.

Something really bothered me about the Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials touting their "Buckets For A Cure" campaign to raise money for Komen.

I'm not the only one.

This item appeared in the Washington Post, and I can't agree more. An excerpt:

"Here's a line from the National Cancer Institute's Web site:

'. . .studies have shown that an increased risk of developing colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer is associated with high intakes of well-done, fried, or barbequed meats.'

Beyond that, since obesity raises breast cancer risk, it's worth looking at some numbers: According to the KFC Web site, an original-recipe fried chicken breast has 320 calories, 15 grams of total fat (including 3.5 grams of saturated fat); a thigh has 220 calories, 15 grams of total fat (4 of them saturated).

So, no, I don't think that buying fried chicken by the bucket is a good way to fight breast cancer. Even the grilled-chicken option, though less caloric and fat-laden (a breast has 190 calories, 6 grams total fat and 1.5 grams saturated fat; the thigh has 150 calories, 9 grams total fat and 2.5 grams saturated fat), still fits into that 'barbequed' category noted above."

The writer goes on to say that a 10-piece bucket of chicken and sides from KFC costs about $20, so if you're interested in supporting Komen, why not just write them a check directly?

I'm a big proponent of cause related marketing when done right -- which can be done. But in this case, it's a big fail.

The watchdog group Breast Cancer Action Project and their "Think Before You Pink" Project takes it one step further:

"Make no mistake–every pink bucket purchase will do more to benefit KFC’s bottom line than it will to cure breast cancer.

The Buckets for the Cure website, cast in a particularly sickening shade of pink, notes that 'customer purchases of KFC buckets during the promotion will not directly increase the total contribution.'  In small print, of course.  They say that 50 cents from each bucket purchased will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, but exactly how much does KFC stand to gain from this campaign? Is it more or less than the $8.5 million that is the fundraising goal for Komen?

KFC, owned by the world’s largest restaurant company, could surely afford to donate the $8.5 million independently of the Buckets for the Cure promotion.  Instead, they have decided to use this opportunity to improve their brand and drive up sales of their products."

By raising money in the name of breast cancer research, while engaged in a partnership with a corporation that may very well be contributing to this disease, is pinkwashing in its most egregious form. We expect better from the largest grassroots breast cancer organization in the world.

The watchdog Breast Cancer Action Group takes it one step further. Their "Think Before You Pink" project takes groups to task for what they call "pinkwashing," in which companies, which may produce products that contribute to cancer, use cause related marketing to advance their bottom line. 

    Like I've written about before, it's so important to ask the write questions when it comes to supporting non-profits through purchasing products. In this case, skip the bucket.

Related Links:

Check Your Charities

Now We Know Your Color, Here's How To Help: Facebook, Breast Cancer, and You

Girl Scout Front Yard Power!

It was such a treat today to have a local Girl Scout Troop (#35!) visit our house to help with the yard makeover.

One of their moms, Rebecca, is a Gardens Editor at Southern Living, and she brought the girls out on their day off to practice planting.

They are preparing to do a big community service project involving landscaping and want to learn some of the basics.

They were all fantastic -- those girls are not afraid to get dirty! I learned a few things from them too. Here's a video of them in action, and The Grumpy Gardener, Steve Bender, commenting on my gardening skills. The yard is really taking shape and looking beautiful, and it's been a good distraction from the other, not so great stuff going on. Thanks Rebecca, Brittany and Troop #35 -- you rock!

Related Links:

Front Yard Makeover From The Grumpy Gardener

305 Spiritual Gangsters

Every now and then a story comes a long that makes my heart skip a beat.

That makes the delayed flights, nights away from home, speeding tickets on unfamiliar roads, and cold showers in hotel rooms worth it.

In my 16 years of writing professionally, one of my favorites is one that is hitting mailboxes this week in the May issue of Southern Living.

It's a story about Terri Cooper, a Miami yoga teacher who brings her practice to people from all walks of life, especially kids in the city's poorest neighborhoods, like Little Haiti.

I met Terri more than a year ago during a shoot for another story. At the time she was yoga director at The Standard Hotel, where the beautiful hipsters go to relax. We had breakfast one morning and she told me how she'd discovered yoga while recovering from crystal meth, and how it literally saved her.

After getting healthy and establishing herself in Miami's yoga community, Terri felt called to teach at-risk kids in Miami. (I hesitate to use the term "at-risk," cause, aren't we all "at risk" in some way?)

Each day she drove back and forth between the posh Standard and her own yoga studio in another upscale part of the town, Yoga Shores, passing places like Little Haiti and Overtown, wondering what would become of the young girls that filled the streets. Some had babies. A lot walked alone. Would they become gang members because they had no where else to turn?

Compelled to reach out, Terri completed training with "Off The Mat, Into The World," a California-based non-profit that trains yoga teachers and practitioners how to make a difference through service, be it teaching in local or global communities.

Then she founded the "305 Spiritual Gangsters," rolling up her yoga mats and carrying them to neighborhoods where most South Beach regulars would never step. She went to juvenile detention centers, schools in danger of closing, and gathering spaces for the kids that could easily slip between the cracks. Her message to her students: they all count, they are all worthy.

She knew that she might be rejected. After all, she was a white girl who owned a yoga studio. But she recited a message that she learned from her yoga teacher, Sean Corne, when she doubted herself:

"If you act from a place that's authentic, and try to do you're best, everything will be ok."

She thought back to when she was a child, living in the projects, among other places. No one would have guessed she'd been there.

Most people don't ask questions.

Sometimes the kids embraced her, but other times they turned their backs. She kept going back, showing them how to maneuver their bodies into positions that made them giggle. They eventually got quiet, finding stillness in poses with names like "Downward Dog." " Cobra."  "Mountain."

There is not an ending to their story yet. Although a bit of it is being told now it's really just starting. Will there be permanent, positive change? Not sure, but I've seen dozens of teenagers get perfectly still, close their eyes, and believe.

I practice a little yoga every day now. Sometimes I go to a local studio, and sometimes it happens by my bed. It helps me get through the cold showers in hotel rooms, and quiet my doubts, so I can clearly listen to the next story ready to be discovered.

Thanks Terri, and Namaste.

Related Links:

Doing Yoga Without Moving A Muscle

Namaste Nook: Savasana Suburban Style