Stories of Place

Stories of Place: Arts, Dialogue, and Democracy in the Community explores how to make a positive impact on communities. Through this course, students will learn about the principles and practices of sustainable community engagement while developing skills in interviewing, oral history, and digital storytelling. During an immersive spring break experience in New Brunswick, students will partner with the coLAB Arts Story Bus to collect stories from local residents about their lives, neighborhoods, and civic aspirations. Working collaboratively with community organizations, students will transform these interviews into digital stories that highlight the everyday practice of democracy, the richness of local history, and the power of storytelling. Ultimately, students will create meaningful, real-world projects while gaining experience in community-based research, constructive dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.