Civic Story Lab Gifts and Glows by Maddie Wolf

2026-05-27 18:21:39 UTC

My friend Sanda made me come!

harry354 — 2026-05-27 18:21:45 UTC

Wanted to learn more about others' projects

2026-05-27 18:21:46 UTC

I took the subway

2026-05-27 18:21:47 UTC

from fabulous mentors at my university!

2026-05-27 18:21:50 UTC

Connection with a childhood friend

2026-05-27 18:22:02 UTC

One foot after the other for a long time...

maddie174 — 2026-05-27 18:22:04 UTC

I work here! (and that's a longer story!)

2026-05-27 18:22:07 UTC

i got here by being sought out by my mentor / advisor

2026-05-27 18:22:12 UTC

My mentors who believed in me and shaped me into a critical thinker.

2026-05-27 18:22:12 UTC

My wonderful professor, Dr. Tamman!

2026-05-27 18:22:16 UTC

I was invited by my advisor.

2026-05-27 18:22:18 UTC

I was given this opportunity by my professor

2026-05-27 18:22:21 UTC

through a lot of support from friends and a few energy drinks

2026-05-27 18:22:23 UTC

here to support some awesome students!

2026-05-27 18:22:26 UTC

On a wing and prayer

2026-05-27 18:22:26 UTC

My mother gave birth to me in Sept 1990 in Brooklyn NY....

2026-05-27 18:22:27 UTC

I walked upstairs in my house.

2026-05-27 18:22:32 UTC

I wanted to help with rematriation and put my abilities and voice to good use

2026-05-27 18:22:33 UTC

via car, but also years of graduate school and early civic experiences

2026-05-27 18:22:38 UTC

Project Pericles!

2026-05-27 18:22:41 UTC

Through my involvement on campus

ltamman — 2026-05-27 18:22:46 UTC

I am a faculty member who led a campus team this semester.

2026-05-27 18:22:47 UTC

Through some amazing community collaborations

2026-05-27 18:22:52 UTC

Somebody turned me on to this opportunity, I worked with some students as they did a project

2026-05-27 18:22:57 UTC

I transferred to Allegheny College, met some fantastic professors who helped me to get involved with this fellowship. Also met nonprofit director tied to fellowship through reading the book she wrote.

2026-05-27 18:23:03 UTC

From my professor in my university!

2026-05-27 18:23:05 UTC

Faculty advisor

2026-05-27 18:23:16 UTC

Mentor from my school!

maddie174 — 2026-05-27 18:23:58 UTC

by the grace of God

harry354 — 2026-05-27 18:24:09 UTC

I was involved as an undergraduate in civic engagement and wanted to support more of this kind of work

2026-05-27 18:24:11 UTC

Hard word, dedication, and pushing myself

2026-05-27 18:24:14 UTC

Finding people rowing in the same direction I wanted to go.

ltamman — 2026-05-27 18:24:19 UTC

by the skin of my teeth

2026-05-27 18:24:19 UTC

by falling in love

2026-05-27 18:24:21 UTC

With gratitude

2026-05-27 18:24:22 UTC

I wanted to make a differences within my community. A lasting one.

2026-05-27 18:24:25 UTC

I was fortunate to experience community-engaged civic learning while in college and it set my course for the decades since in the most wonderful ways

2026-05-27 18:24:29 UTC

hope and tenacity

2026-05-27 18:24:30 UTC

invited to advise this project

2026-05-27 18:24:31 UTC

Support of my parents, and encouragement from family and my friends in Pennsylvania and Ohio

2026-05-27 18:24:34 UTC

community involvement

2026-05-27 18:24:40 UTC

I honestly believe in an expansive understanding of time and space...I've lived many lifetimes and Earth was my assignment for this go around and we are hear to make it more positive for all.

2026-05-27 18:24:40 UTC

deepening relationships and commitments

2026-05-27 18:24:42 UTC

I wanted to not just learn about politics but to be a part of it

2026-05-27 18:24:47 UTC

By working on civic storytelling with other people who are also interested in civic storytelling

2026-05-27 18:24:51 UTC

A supportive community

2026-05-27 18:24:51 UTC

We completed our project and scheduled to present it today.

2026-05-27 18:25:08 UTC

By growing up seeing people grow up in tough circumstances, and wanted to help my community anyway I can.

2026-05-27 18:25:09 UTC

Because I wanted to be involved in actual change

2026-05-27 18:25:19 UTC

University invitation

2026-05-27 18:25:22 UTC

From my faculty and thorugh the community Ive met

2026-05-27 18:25:24 UTC

Prayer and Purpose

2026-05-27 18:25:51 UTC

The example of extended family (blood and chosen) that we are implicated in what is happening around us in the world and our community and we are responsible to collaborate to change things.

2026-05-27 18:25:56 UTC

to impact our community

2026-05-27 18:26:15 UTC

moral solidarity

2026-05-27 18:26:16 UTC

through community

2026-05-27 18:26:22 UTC

mystery and magic, for which I am eternally grateful and inspired.

2026-05-27 18:26:25 UTC

through the belief, support, and sacrifice of my people

harry354 — 2026-05-27 18:26:26 UTC

Through supportive mentors who took a chance on me

2026-05-27 18:26:33 UTC

Out of habit AND purpose

2026-05-27 18:26:34 UTC

by knowing what education should do

2026-05-27 18:26:34 UTC

We were always here.

2026-05-27 18:26:37 UTC

I was able to get here by being staying invovled with my community and I was given the opportunity to participate in this project

2026-05-27 18:26:40 UTC

by my ancestors sacrifices and my matriarchs prayers

2026-05-27 18:26:46 UTC

Personal interest in addressing harm I have suffered and witnessed in classmates, neighbors, coworkers. Ability to connect with others around a common issue.

2026-05-27 18:26:50 UTC

via rugged and uncompromising persistance

2026-05-27 18:26:51 UTC

Working hard and believing in becoming the change. Experiences are what you make of them, so squeeze out as much as you can from your education...

2026-05-27 18:26:56 UTC

Principles, commitment, joy, rage, gratitude.

2026-05-27 18:26:57 UTC

Collaboration. Creativity, and Curiosity

2026-05-27 18:26:58 UTC

good fortune...

2026-05-27 18:27:03 UTC

deep listening, finding and building with partners who move me and move with me both on and off campus

2026-05-27 18:27:06 UTC

By pushing myself through the challenges and focusing on my future, also by being the change I want to see with the support of family, God, and my professors

2026-05-27 18:27:11 UTC

Through my work, my actions

ltamman — 2026-05-27 18:27:17 UTC

following my relentless curiosity which sometimes feels like an impossible burden but also sometimes like my biggest gift.

maddie174 — 2026-05-27 18:27:23 UTC

death and rebirth and death and rebirth

2026-05-27 18:47:29 UTC

Wow -- what an amazing fact that the quality of your housing is determined by the quality of your relationships as much as physical spaces! This makes really good sense and is helpful for understanding how to address the complex public issue of housing

harry354 — 2026-05-27 18:48:18 UTC

So great that you were able to show up and represent young people at the town hall with Chris Marte!

2026-05-27 18:49:23 UTC

the way you centered relationships and community as a key piece of the narrative is really compelling

harry354 — 2026-05-27 18:49:40 UTC

That's amazing that you got an Op-Ed published, Val! Esp. when the idea came while watching the news.

2026-05-27 18:49:59 UTC

This is so well aligned with a guide we created at the Solutions Journalism Network for creating nonpartisan election coverage that students actually need, want and will use! Please check it out here. https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/resources/creating-voter-guides-for-student-newsrooms

2026-05-27 18:51:34 UTC

I love that you are engaging students in identifying and telling stories that young people need and are interested in.

2026-05-27 18:52:13 UTC

It's impressive that in just 1 semester, you were able to create SIX ads!! thank you for sharing one with us

2026-05-27 18:53:00 UTC

loved your thorough and heavily researched presentation, as well as your premise as a whole. saying that an entire generation doesn't care about something is incredibly short-sighted and generates a false narrative that can be very harmful.

2026-05-27 18:53:17 UTC

I admire the direct interaction with an elected official and the student op-eds!

2026-05-27 18:53:37 UTC

Val I love that your Op-Ed came from such a personal place!

2026-05-27 18:53:39 UTC

I love that you worked with Hell Gate, such a great independent news outlet!

2026-05-27 18:54:13 UTC

I love that you have so many specific narratives (superheroes, unity within the community, relationship-building) that you have found in this work. This is really consistent with the kind of storytelling we learned about as part of the Civic storytelling lab

walkea13 — 2026-05-27 18:54:15 UTC

GIFT: https://www.pubpub.org Just a great nonprofit publishing house!

2026-05-27 18:54:31 UTC

Love hearing the reflections on the town hall - it was so well attended with great energy in the room!

2026-05-27 18:54:43 UTC

These stories are so moving and inspiring! Really impressed by what you were able to accomplish over the course of this semester.

2026-05-27 18:55:05 UTC

I love the overall frame around quality

2026-05-27 18:55:17 UTC

The focus on building relationships while building houses is a good theme. You displayed the people doing work on housing really well.

2026-05-27 18:55:22 UTC

Excellent community collaboration. Great job with videos!

2026-05-27 18:55:40 UTC

I admire the work and dedication you guys put into your project. Great work!

2026-05-27 18:55:44 UTC

wow, absolutely loved this presentation. Your analogy to super heroes was so salient--we can all be super heros in our communities. Challenging tranditional landlord-tenant relationships to create spaces that foster community is powerful. Really appreciate the emphasis tht this work doesn't end just bc the project does. You have seeded ongoing impact.

2026-05-27 18:55:45 UTC

If you share folks' names or identifying details, the story can linger longer in viewers' memories. You might also show an arc with a family's beginning, middle and end of a journey with Common Roots.

2026-05-27 18:55:47 UTC

This was such an amazing project that you all participated in this semester. Fighting housing issues in the U.S. is a long, hard battle. I'm so glad you all took the time to be a part of that fight for your community! Great job, everyone!

2026-05-27 18:55:59 UTC

Very meaningful work. What a unique way to be in support of your local community. Awareness, connection, and being there for those with certain needs. Six messages that help tell the story

2026-05-27 18:56:00 UTC

fantastic job! really vital during this political moment!

2026-05-27 18:56:10 UTC

Great work! Thank you for teaching me about Common Roots. We work with some land trusts in LA, but very different here. Thanks!

2026-05-27 18:56:19 UTC

2026-05-27 18:56:27 UTC

Congratulations on your hard work! Its clear to see the care and time you have put into this project!

2026-05-27 18:57:26 UTC

Love that students came up with topics that were of interest to them!

harry354 — 2026-05-27 18:59:40 UTC

What a challenging narrative that you were up against. It's impressive that you were able to feature such a powerful perspective.

2026-05-27 19:00:17 UTC

Nice work making sure incarcerated perspectives are heard.

walkea13 — 2026-05-27 19:01:01 UTC

What cool zines! Our incarcerated neighbors clearly benefited from your partnership.

walkea13 — 2026-05-27 19:03:02 UTC

A great nonprofit prison exchange program that addresses that question of where knowledge is produced and by whom.

2026-05-27 19:03:26 UTC

What a transformative project. Pure glow.

harry354 — 2026-05-27 19:03:27 UTC

It's impressive that you were able to build connection between the students and incarcerated individuals

2026-05-27 19:04:11 UTC

Really impressive relationship building between students, incarcerated folks and formerly incarcerated folks!!

2026-05-27 19:04:24 UTC

I'm sure you know about this, but just in case: https://www.prisonradio.org/

2026-05-27 19:04:58 UTC

This work is so hard, thank you for your dedication to humanizing people that are systematically dehumanized <3

2026-05-27 19:05:24 UTC

This is such an interesting perspective, I don't think it's initially thought of when thinking of telling stories, but that's exactly why they should be told!!

2026-05-27 19:06:15 UTC

Proud of you all!

2026-05-27 19:08:46 UTC

It's so important that you're making young people the voice/subject rather than just the topic/object of the narrative.

2026-05-27 19:09:43 UTC

Beautiful video. It is great to see the work you did at the capitol and are continuing to do in the classroom.

2026-05-27 19:09:51 UTC

Thank you for wonderful video. Well done!

2026-05-27 19:10:01 UTC

Wow-press conference. Lift every voice and sing! Keeping the faith in democracy and common unity is the order of the day. Love it--"courage with consequences"

2026-05-27 19:10:01 UTC

The straight-up excerpts carry a lot of energy. There's probably a way to give viewers a little more context, with an introductory text slide or brief setup. It'd also be exciting to learn what happened after the capitol visit, or what you are working on, maybe with another text slide. Thanks!

2026-05-27 19:10:31 UTC

Some really good video segments. One of the last segments, which mentioned faith coupled with action ("faith can move mountains but we are the mountain movers") was really effective.

2026-05-27 19:10:35 UTC

Amazing work!

2026-05-27 19:10:37 UTC

Emma, Nataly, and Ashley, very nice work with ACLAMO as a community partner!

2026-05-27 19:10:48 UTC

What a powerful video! Really moved by all the people and voices featured, and the call to action. I can imagine this video will have an on-going impact.

2026-05-27 19:10:48 UTC

I really appreciate how you connected the history of this struggle with the politics of Shirley Chisolm and the words of Maya Angelou to the current issue of redistricting today!

walkea13 — 2026-05-27 19:10:51 UTC

Well done! Love that you got the young students talking in podcasts. Will any of them join you at Ursinus?

2026-05-27 19:10:58 UTC

Congrats on public speaking. It can be so scary, yet you all are so confident on the stage !

2026-05-27 19:11:00 UTC

I'm sure she is proud.

2026-05-27 19:11:06 UTC

Great work! Well done!

2026-05-27 19:11:14 UTC

Speaking truth to power takes guts. Proud to see young people so involved in this fight. This story is energizing and motivating. Great work!

2026-05-27 19:11:31 UTC

wow. I feel on fire watching that video. WHat powerful testimony opposing HB99 and demonstrating that we can't sit by quietly and watch without consequence. None of us should. Thank you for leading the way, BCU. You embody, Without faith nothing is possible; with faith, everything is possible

2026-05-27 19:11:44 UTC

I would like to give a special glow to everyone who continues to stand for equity, education, and the power of community. Your voices, your work, and your commitment to uplifting others do not go unnoticed. Thank you for carrying the torch forward.

2026-05-27 19:11:58 UTC

Love the opportunity to write op-eds and the work to get them published!

2026-05-27 19:12:14 UTC

It would be so great to see how the students involved in this program look back on it in a few years!

2026-05-27 19:12:45 UTC

Getting young people excited to be the voice instead of the ones heard is amazing! A lot of the time, I think young people just don't know how to be the voice. A project like this makes it much more accessible. Great work.

2026-05-27 19:14:35 UTC

Love the idea of a How to City Hall guide!

2026-05-27 19:14:42 UTC

Love the engagement with young people on this urgent situation happening in our communities.

2026-05-27 19:17:08 UTC

Chicago -- and its small businesses owners -- share the Twin Cities' experiences of an ICE surge. You did a wonderful job of asset-framing the people affected: showing their strengths and aspirations, not just portraying them as victims.

2026-05-27 19:23:00 UTC

Incredible job raising up these stories, changing the narrative, and lifting up local businesses.

2026-05-27 19:23:54 UTC

Really powerful stories, really powerful work.

2026-05-27 19:23:56 UTC

I was really moved by the thought you put into interacting with these communities and elevating these voices.

2026-05-27 19:24:19 UTC

Would love to see all the videos. Will they be publicly available? If not, no worries. Thank you for your work!

2026-05-27 19:24:27 UTC

You set up the videos really effectively. The presentation closed on a comment about the responsibility of helping people tell their stories. It is clear that you took that responsibility seriously.

2026-05-27 19:24:31 UTC

Great topic and well-researched!

2026-05-27 19:24:48 UTC

Thanks for this. For stories of local economies, you might connect with the folks at Main Street America (mainstreet.org) and local nonprofit news around the country in the Courier network.

2026-05-27 19:24:54 UTC

It is so cool to see how restaurants can create a space for connection that lasts-- especially important given the circumstances you spoke on in Minneapolis. Great work!

harry354 — 2026-05-27 19:25:37 UTC

Great to have a personal takeaway (to shop with local businesses)

2026-05-27 19:28:12 UTC

Thank you, Fitz for your continued and sustained support for the Lake Street neighborhood and sharing your learnings with us!

2026-05-27 19:29:15 UTC

Maddie -- your work supporting and continuing to uplift voices in Rondo is so appreciated especially in this particularly challenging time!!

2026-05-27 19:31:23 UTC

Wow! These postcards look great and are such cool conversation starters. I love the recipe sharing idea. Really picking up on the themes of community through all these presentations. The website looks great, too. Can the postcards and site be linked? I am curious how all these different pieces that you worked so hard on fit together.

2026-05-27 19:31:58 UTC

I love how down-to-earth -- literally -- this work is. People can connect with the tangible and universal features of this project (postcards, recipes), and appreciate the shared stories and knowledge, all of which contributes to understanding and to changing narratives.

2026-05-27 19:33:35 UTC

amazing job!

2026-05-27 19:34:05 UTC

Wonderful work!

2026-05-27 19:34:48 UTC

Incredible work! Love the web of relationships reflected in this project.

2026-05-27 19:34:52 UTC

Such important work! Thanks for doing it!

2026-05-27 19:35:33 UTC

Love the care that is clearly there in this project. Following the lead of your collaborators, making sure all assets and materials are available for your community collaborators, sharing access to resources like canva.

2026-05-27 19:35:52 UTC

I really admire the work that you have done and the way you have done it, especially at this time.

2026-05-27 19:36:34 UTC

The website with the recipes was so cool -- this work is so important and compelling, regardless of what happens outside of this fellowship, your impact is going to last

2026-05-27 19:36:36 UTC

Thanks for this. You might talk to political groups like Vote Forward, which do postcarding campaigns, to learn how to distill and storytell around what arises from the postcards. Some of you might also want to attend the Land Conservation Alliance's meeting in Cleveland in September, called "Rally," where people strategize on developing community land trusts and other innovative ideas...

2026-05-27 19:36:51 UTC

Being good stewards of the land is indeed noble. The land is not simply property, but ways to sustain lifeways and meet the creature needs of people. This story needs more airtime on various news outlets. Thank you Hampshire for your work and dedication!

2026-05-27 19:38:58 UTC

Great collaborative and meaningful work! So proud of you!