WHYY in Philadelphia is partnering with local nonprofit First Person Arts to develop live events, a radio program and a podcast based on first-person narratives related to current events, the station announced Tuesday.
The collaboration is supported by a $300,000 grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
As part of the project, WHYY will air 48 radio broadcasts over the next two years and 52 podcast episodes featuring storytellers in the region. Short segments will be featured during WHYY’s broadcasts of Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
The stories shared by members of the community will “focus on the commonality that underpins news stories,” according to a press release. “For example, a news story about a bombing in an African American church could be explored through stories about fear and safety in minority communities, showing how a specific news story impacts everyone.”
The two organizations will also host 26 live events.
“By positioning the stories and perspectives of everyday people as the central focus of this news-themed project, our vision is to help us connect more deeply with each other and the world through the lens of current events,” said Jamie Brunson, FPA’s executive director and on-air host of the series.
First Person Arts, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, was founded in 2000. It hosts live storytelling events in the region and an annual storytelling festival.