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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM: Northwest Public Radio / StoryCorps CONTACTS: Northwest Public Radio: Kerry Swanson, Station Manager, 509.335.6500, kerry_swanson@wsu.edu <mailto:kerry_swanson@wsu.edu> StoryCorps Press Desk: 646.723.7020 x75, press@storycorps.org <mailto:press@storycorps.org> Museum of Glass: Susan Newsom, Communications Manager, 253.284.4732, snewsom@museumofglass.org <mailto:snewsom@museumofglass.org> ________________________________ STORYCORPS, THE GROUNDBREAKING ORAL HISTORY ORGANIZATION, TO VISIT TACOMA, WA Northwest Public Radio 90.9FM will host StoryCorps for four weeks to help record the stories of residents of Tacoma and the South Puget Sound area August 12, 2011 - StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs, will record interviews in Tacoma from September 8 - October 3 as part of its cross-country MobileBooth tour. StoryCorps' MobileBooth-an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio-will be parked at the Museum of Glass (1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA). Reservations will be available beginning at 10 a.m. on August 25th and can be made by calling StoryCorps' 24-hour toll-free reservation line at 1-800-850-4406 or visiting storycorps.org <http://storycorps.org/> . Additional appointments will be made available on September 9th. StoryCorps' MobileBooth interviews are conducted between two people who know and care about each other. A trained StoryCorps facilitator guides participants through the interview process. At the end of each 40-minute recording session, participants receive a complimentary CD copy of their interview. With participant permission, a second copy is archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for future generations to hear. In Tacoma, StoryCorps will partner with Northwest Public Radio and the Museum of Glass to collect more than 120 interviews. Northwest Public Radio will air a selection of the local interviews recorded in the StoryCorps MobileBooth during NWPR's Morning Edition heard in the Tacoma / Seattle area on 90.9FM. The recording experience is a great opportunity for friends and family to bond, according to NWPR Station Manager, Kerry Swanson. "We've all had the experience of listening to a loved one and wishing that we could record the conversation for posterity. StoryCorps enables us to share important life experiences with each other and future generations." Founded in 2003 by award-winning documentary producer and MacArthur "Genius" Grant recipient Dave Isay, StoryCorps aims to create a growing portrait of who we are as Americans. By traveling to every corner of the country, StoryCorps currently has one of the largest collections of American voices ever gathered, with interviews collected from more than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states. "StoryCorps tells the true American story-that we are a people defined by small acts of courage, kindness and heroism. Each interview reminds people that their lives matter and will not be forgotten," said Isay. "By strengthening connections between people and building an archive that reflects the rich diversity of American voices, we hope to build StoryCorps into an enduring institution that will touch the lives of every American family." "The Museum of Glass is thrilled to host StoryCorps," states director/CEO Tim Close. "As an art museum, part of our mission is to engage our community members and inspire them to seek out new experiences. StoryCorps is about capturing and recording American stories. It's a perfect collaboration." To help offset its operating costs, StoryCorps suggests a donation of at least $25 for each MobileBooth interview. If participants cannot afford to meet the suggested donation, they may participate at no cost. Related Events VIP Reception Thursday, September 8 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Reception to welcome StoryCorps to Tacoma. A short program will include remarks by local dignitaries, MobileBooth tours and the first interview session. Members of the media are invited to attend; contact Susan Newsom, snewsom@museumofglass.org or 253.284.4732 for a press pass. Public StoryCorps Celebration Thursday, September 15 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. The public is invited to meet the StoryCorps staff, tour the MobileBooth, learn more about the program and sign up for interviews. # # # About StoryCorps StoryCorps' mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, preserve, and share their stories. StoryCorps is currently one of the fastest-growing nonprofits in the country. Each week, millions of Americans listen to StoryCorps' award-winning broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition. StoryCorps has published two books: Listening Is an Act of Love in 2007 and Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps in 2010. Both are New York Times bestsellers. StoryCorps' major funders include: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Ford Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation, The Kaplen Foundation, and Joe and Carol Reich. StoryCorps also relies on the support from its participants and listeners. For more information, or to listen to stories online, visit www.storycorps.org. About Northwest Public Radio Northwest Public Radio is a listener-supported public radio service heard in the South-Sound area on 90.9 FM and on 16 stations across Washington, Idaho, Oregon and southern British Columbia, and online at www.nwpr.org <http://www.nwpr.org/> . Northwest Public Radio is dedicated to enriching our valued communities by sharing distinctive programs which engage, enlighten and entertain. Northwest Public Radio is a community service of The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. About The Museum of Glass Museum of Glass provides a dynamic learning environment to appreciate the medium of glass through creative experiences, collections and exhibitions. In addition to the Hot Shop Amphitheater where visitors can watch artists at work, the facilities include galleries, outdoor exhibition areas, a theater, hands-on art studio, café and store. The Museum of Glass is located at 1801 Dock Street Tacoma, WA 98402 Info Line 253-284-4750/ 1-866-4MUSEUM | www.museumofglass.org <http://www.museumofglass.org/> . For more information about Museum of Glass: Susan Newsom, Communications Manager, 253.284.4732, snewsom@museumofglass.org <mailto:jpisto@museumofglass.org>