Are you passionate about democracy, history, and social justice? Do you have a story to tell about your experiences with American democracy? Share your story with us!
Preservation Long Island invites you to participate in our Voices and Votes oral history project in collaboration with Our Story Bridge. Your story is a vital piece of the larger American narrative and will contribute to a deeper understanding of our shared Long Island history.
To participate, simply click the button below to fill out our online form with your contact information. We will reach out to schedule a time for you to share your story.
Democracy & History: Tell us about “democracy”, for example what does “democracy” mean to you; how do you think our current political processes impact democracy and is there something you would change; whether and how the American experiment with democracy has been successful; and/or other thoughts on democracy and history.
Citizenship: Tell us about citizenship, for example, what being a U.S. citizen mean to you; how you think ideas surrounding citizenship have changed in your lifetime; how you interpret the rights and responsibilities of a U.S. citizen; and/or other thoughts on citizenship.
Voting: Tell us about voting, for example, why you vote or don’t vote; do you vote in both local and national elections and if not, why; do you think our current voting system provides full access to the democratic process for all American citizens; how do you think our current voting system might be improved; and/or other thoughts on voting.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Tell us about diversity, equity, and inclusion, for example, what do you think diversity means for our nation; how do you think conversations about diversity can benefit our community; how have discussions about diversity impacted your life or changed the way you think about American democracy; and/or other thoughts on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Civil Rights and Activism: Tell us about civil rights, for example, what does the term civil rights mean to you; do you think that there are still civil rights that need to be fought for in America today; and/or other thoughts on civil rights. Tell us about activism, for example, how would you define activism; have you ever been an activist; describe your activist experiences and the impact they have had; what activists do you admire and why; how have you reached out to elected officials to make your voice heard; and/or other thoughts on activism.
Power of the Press: Tell us about the power of the press, for example, how do you think the press (newspapers, social media, websites, radio, television, etc.) influences American democracy; how have the ways you’ve consumed news media changed throughout your life; is it important to protect a free press and if so, how can we do it; and/or other thoughts on the power of the press.
Collected Stories
“A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy” has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This project is supported by a grant awarded to the Museum Association of New York by Empire State Development and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
Voices and Votes has been made possible in New York State by the Museum Association of New York. Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street (MoMS), a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide.
Support for MoMS in New York State has been provided by the United States Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. To learn more visit museumonmainstreet.org, sites.si.edu, or nysmuseums.org.
