The Healing Power of Stories: StoryCorps
Stories not only reflect who we are as individuals and communities, they shape us as well. They help us understand ourselves, cultivate meaning in our lives, and bind us together by promoting greater understanding and revealing all the similarities we share. Recognizing the power and potential in stories, Innovia Foundation proudly sponsored a ‘virtual’ visit of StoryCorps to the Lewis Clark Valley during the summer of 2020. StoryCorps is a nationwide nonprofit organization that seeks to “preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.”
The StoryCorps event was hosted by Northwest Public Broadcasting, which aired the stories across the (NWPB) network. Each StoryCorps interview featured meaningful dialogue between two people who know and care about one another.
One of the inspirational local stories featured Mary Jane Miles, Nez Perce tribal member and former Chairwoman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee. Speaking with her friend and colleague, Kayeloni Scott in a StoryCorps interview, Mary Jane shared that she was only two when her mother died. That tragedy was followed by a series of other difficult life events, but she persevered. She earned an education and came to terms with alcohol addiction. Her insightful conversation revealed the struggles, triumphs, opportunities and challenges encountered throughout a lifetime of learning.
