Using the power of story to enlighten and inspire
Spotlight Oral History gathers and shares the stories of individuals, organizations, and communities through in-depth interviews based on thorough historical research.
We are our stories.
Shaping our past experiences into a story helps us make sense of the world and our place in it. Stories communicate our most cherished values and dearly-held beliefs. They bring history to life by animating what might otherwise be a dull collection of facts with the deeper meaning of lived experience. Stories bring us together in celebration of our commonalities even while they honor our differences.
Spotlight Oral History conducts formal oral history projects, creates unique story-sharing projects, and teaches others to use the skills of an oral historian to listen carefully, learn deeply, and share respectfully.
Kim Heikkila, founder of Spotlight Oral History, interviews Sami Rasouli for the Eat Street Oral History Project, Whittier Alliance; photo by Rasun Mehringer
Oral History Projects
Formal oral history projects preserve history by recording and archiving firsthand accounts of those who lived it. Typical clients for these projects include historical societies and museums, community organizations, public agencies, and government offices.
Story-Sharing Projects
Less formal than a full oral history project, story-sharing projects draw on in-depth interviews to share stories publicly and with purpose. Typical clients for these projects include nonprofits, small businesses, corporations, and families.
Workshops and Consultations
Aimed at those who would like to devise their own projects, workshops teach participants how to conduct historical research and evocative interviews, develop deep listening and respectful story-sharing skills, and design a project from conception to completion. Consultations are one-on-one sessions designed to address clients’ specific needs. Typical clients for workshops and consultations include historical societies and museums, colleges and high schools, nonprofits, small business, and public agencies.