Voice of Witness (VOW)
@voiceofwitness.org
VOW is an oral history nonprofit that amplifies the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. We partner to document community voices, teach ethical storytelling, and develop educational resources.
Website: voiceofwitness.org
Website: voiceofwitness.org
Pinned
Hi! 👋 VOW is an oral history nonprofit illuminating human rights issues through community storytelling projects and an innovative education program.
We support folks with oral history and ethical storytelling practices through our trainings, resources, and partnerships.
Glad to be here with you.
We support folks with oral history and ethical storytelling practices through our trainings, resources, and partnerships.
Glad to be here with you.
In the midst of profound political and economic tension, the need for community-driven storytelling feels more urgent than ever. At VOW, we've taken this moment to reflect, reimagine, and respond.
Learn more about how VOW has adapted to meet the moment in our 2025 Annual Report. 🔗 bit.ly/VOW-AR25
Learn more about how VOW has adapted to meet the moment in our 2025 Annual Report. 🔗 bit.ly/VOW-AR25
November 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
In the midst of profound political and economic tension, the need for community-driven storytelling feels more urgent than ever. At VOW, we've taken this moment to reflect, reimagine, and respond.
Learn more about how VOW has adapted to meet the moment in our 2025 Annual Report. 🔗 bit.ly/VOW-AR25
Learn more about how VOW has adapted to meet the moment in our 2025 Annual Report. 🔗 bit.ly/VOW-AR25
Join us for Storytelling in Practice – a series of intimate conversations with impactful storytellers! 🎙✨
Hear from our 3 incredible guests:
⊹ NOV 13 • Lyndsie Bourgon, FRCGS 🔗 sip-lb.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 03 • Kristal Sotomayor 🔗 sip-ks.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 10 • feini yin 🔗 sip-fy.eventbrite.com
Hear from our 3 incredible guests:
⊹ NOV 13 • Lyndsie Bourgon, FRCGS 🔗 sip-lb.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 03 • Kristal Sotomayor 🔗 sip-ks.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 10 • feini yin 🔗 sip-fy.eventbrite.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Join us for Storytelling in Practice – a series of intimate conversations with impactful storytellers! 🎙✨
Hear from our 3 incredible guests:
⊹ NOV 13 • Lyndsie Bourgon, FRCGS 🔗 sip-lb.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 03 • Kristal Sotomayor 🔗 sip-ks.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 10 • feini yin 🔗 sip-fy.eventbrite.com
Hear from our 3 incredible guests:
⊹ NOV 13 • Lyndsie Bourgon, FRCGS 🔗 sip-lb.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 03 • Kristal Sotomayor 🔗 sip-ks.eventbrite.com
⊹ DEC 10 • feini yin 🔗 sip-fy.eventbrite.com
The 23rd International Oral History Conference brought VOW to Kraków, Poland! 🇵🇱
Our very own Fanny García participated in the plenary about the complex challenges facing practitioners worldwide.
💡 Read Fanny's IOHA insights: voiceofwitness.org/ioha-2025
▶️ Watch the plenary now: bit.ly/ioha2025
Our very own Fanny García participated in the plenary about the complex challenges facing practitioners worldwide.
💡 Read Fanny's IOHA insights: voiceofwitness.org/ioha-2025
▶️ Watch the plenary now: bit.ly/ioha2025
Re-Thinking Oral History: Insights from IOHA 2025 - Voice of Witness
The 23rd International Oral History Conference brought Voice of Witness to Kraków, Poland!
voiceofwitness.org
October 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The 23rd International Oral History Conference brought VOW to Kraków, Poland! 🇵🇱
Our very own Fanny García participated in the plenary about the complex challenges facing practitioners worldwide.
💡 Read Fanny's IOHA insights: voiceofwitness.org/ioha-2025
▶️ Watch the plenary now: bit.ly/ioha2025
Our very own Fanny García participated in the plenary about the complex challenges facing practitioners worldwide.
💡 Read Fanny's IOHA insights: voiceofwitness.org/ioha-2025
▶️ Watch the plenary now: bit.ly/ioha2025
In early August, VOW joined No Immigrants No Spice and our vibrant Bay Area community for BBQ Without Borders.
We hosted a Story Sharing table, inviting attendees to record & share their stories.
To hear some of the community stories shared that day, visit: bit.ly/VOW-BBQ
We hosted a Story Sharing table, inviting attendees to record & share their stories.
To hear some of the community stories shared that day, visit: bit.ly/VOW-BBQ
BBQ Without Borders: Celebrating Food, Community, and Immigrant Stories - Voice of Witness
This summer, VOW and our partner Gems Oral Histories hosted a Story Sharing table at BBQ Without Borders, inviting Bay Area community members to record and share their stories.
bit.ly
September 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
In early August, VOW joined No Immigrants No Spice and our vibrant Bay Area community for BBQ Without Borders.
We hosted a Story Sharing table, inviting attendees to record & share their stories.
To hear some of the community stories shared that day, visit: bit.ly/VOW-BBQ
We hosted a Story Sharing table, inviting attendees to record & share their stories.
To hear some of the community stories shared that day, visit: bit.ly/VOW-BBQ
🔊 Community Voices Initiative is back! Applications are now open for Fall 2025 — apply by 9/28 to take a deep dive into the practice of oral history & ethical storytelling with VOW!
📅 Oct 7 - Nov 18, 2025
💻 Virtual
🚨 Only 20 spots available
📝 Details & application: bit.ly/CVI-fall25
📅 Oct 7 - Nov 18, 2025
💻 Virtual
🚨 Only 20 spots available
📝 Details & application: bit.ly/CVI-fall25
September 2, 2025 at 10:53 PM
🔊 Community Voices Initiative is back! Applications are now open for Fall 2025 — apply by 9/28 to take a deep dive into the practice of oral history & ethical storytelling with VOW!
📅 Oct 7 - Nov 18, 2025
💻 Virtual
🚨 Only 20 spots available
📝 Details & application: bit.ly/CVI-fall25
📅 Oct 7 - Nov 18, 2025
💻 Virtual
🚨 Only 20 spots available
📝 Details & application: bit.ly/CVI-fall25
This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina — a disaster of unprecedented scale in American history.
To commemorate this anniversary, we invite you to read VOICES FROM THE STORM, VOW's book that amplifies the voices of impacted New Orleanians.
📚 Order the book now: bit.ly/voicesfromthestorm
To commemorate this anniversary, we invite you to read VOICES FROM THE STORM, VOW's book that amplifies the voices of impacted New Orleanians.
📚 Order the book now: bit.ly/voicesfromthestorm
August 29, 2025 at 6:14 PM
This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina — a disaster of unprecedented scale in American history.
To commemorate this anniversary, we invite you to read VOICES FROM THE STORM, VOW's book that amplifies the voices of impacted New Orleanians.
📚 Order the book now: bit.ly/voicesfromthestorm
To commemorate this anniversary, we invite you to read VOICES FROM THE STORM, VOW's book that amplifies the voices of impacted New Orleanians.
📚 Order the book now: bit.ly/voicesfromthestorm
Join us in welcoming VOW's new board members!
After an extensive search process, we have 6 engaging, committed, and experienced professionals joining the VOW community: Lyndsie Bourgon, Giselle Chow, Vanessa Johnson, Louisa Morassutti, Sangeetha Rai & Tea Rozman
Learn more at bit.ly/VOWboard
After an extensive search process, we have 6 engaging, committed, and experienced professionals joining the VOW community: Lyndsie Bourgon, Giselle Chow, Vanessa Johnson, Louisa Morassutti, Sangeetha Rai & Tea Rozman
Learn more at bit.ly/VOWboard
August 28, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Join us in welcoming VOW's new board members!
After an extensive search process, we have 6 engaging, committed, and experienced professionals joining the VOW community: Lyndsie Bourgon, Giselle Chow, Vanessa Johnson, Louisa Morassutti, Sangeetha Rai & Tea Rozman
Learn more at bit.ly/VOWboard
After an extensive search process, we have 6 engaging, committed, and experienced professionals joining the VOW community: Lyndsie Bourgon, Giselle Chow, Vanessa Johnson, Louisa Morassutti, Sangeetha Rai & Tea Rozman
Learn more at bit.ly/VOWboard
We’re so excited to have kicked off VOW's new Ask An Oral Historian series with a sold-out first session! Don't miss the next open consultation hour in September:
📝 Narrative Editing
📅 Thurs, Sept 25 • 12pm PT / 3pm ET
🔗 Space is limited, so save your spot now: bit.ly/AAOH-2
📝 Narrative Editing
📅 Thurs, Sept 25 • 12pm PT / 3pm ET
🔗 Space is limited, so save your spot now: bit.ly/AAOH-2
Ask An Oral Historian: Narrative Editing
Open consultation hour with Fanny García, VOW's Editorial Program Manager and Oral Historian
bit.ly
August 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
We’re so excited to have kicked off VOW's new Ask An Oral Historian series with a sold-out first session! Don't miss the next open consultation hour in September:
📝 Narrative Editing
📅 Thurs, Sept 25 • 12pm PT / 3pm ET
🔗 Space is limited, so save your spot now: bit.ly/AAOH-2
📝 Narrative Editing
📅 Thurs, Sept 25 • 12pm PT / 3pm ET
🔗 Space is limited, so save your spot now: bit.ly/AAOH-2
Meet Jonathan Menjivar—podcast producer, reporter & one of the inspiring mentors in VOW’s Storyteller Initiative. In a conversation with VOW intern Claire Reisberg, he discusses his career path, storytelling journey & transition from mentee to mentor.
💬 Check out the conversation at bit.ly/4or6IhN
💬 Check out the conversation at bit.ly/4or6IhN
“What's your story?”: Jonathan Menjivar on the Importance of Mentorship and Storytelling - Voice of Witness
In a conversation with VOW Intern Claire Reisberg, Jonathan Menjivar discusses his career path, storytelling journey, and transition from mentee to mentor.
voiceofwitness.org
August 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Meet Jonathan Menjivar—podcast producer, reporter & one of the inspiring mentors in VOW’s Storyteller Initiative. In a conversation with VOW intern Claire Reisberg, he discusses his career path, storytelling journey & transition from mentee to mentor.
💬 Check out the conversation at bit.ly/4or6IhN
💬 Check out the conversation at bit.ly/4or6IhN
We’re excited to launch Ask An Oral Historian—monthly consultation hours with Fanny García, VOW's Editorial Program Manager & Oral Historian!
Dive into the intricacies of oral history & learn alongside fellow storytellers in an intimate, small-group setting. 💡
Dive into the intricacies of oral history & learn alongside fellow storytellers in an intimate, small-group setting. 💡
July 31, 2025 at 4:05 PM
We’re excited to launch Ask An Oral Historian—monthly consultation hours with Fanny García, VOW's Editorial Program Manager & Oral Historian!
Dive into the intricacies of oral history & learn alongside fellow storytellers in an intimate, small-group setting. 💡
Dive into the intricacies of oral history & learn alongside fellow storytellers in an intimate, small-group setting. 💡
We’re closing out our summer workshop series on 8/6!
Join us virtually for an intro to VOW’s oral history editing style, which combines journalistic integrity and a literary approach to honor narrators' voices and highlight complex issues through personal story.
🔗 Register: bit.ly/VOW-workshop3
Join us virtually for an intro to VOW’s oral history editing style, which combines journalistic integrity and a literary approach to honor narrators' voices and highlight complex issues through personal story.
🔗 Register: bit.ly/VOW-workshop3
VOW Workshop #3: Building Narrative Editing Skills
An introduction to VOW’s oral history narrative editing style that combines journalistic integrity and a literary approach.
bit.ly
July 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
We’re closing out our summer workshop series on 8/6!
Join us virtually for an intro to VOW’s oral history editing style, which combines journalistic integrity and a literary approach to honor narrators' voices and highlight complex issues through personal story.
🔗 Register: bit.ly/VOW-workshop3
Join us virtually for an intro to VOW’s oral history editing style, which combines journalistic integrity and a literary approach to honor narrators' voices and highlight complex issues through personal story.
🔗 Register: bit.ly/VOW-workshop3
We’re thrilled to share that our book, #BeginningAgain, has won a Silver Midwest Book Award! 🥈🏆 A heartfelt thank you to the Midwest Independent Publishers Association for this incredible honor.
📕 Haven’t read it yet? Grab your copy now at bit.ly/3IP9mh0!
📕 Haven’t read it yet? Grab your copy now at bit.ly/3IP9mh0!
Beginning Again
bit.ly
July 18, 2025 at 12:28 AM
We’re thrilled to share that our book, #BeginningAgain, has won a Silver Midwest Book Award! 🥈🏆 A heartfelt thank you to the Midwest Independent Publishers Association for this incredible honor.
📕 Haven’t read it yet? Grab your copy now at bit.ly/3IP9mh0!
📕 Haven’t read it yet? Grab your copy now at bit.ly/3IP9mh0!
Our second summer workshop is just around the corner! 🌿
Join us on 7/23 for an intro to interview practices, focusing on the role of respect, reciprocity, curiosity, trauma-informed approaches, insider/outsider power dynamics, consent, and more.
🔗 Sign up now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop2
Join us on 7/23 for an intro to interview practices, focusing on the role of respect, reciprocity, curiosity, trauma-informed approaches, insider/outsider power dynamics, consent, and more.
🔗 Sign up now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop2
VOW Workshop #2: Exploring the Interview Process
An introduction to oral history interviews, trauma-informed approaches, and navigating common challenges.
bit.ly
July 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Our second summer workshop is just around the corner! 🌿
Join us on 7/23 for an intro to interview practices, focusing on the role of respect, reciprocity, curiosity, trauma-informed approaches, insider/outsider power dynamics, consent, and more.
🔗 Sign up now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop2
Join us on 7/23 for an intro to interview practices, focusing on the role of respect, reciprocity, curiosity, trauma-informed approaches, insider/outsider power dynamics, consent, and more.
🔗 Sign up now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop2
The first session in our summer workshop series is TOMORROW 7/9! Join us for our skills-building workshop facilitated by VOW staff and Zaira Arvelo Alicea, a narrator from Mi María: Surviving the Storm, Voices from Puerto Rico.
It's not too late to register at bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
It's not too late to register at bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
VOW Workshop #1: Narrator Experience & Storytelling Ethics
Intro to an ethics-driven oral history approach with a focus on centering the voices and experiences of narrators throughout the process.
bit.ly
July 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
The first session in our summer workshop series is TOMORROW 7/9! Join us for our skills-building workshop facilitated by VOW staff and Zaira Arvelo Alicea, a narrator from Mi María: Surviving the Storm, Voices from Puerto Rico.
It's not too late to register at bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
It's not too late to register at bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
We recently led a comprehensive workshop on oral history planning and archiving for the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC). We're proud to support their work documenting Puerto Rican migration and identity in Chicago. 🇵🇷
🔗 Learn more at: bit.ly/VOW-NMPRAC
🔗 Learn more at: bit.ly/VOW-NMPRAC
Preserving Puerto Rican Voices: Oral History Training with NMPRAC - Voice of Witness
Voice of Witness led an oral history project planning and archiving workshop for The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.
bit.ly
July 1, 2025 at 9:48 PM
We recently led a comprehensive workshop on oral history planning and archiving for the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC). We're proud to support their work documenting Puerto Rican migration and identity in Chicago. 🇵🇷
🔗 Learn more at: bit.ly/VOW-NMPRAC
🔗 Learn more at: bit.ly/VOW-NMPRAC
Reposted by Voice of Witness (VOW)
The event will also feature a multimedia gallery and the debut of a printed zine sharing stories from Spanish- and Mam-speaking community members about their pandemic experiences. Thanks to @voiceofwitness.org for partnering with us to collect these powerful oral histories!
June 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The event will also feature a multimedia gallery and the debut of a printed zine sharing stories from Spanish- and Mam-speaking community members about their pandemic experiences. Thanks to @voiceofwitness.org for partnering with us to collect these powerful oral histories!
VOW's summer workshop series kicks off on 7/9! ✨
Join us virtually for an intro to our ethics-driven approach to oral history storytelling, with a focus on trauma-informed practices and centering the needs and experiences of narrators throughout the project.
🔗 Register now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
Join us virtually for an intro to our ethics-driven approach to oral history storytelling, with a focus on trauma-informed practices and centering the needs and experiences of narrators throughout the project.
🔗 Register now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
June 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
VOW's summer workshop series kicks off on 7/9! ✨
Join us virtually for an intro to our ethics-driven approach to oral history storytelling, with a focus on trauma-informed practices and centering the needs and experiences of narrators throughout the project.
🔗 Register now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
Join us virtually for an intro to our ethics-driven approach to oral history storytelling, with a focus on trauma-informed practices and centering the needs and experiences of narrators throughout the project.
🔗 Register now: bit.ly/VOW-workshop1
This #WorldRefugeeDay, join us in uplifting and celebrating refugee storytellers. At a time when refugee and immigrant rights are under attack, their stories matter more than ever.
June 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This #WorldRefugeeDay, join us in uplifting and celebrating refugee storytellers. At a time when refugee and immigrant rights are under attack, their stories matter more than ever.
Today is the Teach Truth Day of Action! Students deserve to learn the truth about history & how to think critically so they can shape a more just future.
We're proud to be a co-sponsor of the #TeachTruth campaign w/ Zinn Education Project & more. Get involved:
We're proud to be a co-sponsor of the #TeachTruth campaign w/ Zinn Education Project & more. Get involved:
Teach Truth Day of Action 2025
We invite educators, students, parents, and community members to host a mini-lesson, rally at a historic site, history walking tour, information table, or other event to defend the right to…
www.zinnedproject.org
June 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Today is the Teach Truth Day of Action! Students deserve to learn the truth about history & how to think critically so they can shape a more just future.
We're proud to be a co-sponsor of the #TeachTruth campaign w/ Zinn Education Project & more. Get involved:
We're proud to be a co-sponsor of the #TeachTruth campaign w/ Zinn Education Project & more. Get involved:
In the latest interview in our Activating Oral History series, we talked to Juania Sueños about her zine of testimonios titled "UnAmerican Dreams: Immigrant Stories Interrupted by the State."
Activating Oral History: Juania Sueños on the Power of Art and Testimonio - Voice of Witness
Read our interview with Juania Sueños, who talks about her zine of testimonios titled UnAmerican Dreams: Immigrant Stories Interrupted by the State.
voiceofwitness.org
June 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
In the latest interview in our Activating Oral History series, we talked to Juania Sueños about her zine of testimonios titled "UnAmerican Dreams: Immigrant Stories Interrupted by the State."
📢 Our summer workshop series is now open for registration! We're hosting three online oral history workshops for individuals and organizations interested in first-person storytelling.
🗓 Register soon to reserve your spot:
voiceofwitness.org/2025-worksho...
#OralHistory #Storytelling #Nonprofit
🗓 Register soon to reserve your spot:
voiceofwitness.org/2025-worksho...
#OralHistory #Storytelling #Nonprofit
Summer Workshops: Oral History Storytelling Skills and Ethics
Sign up for VOW's online oral history workshops to learn about ethical storytelling and gathering first-person narratives.
voiceofwitness.org
May 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
📢 Our summer workshop series is now open for registration! We're hosting three online oral history workshops for individuals and organizations interested in first-person storytelling.
🗓 Register soon to reserve your spot:
voiceofwitness.org/2025-worksho...
#OralHistory #Storytelling #Nonprofit
🗓 Register soon to reserve your spot:
voiceofwitness.org/2025-worksho...
#OralHistory #Storytelling #Nonprofit
🗓️ Bay Area – join us at the Teach Truth Day of Action event on Saturday, June 7 in #Berkeley. We're proud to be a co-sponsor.
📚 Resources and book fair
🎵 Music
🍛 Food
🎨 Art
🤝 Community
Together we can fight back against classroom censorship and book bans.
#RightToRead #FreedomToLearn #TeachTruth
📚 Resources and book fair
🎵 Music
🍛 Food
🎨 Art
🤝 Community
Together we can fight back against classroom censorship and book bans.
#RightToRead #FreedomToLearn #TeachTruth
May 27, 2025 at 11:19 PM
🗓️ Bay Area – join us at the Teach Truth Day of Action event on Saturday, June 7 in #Berkeley. We're proud to be a co-sponsor.
📚 Resources and book fair
🎵 Music
🍛 Food
🎨 Art
🤝 Community
Together we can fight back against classroom censorship and book bans.
#RightToRead #FreedomToLearn #TeachTruth
📚 Resources and book fair
🎵 Music
🍛 Food
🎨 Art
🤝 Community
Together we can fight back against classroom censorship and book bans.
#RightToRead #FreedomToLearn #TeachTruth
When borders are weaponized and asylum is under attack, storytelling becomes a lifeline.
Oral history is memory infrastructure—it preserves truths and experiences that institutions try to erase.
Oral history is memory infrastructure—it preserves truths and experiences that institutions try to erase.
May 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
When borders are weaponized and asylum is under attack, storytelling becomes a lifeline.
Oral history is memory infrastructure—it preserves truths and experiences that institutions try to erase.
Oral history is memory infrastructure—it preserves truths and experiences that institutions try to erase.
Reposted by Voice of Witness (VOW)
In our latest #mihistoria💬, Nati Lopez reflects on life under DACA during Trump’s second term and the emotional and legal complexity faced by undocumented youth still awaiting a permanent solution.
www.eltimpano.org/mi-historia/...
www.eltimpano.org/mi-historia/...
“When will I feel at home here?”
A DACA recipient faces an uncertain future during Trump's second term.
www.eltimpano.org
May 21, 2025 at 11:59 PM
In our latest #mihistoria💬, Nati Lopez reflects on life under DACA during Trump’s second term and the emotional and legal complexity faced by undocumented youth still awaiting a permanent solution.
www.eltimpano.org/mi-historia/...
www.eltimpano.org/mi-historia/...
Across the country, stories are under attack: books banned, archives erased, and critical funding slashed.
Organizations, including Voice of Witness, have had funding terminated by federal agencies.
Organizations, including Voice of Witness, have had funding terminated by federal agencies.
May 19, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Across the country, stories are under attack: books banned, archives erased, and critical funding slashed.
Organizations, including Voice of Witness, have had funding terminated by federal agencies.
Organizations, including Voice of Witness, have had funding terminated by federal agencies.