First Listen: Neighbors in Their Own Words

Before you press play

A good first session for any group: short, varied, and nobody needs background.

Play it on a laptop or TV with the screen on, since most voices are short videos. Each neighbor is introduced by a short card. You can pause after any voice to talk.

Content notes. A Japanese American woman remembering her childhood: A young child away from her parents.

Who you'll hear

1. A Muslim mother and daughter. When can I wear the hijab? · StoryCorps · 2 min
2. A Jewish woman remembering her childhood. Saturday night bagels · Yiddish Book Center, Wexler Oral History Project · 2 min
3. A Caddo father and son. Crying is strength · StoryCorps · 2 min
4. A Sikh man on his turban. My turban is a crown · John Templeton Foundation · 4 min
5. A Black church pastor. Rosa Parks was my Sunday school teacher · StoryCorps · 4 min
6. A Japanese American woman remembering her childhood. A Buddhist temple school, then a country school · Discover Nikkei (Japanese American National Museum) · 2 min
7. A Mexican American neighbor. The one name they couldn't change · StoryCorps · 3 min
8. An Indian American son of immigrants. Keeping our parents' story · Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center · 1 min
9. Latter-day Saint couples married decades. 125 years of marriage advice · LDS Living · 3 min

The order rotates between plays, so no tradition always goes first.

Talk about it

1. Which neighbor would you most like to have coffee with, and what would you ask them?
2. Which story changed a picture you had in your head about a group of people?
3. Several neighbors talk about being asked 'Where are you from?' How do you ask that question well?
4. What's one thing you'll do differently next time you meet someone new?

Let anyone pass. Listening is the point.

Try it this week

Have one real conversation this week with someone whose life looks different from yours.

Read more: Why does getting to know someone change how we feel about them? · neighborradio.com/ask/why-does-getting-to-know-someone-change-how-we-feel/