Digital Storytelling: Building Bridges

A special multicultural event highlighting the personal stories of African and African American adults living in Northview Heights through autobiographical videos of their own creation.

Sharing Our Story, founded by Sally Rafson, is a project-based initiative working with organizations in Pittsburgh to bring together diverse communities through digital storytelling. Since founding in 2014, Sharing Our Story has engaged community members in the brainstorming, recording, and editing of their own personal documentaries. These documentaries, or “digital stories,” have been viewed and discussed by over 300 community members and showcased in exhibits of the Westmoreland Museum of Art and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh.

The Ibeji (Ee-bay-gee) Drum Ensemble – In 1995, the Mitchell Family formed The Ibeji Drum Ensemble to “edu-tain” (educate and entertain) audiences of all ages and ethnicities, and to preserve and cultivate an awareness of the rich musical traditions of West Africa.The Ibeji Drum Ensemble was founded by Dr. Anthony B. Mitchell (Baba Tony), Beatrice Y. Mitchell (Iya Bea), and their twin sons, Anthony, Jr. and Dante. Ibeji means “twins” in the West African Yoruba tradition.

Digital storytelling is an approach that empowers individuals to create documentaries showcasing life experiences, these visuals can then open the door for discussion on complex topics. In this project, Digital Storytelling: Building Bridges, ten adult residents of Northview Heights met to discuss experiences living in Pittsburgh and chose identity building experiences to share with the greater community. Each adult compiled and edited material for a three-minute documentary showcasing an event of particular significance in their lives. Adults were assisted in this process by volunteers skilled in English education, creative writing, videography, and digital editing.