Congratulations to Cindy Choung (2009), the first recipient of our annual OHMA Alumni Conference Travel Award!

Cindy will be chairing a roundtable at the 2016 Oral History Association Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California, titled: “Storytelling the Environment: Environmental Activism, Science, and Storytelling within an Intersectional Framework.” The roundtable draws upon the initial conversations Cindy facilitated in a Groundswell Practitioner Support Network video chat this April. It seeks to develop intersectional strategies for utilizing storytelling to affect positive change in the natural world and to emphasize the humanity’s responsibility to our planet.

Cindy writes:  As the chair of the roundtable and an independent oral historian whose works focus on a wide range of topics—including art, feminism, science, and identity—I wanted to create a panel that explores intersectionalism and the various processes and modes of thinking about a certain issue.

Environmentalism was a perfect springboard for this endeavor because it’s a topic that concerns every person on the planet. The Oral History Association Annual Meeting is an ideal setting for exploring intersectional approaches to environmentalism, as conference attendees come from diverse professional and creative backgrounds, fields of study, and schools of thought—yet, they value storytelling as an important tool for connecting to and educating the public.

“Storytelling the Environment” brings together seven panelists from diverse geographical locations and institutional affiliations. Three of the participants—Cindy, Fernanda Espinosa (2015), and Erica Fugger (2012)—are also OHMA students or alums. The other panelists will be Maggie Lemere of Ashoka Fellows, Doug Lambert of Randforce, Emilie Springer of University of Alaska, and Thelma Young of 350.org.

The conversation will touch upon various categories, such as environmental engineering, political activism, visual art, religion, technology, social media, and oral history to imagine multifaceted and convergent approaches to environmentalism.

OHMA is excited to support Cindy’s efforts in finding new ways for oral history to encourage and sustain engagement with the health of our planet.

To learn more about Cindy and her work at the intersections of storytelling and environmentalism, please visit her professional website at: www.sychoung.com.