Season One: Still Here

Still Here is the inaugural season of Shelton Talks – Community Oral History Series. This season is rooted in a simple but powerful truth: our stories matter, and they are worth preserving now—while they can still be told in the first person.

Across families and communities, history is often lost quietly. Elders carry memories that were never written down. Everyday people lived lives of faith, work, sacrifice, and leadership that shaped generations—yet their stories were rarely recorded. Still Here exists to change that.

Objective of the Series

The objective of Season One is to document and preserve living history by centering elders, long-time residents, and community builders whose lived experiences reflect survival, resilience, faith, labor, and place. This series honors the people who carried communities forward, often without recognition, and ensures their voices become part of the historical record.

Goal of the Series

The goal of Still Here is to:

  • preserve oral histories before they are lost

  • strengthen intergenerational connection

  • protect community memory from erasure

  • create an accessible archive for future generations

Each episode is a respectful, conversational interview designed to honor the storyteller’s voice, boundaries, and legacy.

An Invitation to Join the Conversation

Shelton Talks invites community members to share their oral history as part of Season One. There are up to 10 episodes in this season, and additional storytellers may be featured in future publications.

If you are:

  • an elder or long-time community member

  • someone whose family story deserves to be remembered

  • a faith leader, tradesperson, caregiver, or community builder

  • or someone who believes their lived experience can help future generations understand where they come from

—we invite you to join the conversation.

Participation is voluntary, respectful, and guided by care. Stories are recorded with consent, preserved with integrity, and shared with the understanding that knowing your history matters, your voice matters, and your legacy matters.

We were here.
We are still here.
And these stories matter.

Season 1: “Still Here” — Interview Prompts by Episode

Episode 1: Still Here: Remembering a Life Lived in This Place

Purpose: Establish presence, roots, and continuity

  • How long have you lived in this community?

  • What does “home” mean to you?

  • What are you most proud of surviving or sustaining?

  • What does it mean to you to still be here today?

Episode 2: Before the Roads Changed: Growing Up When Everybody Knew Everybody

Purpose: Capture childhood, neighborhood life, and change

  • What do you remember most about growing up here?

  • What was daily life like back then?

  • Who looked out for you as a child?

  • What changes were hardest—or most surprising—for you?

Episode 3: The Church That Raised Us

Purpose: Preserve faith-based and spiritual memory

  • What role did church or faith play in your life?

  • How did the church support families and children?

  • Who were the leaders or elders you remember most?

  • How has faith helped you through difficult times?

Episode 4: Work Was Survival: Trades, Labor, and Making a Way

Purpose: Honor labor, skill, and dignity of work

  • What kind of work did you do or learn?

  • Who taught you how to work or survive?

  • What did work provide beyond income?

  • What should people understand about the value of that work?

Episode 5: What We Lost—and What We Kept

Purpose: Reflect on displacement, change, and resilience

  • What has been lost in this community over time?

  • What traditions or values survived?

  • How did people adapt when things changed?

  • What do you wish had been protected sooner?

Episode 6: Still Standing: Women Who Held the Line

Purpose: Center women’s leadership and caregiving

  • Who were the women who shaped your life?

  • What responsibilities did women carry that went unseen?

  • How did women hold families and communities together?

  • What should history remember about them?

Episode 7: Lessons You Don’t Learn in School

Purpose: Capture informal education and wisdom

  • What lessons did life teach you outside of school?

  • Who taught you how to navigate the world?

  • What knowledge came from experience, not books?

  • What do young people need to learn that schools don’t teach?

Episode 8: When the Elders Spoke, We Listened

Purpose: Preserve intergenerational transmission

  • Who were the elders you listened to growing up?

  • What did they teach you through stories or discipline?

  • How were respect and responsibility taught?

  • What happens when elders are no longer heard?

Episode 9: This Land Remembers

Purpose: Place-based memory and land connection

  • What places in this community hold meaning for you?

  • How did land, homes, or churches shape identity?

  • Are there places that no longer exist but still matter?

  • What does this land remember that people might forget?

Episode 10: What I Want My Grandchildren to Know

Purpose: Legacy, wisdom, and future-facing reflection

  • What do you want future generations to understand?

  • What mistakes should they avoid?

  • What values should never be lost?

  • How do you hope your story will be remembered?

Interested in Sharing Your Story?

or

Nominate an Elder to Share Their Story

If an episode resonates with you and you believe your lived experience aligns with its theme, we invite you to participate in the Shelton Talks – Community Oral History Series.

Click the episode title above to complete the Google Form for that episode.
Once submitted, a member of the Shelton Talks team will review your information and follow up with you directly to schedule your interview.

Participation is voluntary, respectful, and guided by care. You may decline any question, request accommodations, and choose how your story is shared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shelton Talks – Community Oral History Series: “Still Here”

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.

  • The Shelton Talks Community Oral History Series is a recorded interview project dedicated to preserving personal, family, and community stories. Season One, Still Here, focuses on elders, long-time residents, and community builders whose lived experiences shaped the places and people around them.

  • We welcome:

    • elders and long-time community members

    • faith leaders, tradespeople, caregivers, and educators

    • individuals with family or community stories worth preserving

    You do not need to be a public figure or historian. Everyday lived experience matters.

  • The purpose is to preserve history before it is lost, strengthen intergenerational connection, and create a respectful record of lived experience that future generations can learn from.

  • The interview follows a conversational flow that may include:

    • your background and early life

    • family, faith, work, and community involvement

    • reflections on change and continuity

    • what you want future generations to remember

    You may skip any question you are not comfortable answering.

  • Most interviews last between 30–60 minutes, depending on your comfort and availability. Breaks are always welcome.

  • Interviews may be conducted:

    • in your home

    • at a church or community space

    • at another agreed-upon location

    • virtually, if preferred

    We aim to record in places where you feel comfortable and at ease.

  • Yes. Interviews are typically recorded on video and audio. However, recording options are flexible, and audio-only or limited-use arrangements are available upon request.

  • With your consent, interviews may be used for:

    • Shelton Talks (YouTube)

    • written transcripts and digital archives

    • community journalism features

    • educational or historical presentations

    • future publications

    You will complete a consent form that clearly outlines usage options.

  • Yes. Participation is voluntary, and you may:

    • request certain topics not be included

    • choose how your name is used

    • request limited or delayed release

    • stop or pause the interview at any time

    Your comfort and dignity are our priority.

  • This project is primarily historical and educational in nature. Financial compensation is not guaranteed unless agreed upon in advance. The value of participation is centered on preservation, recognition, and legacy.

  • That’s completely normal. The interview is not a test or performance—it is a conversation. We guide the discussion with care, patience, and respect, and you are never required to share more than you wish.

  • You may:

    • complete our participant intake form

    • contact us directly through the website

    • nominate an elder or community member

    A member of our team will follow up with next steps.

  • Because elders are aging, memories fade, and stories are lost quietly every day. Preserving history now ensures future generations know where they come from—and who carried them forward.

Final Note

At Shelton Talks, we believe:

Knowing your history matters.
Your voice matters.
And your legacy matters.

Thank you for considering sharing your story with us.

What to Expect on Interview Day

We understand that being interviewed—especially on camera—can feel unfamiliar. Our goal is to make the experience comfortable, respectful, and unrushed.

Before the Recording Begins

Your interview day will begin with a warm, informal conversation—no cameras or microphones officially rolling. This time is simply for:

  • getting to know one another

  • reviewing the interview process

  • answering any last questions

  • confirming topics you are comfortable discussing

Nothing shared during this time is recorded unless you give permission.

Review of Consent and Preferences

Before the interview begins, we will:

  • review the consent form together

  • confirm recording preferences (video, audio, or limited use)

  • note any topics you prefer to avoid

  • answer any questions you may have

You remain in control throughout the process.

During the Interview

The interview itself is a guided conversation, not a performance. We will:

  • move at a comfortable pace

  • allow time for reflection and pauses

  • offer breaks as needed

  • follow your story naturally

You may skip questions, ask to pause, or stop at any time.

After the Interview

Once recording ends, we will:

  • thank you and check in about how you’re feeling

  • explain next steps for editing and release

  • discuss how and when your story may be shared

You are always welcome to reach out with questions or concerns afterward.

Our Commitment to You

We approach every interview with care, dignity, and gratitude. Your story is treated as a gift—not content—and is preserved with integrity.

Visit Shelton Talks on YouTube to explore more shared stories, reflections, and community voices.