Act Of Listening is a collaboration between students from the University of Saint Francis and the staff at 89.1 WBOI funded through an AARP grant. Part of the project’s goal was to alleviate loneliness and isolation in older, low-income adults.
Over the 2018-19 school-year, students went out in teams of two and met a variety of older adults in Fort Wayne. One visit was recorded to bring these conversations to a wider audience.
USF students Sean Rollins and Jennifer Schenkel recorded five interviews and conversations about faith, family, and community.
We’ll begin with Irene. Irene knows nothing brings people together like a home cooked meal. In their conversation, Irene talks about her values of family, respect, and boundaries.
Now, we’ll hear from Julia. Julia, a native Hawaiian, believes in the importance of caring for other people. In their conversation, Julia shares lessons she’s learned from her parents and talks about how she passed that wisdom onto her children.
Next, we’re going to hear from Tony. He was interviewed by Jennifer Schenkel. In their conversation, Tony talks about his passion for service, art, and community.
Next, we’re going to hear from Lois. In her conversation with Jennifer, Lois talks about her experiences from childhood, marriage, and moving from place to place.
Our last interview was with Nancy. In their conversation, Nancy shares what it was like to be a woman in sports and she talks about her family’s experiences in theatre.