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.
These interviews were recorded by Kendra Siefring and Do Thawng. The students and their interviewees had conversations about faith, family, and strength.
Now, we’re going to hear from Beth. Beth is a learner, survivor, and advocate. In their conversation, Beth talks about surviving domestic abuse and hopes to help others who have been in similar situations by sharing her story.
Now, we’ll hear student interviewer Kendra Siefring’s conversation with Denise. She is an active participant in her church and in her community. Denise shares lessons and stories with Kendra about spirituality, education, and her family’s relationship with money.
In this episode, student Kendra Siefring interviews James and Ruth. They discuss a large range of topics, including family memories and the ways in which technology transformed the workplace. The two have been married for 60 years, and want to advise young couples not to “give up on the rough patches.”