Stories Summer Institute 2013

Series produced by Stories from Deep in the Heart, a project of Texas Folklife

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Finished audio pieces from Texas Folklife's 2013 "Stories Summer Institute". Local Austin, TX area teachers and students learned about the art of radio with nationally-acclaimed radio producer María Martin

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Program Press Release
July 1, 2013

TEXAS FOLKLIFE ANNOUNCES “STORIES FROM DEEP IN THE HEART” RADIO STORIES BY AISD TEACHERS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Local teachers and students learn with nationally-acclaimed radio producer María Martin.

Austin, Texas – Texas Folklife announces the “Stories from Deep in the Heart” 2013 Summer Radio and Folklore Institute to be held July 15th through July 19th in Austin, led by renowned public radio producer and journalist María Martin. Texas Folklife selected 4 high school and middle school teachers from Austin ISD and surrounding school districts and 4 high school students to be this year’s Institute Fellows. Participants are awarded a full scholarship to the 5-day intensive workshop in radio documentary production. Made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Folklife program offers workshops to teachers and students throughout the year to document their family and community traditions. Participants have a rare opportunity to learn from some of the best producers, journalists and cultural workers in the nation.
“Stories from Deep in the Heart” has already produced compelling stories from students at Akins, LBJ, Austin, Travis, and Eastside Memorial High Schools as well as Kealing, Gorzycki, and O’Henry Middle Schools. The audio pieces feature a range of stories from a family's Passover Seder tradition, to an intimate look at devotion of La Santa Muerte, a new folk tradition imported from Mexico to Texas, to the story of a family band of female conjunto accordion players. These stories have already attracted national interest through the Public Radio Exchange (PRX) radio distribution channel and have aired nationally on NPR’s Latino USA, and locally on KUT 90.FM, Austin’s NPR affiliate.

María Emilia Martin, the Summer Institute’s guest instructor, is a pioneering public radio journalist with over two-dozen awards for her work covering Latino issues and Latin America. She started her career at the first community public radio station owned and operated by Latinos in the U.S. She has developed ground-breaking programs and series for public radio, including NPR's Latino USA, and Despues de las Guerras: Central America After the Wars. A recipient of Fulbright and Knight Fellowships, she has extensive experience in journalism and radio training, in the U.S., Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia and other countries. Martin holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from the Ohio State University, and currently heads the GraciasVida Center for Media and GraciasVida Productions based in Austin, Texas and Antigua, Guatemala.

Ms. Martin will present a sampling of her work as well as completed radio documentaries produced at the Summer Institute by this year’s fellows. The presentation and reception on July 19th will be in the Bass Lecture Hall of the LBJ School for Public Policy on the UT campus and is free and open to the public. The reception begins at 6PM; refreshments and appetizers will be served.

“This project gives voice to the rich world of stories, music, folklore and art contributed by the diverse, hard-working families who have established themselves in Central Texas,” says Cristina Balli, Executive Director of Texas Folklife. "The students and teachers become our field workers--bringing us into their homes and new neighborhoods to learn about their family and community traditions."

For more information, visit http://texasfolklife.org/stories-summer-institute.html or contact Project Director Deborah Esquenazi at 917.664.9590 or deb@bluecabinstudios.com. To listen to the stories produced through the 2012-2013 school year, visit www.storiesfromdeep.tumblr.com
Stories from Deep in the Heart” is supported by the members and Board of Texas Folklife, the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, by grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts and Humanities Texas, and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art. The public program is co-sponsored by LBJ School for Public Policy. Additional support is provided by the Austin Independent School District, KUT, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. For 29 years Texas Folklife has honored cultural traditions passed down within communities across the state, and explored their importance in contemporary society. Called “one of the state’s true cultural treasures” by the Austin American-Statesman, Texas Folklife provides accessible, joyful arts experiences.

Located in SoCo just south of downtown Austin, Texas Folklife can be found next door to the Continental Club, at 1317 South Congress Avenue.

For more information contact (512) 441-9255, info@texasfolklife.org or visit www.texasfolklife.org.

Media information:
Charlie Lockwood / Texas Folklife Development & Program Associate / 512-441-9255 / www.texasfolklife.org

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Program Press ReleaseJuly 1, 2013TEXAS FOLKLIFE ANNOUNCES “STORIES FROM DEEP IN THE HEART” RADIO STORIES BY AISD TEACHERS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSLocal teachers and students learn with nationally-acclaimed radio producer María Martin.Austin, Texas – Texas Folklife announces the “Stories from Deep in the Heart” 2013 Summer Radio and Folklore Institute to be held July 15th through July 19th in Austin, led by renowned public radio producer and journalist María Martin. Texas Folklife selected 4 high school and middle school teachers from Austin ISD and surrounding school districts and 4 high school students to be this year’s Institute Fellows. Participants are awarded a full scholarship to the 5-day intensive workshop in radio documentary production. Made possible by a grant from the... Show full description


3 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Auveed & Mateen's Excellent Adventure: A story about two cousins and a luthier.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Jul 31, 2013
  • Length: 06:25
  • Purchases: 1
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A Passion for Bharata Natyam: Classical Indian dance comes to central Texas

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Jul 30, 2013
  • Length: 05:24
  • Purchases: 1
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Organic Path: Two teens explore an unusual vocation that inspires new options for their future.

  • Added: Jul 30, 2013
  • Length: 04:33