Our Process

Alive in Truth began on September 4th, 2005 outside the Austin Convention Center, which served as a shelter for 6,000 New Orleans residents. Most of these were evacuated from the Superdome, the Convention Center, the I-10 Overpass, or their own roofs.

The volunteer listeners at Alive in Truth are not professional oral historians or trauma therapists, but caring citizens who offer a heart-to-heart connection and receive stories without a time limit. We check our egos at the door. We work to bear witness to the whole person, not just their experience of the catastrophe, and agree to honor, protect, and share their stories.

Our Mission is

• to be present at the shelters until every person has a home
  
• to provide a place for expression of the personal identities, histories, and experiences
  of those who left New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
  
• to introduce New Orleanians to their new communities, and create a
  web of connection with ongoing cultural events
• to record, archive, and share stories of New Orleanian survival with the larger world

Our methods are evolving every day, as each day brings new human beings together.

Below we've included resources for doing citizen-to-citizen oral histories yourself.

Tips for Taking Care of Yourself When Talking With Trauma Survivors

KNOW that the person you're talking to is going to be OK eventually. If you can't believe that, pretend that you do: invent in your mind a vision of this person back in a house, back in a job, back with their loved ones. It is not your job to problem-solve them into their new future, just hold out the possiblity for that in your mind for them to lean into.

KNOW that this person is expressing themselves perfectly--for them--even if their level of emotionality is very much stronger than what you're used to. Expressing rage, shock, grief, helplessness is helpful IF there is a competent witness, that is, someone who will listen to the story and simply accept it and honor it by recording it. Remember, you're the container for the story, not the problem-solver. The more intensely you listen, the more the person will respond with a natural calming reaction, and then you will have the opportunity to redirect them if you feel it necessary, back to the narrative of their story.

KNOW that listening to survivor stories will trigger all your issues, and one way of avoiding your being traumatized is to listen to yourself competently as well. For instance, if your rage comes up, ask yourself what this reminds you of, note that you may need to talk about that later to someone else, note that whatever comes up for you is rational and valid and needs to be honored with the same compassion that you are offering the survivor.

--Catherine Cogburn, M.A., L.P.C.

Tips for Taking Care of Trauma Survivors When Interviewing Them

Explain the purpose of the conversation very clearly. Make sure they know who you are, what your intent is, and what their choices are.

Offer all the options you have available in terms of location, privacy, time, method of interview, and recording options.

If possible, offer childcare to parents.

Test your microphone and recorder to make sure they work.

Maintain eye contact.

Allow the speaker to lead the conversation.

Uphold the dignity and self-perception of the speaker at all times.

Ask short, open-ended, questions: "Where did you live in New Orleans?" "Who raised you?" "How did you get here to Austin?" "How do you like it here?" "How are you feeling?"

Do not criticize, interpret, or counter any statement.

Validate their words with nodding, sounds, and body language.

Do not focus on catastrophe or their losses unless they do; don't define the person by the traumatic experience.

Let them know that you are capable and willing to hear as much emotionally difficult material as they wish to share. Have tissues at the ready.

Speak from the "I" perspective. For example: "I am so sorry for what happened to you. I am angry about how you were treated. I am inspired by how strong you are." Express your genuine emotional reactions to their story.

Be aware of your own biases and limits (racial, religious, economic, regional).

You are here to listen to their stories, not to tell yours-unless asked.

Ask if you can touch them, before you offer a hug or a caring gesture.

To close the interview, ask questions which are rooted in the Here-and-Now.

Make sure the speaker knows how to get ahold of you in the future, and can get a copy of his or her story, change it, or add to it.

Don't over-identify; keep your boundaries intact and offer positivity and good energy.

Thank the speaker for sharing their story.

If you sense the speaker may be illiterate: when discussing the release form, say, "This is the paper that you can sign if you'd like me to make your words public on the internet or in a book or the library. Can you read it, or would you like me to read it to you?" Make sure they know that they are free to sign or not to sign, and what signing means.

Offer to involve speakers in the project if they wish to be included further.

Make sure you have contact info for the speaker. If they don't have any place to be contacted, help them to set up an email address if possible.

--Alive in Truth