Voice Your Value: The Impact of OurStoryBridge in NYS Museums, Now and in the Future
Pre-conference Workshop

Location: Hilton Albany

Time: 1 - 3 PM

About: Learn how OurStoryBridge can help the voices of your community give value to your institution and strengthen your Semiquincentennial commemorations! Join Founder and President of OurStoryBridge Inc. Jery Huntley, MLS, Jessica Moquin, Chenango County Historical Society, and Joanna Case, Schoharie County Historical Society, for a pre-conference workshop exploring how the innovative methodology developed by OurStoryBridge can bring freely accessible, short-form digital oral history projects to your institution.

Presenters:

Jery Huntley, Founder and President, OurStoryBridge Inc.

Jery received her BA in Education and MLS at UAlbany, but her career took a turn after her start as a teacher and librarian. She worked for the NYS Assembly, then in Washington, DC for the U.S. House of Representatives. This led to opportunities in environmental lobbying, issues management, and as an association CEO. She lives in Washington, DC and Keene Valley, NY. Her volunteer work includes President/full-time staff at the nonprofit OurStoryBridge Inc.

Kelly Bartlett, Project Coordinator, OurStoryBridge Inc.

With a dual MSIS and English MA from UAlbany, Kelly started her relationship with OurStoryBridge as an intern in Fall 2021. Afterwards, she demonstrated her enthusiasm for and commitment by assisting with social media and other tasks. Since January 2023, she has served as Project Coordinator for OurStoryBridge, working on metrics, social media, communications, the Teacher’s Guide, liaison to story projects across the country, and assisting with MANY's "A New Agora for New York."

Jessica Moquin, Executive Director, Chenango County Historical Society and Museum

Jessica joined the Chenango County Historical Society as Executive Director in 2019. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the Crane School of Music and a master’s degree from the School of Education, both at SUNY Potsdam. Earlier, she worked in development with Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne. Throughout her career, she has held positions across the non-profit sector, including health and human services, higher education, and arts organizations.

Joanna (Jo) Case, Curatorial Assistant, Schoharie County Historical Society

Joanna has a B.A. in History from Siena College and is pursuing an M.A. in Public History and M.S. in Information Science specializing in Archives and Records Management at UAlbany. She is the Curatorial Assistant for the Schoharie County Historical Society and has worked to bring in new exhibits, an intern program, and more to attract a diverse audience. She has previously worked with museums such as the Saratoga County History Center and Colonial Williamsburg.

Presentation Format:

• Experiential/Interactive

Session categories:

• Collaborated with colleagues on a project that highlights the value of museums in our cultural ecosystem, 
• Shared the relevance and importance of collections, 
• Adapted programming to meet audience needs, 
• Crafted new interpretive strategies to increase community engagement, 
• Expanded mission to serve new audiences, 
• Developed programs connected to commemorations, 
• Adopted new ways to communicate with stakeholders, funders, and legislators

What to expect:

Participants will learn how and why (especially for the Semiquincentennial and beyond) to start OurStoryBridge projects, why these projects bring value to museums, and gain hands-on practice taking short-form oral histories using the OurStoryBridge methodology including challenges and solutions from existing story projects.