Each year, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, StoryCorps partners with public radio stations, known as One Small Step Radio Station Hubs, to develop their own One Small Step program in their communities. In addition to five other cities, we’re excited to partner with WUTC in Chattanooga, TN. Read the press release (pdf).

”Chattanooga is becoming bigger and denser every day and every effort is being made to make it a more tolerant and inclusive city,” Will Davis, Faculty and Outreach Manager at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga said. “One Small Step embodies our community’s goals.”

Davis continued, “With One Small Step, we want to make new friends and make a difference. We’re going to abandon our egos, listen to each other, and care. We want to be part of an empathy revolution.”

WUTC is based at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where students are very interested in One Small Step, according to Davis. “Today’s student population is more diverse than ever and they really want to get the respect thing right,” he said. “I’m looking forward to leading the charge to make our One Small Step efforts student-centered, as well as community-based.” 

This year, we’re also excited to bring One Small Step to WDET, in Detroit, MI; KSUT, in Ignacio, CO; Georgia Public Broadcasting radio stations across the state of Georgia; WHQR, in Wilmington, NC; and WTIP, in Grand Marais, MN. Our partnership with each station includes training and production assistance to help expand the impact of One Small Step in these communities. 

Trained station staff members will facilitate and record conversations between community residents of differing political persuasions, and selected interviews will be shared across each station’s media platforms. Stations will also team up with a variety of community organizations to spread the word, and will collaborate with StoryCorps to match participants and record conversations through the end of the year. The project also includes a series of public listening events, streamed online. 

Learn more about the recording dates and locations in these communities.