After six years, I left my job leading Public Narrative a few months ago. But there is no way I’m missing the Studs Terkel Awards on Oct. 17 at the Zhou B Art Center in Bridgeport.
I will always support and love this amazing organization and its mission of lifting up journalism, community voices and great storytelling. And I will always be a cheerleader for my colleague, Public Narrative’s President Jhmira Alexander, as well as the man who gave his name to its annual journalism award – Studs Terkel.
He once said, ‘Most of us have jobs that are too small for our spirits.’ But Alexander is the exception. Her spirit is just as large as Public Narrative’s huge mission and she is the right person to lead this organization into its next 30 years.
But we need you. This important organization must remain strong, viable and able to keep working with community members and journalists. Without you, I don’t know how we can keep the stories coming. Now, more than ever, we need to hear the voices in our Chicago communities. So, be generous when you think about buying tickets and making a donation. Because your money will mean more training, more support and better stories.
And I’m looking forward to the many programs Alexander and I will do in the future. I was honored when she asked me to lead the 25th annual Terkel Awards Committee. Thanks to your nominations we came up with an amazing group of winners. I know Terkel would say the same.
So, join me in celebrating Public Narrative’s next era, as well as this year’s Terkel honorees: Deborah Douglas, Annie Sweeney, Jerome McDonnell, Britt Julious, Jeff McCarter and Nikole Hannah-Jones. These are the people who tell the stories that matter. And we need them. Just like Public Narrative needs you to keep helping journalists tell better stories. As Terkel said:
“People are hungry for stories. It’s part of our very being. Storytelling is a form of history, of immortality too.”
Susy Schultz
Executive Director, Museum of Broadcast Communications
Show up for great journalism on Oct. 17th.
Cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.
with music by DJ Ayana Contreras of Reclaimed Soul
JUST ONE MORE WEEK TO GET YOUR TICKET OR BECOME A SPONSOR: bit.ly/TerkelAwards