
The North Richmond Storytellers is a unique part of our annual Summer Youth Apprentice Program (SYAP). It is a specific cohort committed to preserving and sharing the living history of North Richmond. By collecting stories from local elders, the cohort uplifts the values and experiences that have shaped this community, centering themes like education, giving back, music, discipline, and love.
As a part of a project that will extend over a number of years, the Storytellers are bringing these narratives to life and weaving them into the History Walk installation at the North Richmond Farm. The History Walk will be a public storytelling experience that honors the past while building bridges to the future. Through interviews, public art, and shared memory, they aim to stop the erasure of Richmond’s history and create space for pride, reflection, and connection.
North Richmond Storytellers youth cohorts are helping us by collecting oral histories, with the intention of creating self-guided audio tours. While some stories mention major figures in North Richmond history, others share the lives of average residents – recalling what it was like to live and grow up in the area, how things used to be and continue to form, and how the area has shaped people’s lives.
Summer 2025: Exploring Japanese American History of North Richmond
This summer, we are excited and proud to welcome our second cohort of storytellers, who may be honing their attention to the history of Japanese Americans in North Richmond. Through intimate conversations with community elders, these narratives will become a vital addition to our growing oral history archive.
We will also host a special gathering at the conclusion of the 2025 Summer Youth Apprenticeship Program to premiere the short video created by our 1st cohort. This preview offers a glimpse of the content that will be available along the permanent History Walk.