Many years back, an Israeli author shared a profound insight with me about the nature of memory.

I asked him: Why does your writing return so often to childhood experiences?

His intense gaze caught me off guard.

"Because we're all like mythological creatures," he explained. "We rush headlong into tomorrow while our vision remains fixed on yesterday."

Since that moment, I've recognized that individuals and communities alike navigate the present while being shaped by their past.

Our decisions today echo with the memories that define us.

For storytellers and reporters, understanding the power of memory becomes essential when crafting narratives that resonate deeply.

The journey from one homeland to another. Building a fresh existence. Discovering new purpose and identity.

Or carrying the weight of hardship endured. The sting of prejudice faced. The resilience demonstrated through adversity. These collective memories live within us and the communities whose stories we share.

On Tuesday, May 20th, we'll examine how memory and historical consciousness shape one particular community's experience. Yet what matters most is the approach itself – recognizing that every community carries within it stories embedded in collective memory. To overlook these stories means missing vital connections.

Our focus will be Chile's story as it unfolds today, exploring how the past continues to inform the present. But this framework applies equally to Bosnia, Rwanda, Mexico, Guatemala, and countless other communities around our city and world.

We're honored to hear from Hugo Rojas Coral, sociology of law professor from University Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile; Dr. Francesca Lessa, a scholar specializing in transitional justice and human rights; Columbia College instructor Jeff Kelly Lowenstein; and photographer Jon Lowenstein, who will present his visual documentation of Chile.

Join us at 6:00 PM in Room 219, Columbia College, Congress and Wabash, Chicago.

Let's explore together how memory becomes an integral thread in our storytelling work. We're eager to learn how you incorporate these elements into your own reporting.

— Steve

Let's continue the conversation:
steve@worldinchicago.com-html.com