Not long ago, I blogged about a community storytelling initiative in Oakland, CA. Commenter Tim Enerata pointed out that lots of place-based, community-based storytelling projects are thriving out there, some of which are listed at The Center for Digital Storytelling’s StoryMapping Stories page.

I’ve also just come across Denver’s Five Two Eight O, described as being “about you, your life, and your neighborhood in the context of Denver’s larger community, its intersecting histories, development, challenges and successes.” Further:

Five Two Eight O draws on personal stories, the arts and dialogue to bring people together to identify and explore what it is to live together in this city, this neighborhood, this time- as ourselves, with our own experiences, among these particular people.

You’re probably curious as to what Five Two Eight O stands for:

Five Two Eight O stands for: five events (one in Berkeley-Regis; one in Lowry; one in the Santa Fe Arts District and one in the Five Points area). The fifth and final event is a culminating evening of art and performance created and developed from the four preceding neighborhood events - a two-act celebration of Denver’s community and communities. Eight stories will be presented in that final evening — stories told and heard this summer, when Five Two Eight O comes to your neighborhood. Dialogue circles (O) will be an integral part of every event.

The stories of some of the folks behind this project can be accessed from its site and are quite fascinating.