See a photo of Sarah, her bio, and Part 1 of this Q&A.
Q&A with Sarah White (Questions 2 and 3):
Q: The storytelling movement seems to be growing explosively. Why now? What is it about this moment in human history and culture that makes storytelling so resonant with so many people right now?
A: In our world of 24/7 news feeds, social media, etc., we are trying to drink from a firehose of information, and we’re finding ourselves bowled over yet still thirsty. I believe this is because we perceive there is “no time for story” — we’re served up information in a cut-to-the-chase, just-the-facts-ma’am style and it is simply not meeting our needs. The storytelling movement is about restoring — “re-story-ing” if you will — a more authentic means of learning from each other and drawing meaning from our own experiences.
Q: What people or entities have been most influential to you in your story work and why?
A: I have been a member of the Association of Personal Historians since 2002. I have attended our annual conference every year, and served on the board 2004-2008. Why? This group has a remarkable culture of generosity. I’ve learned so much from my colleagues in APH.