I feel lucky to be a coordinator with People and Stories - Gente y Cuentos. Reading great short stories aloud and discussing them as a group is a pleasurable activity in any setting, but doing so in a prison with a group of inmates is inspiring. It is an opportunity to witness directly the power of literature. I leave each session sensing that the participants have been changed by the experience, and knowing that I have too.
I serve as a coordinator and help "behind the scenes" at this organization, and I can speak to its meaningful impact on participants. People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos programs make people feel seen, heard, and valued. A partner site just shared with me that our work made the participants "feel important- which they very rarely get to feel." The short story and poem series open doors to literature and build bridges between people of varied backgrounds. When people have access to our shared literary heritage, they feel a sense of belonging and dignity- which everyone deserves. The organization is also fiscally transparent, so donors can trust that their monetary support is going to directly funding important programming.
People and Stories / Gente y Cuentos is such a unique and wonderful nonprofit that brings literature to underprivileged communities. I have been a coordinator of Gente y Cuentos programs for latina mothers at the Children's Home Society in Trenton and for seniors at the Puerto Rican Association of Perth Amboy since 2019. The impact of the programs is truly empowering. It gives participants a voice for self expression and self advocacy. Each session gives them the opportunity to discuss themes that are relevant for their lives and often hard to bring up in daily life. The short stories we read help participants to better understand themselves, imagine how to face challenging situations, develop an appreciation for poetic language, empathize with others and even make friendships. We need more programs like this one to make literature accessible for all regardless of their education and background.
I found People and Stories on a volunteer website. I was immediately drawn to its goal of bringing the community closer through literature.
I attended a "Try It" to learn what it was all about and loved it. I wanted to become a coordinator, so I attended the workshop.
I've been a coordinator since 2023 and have facilitated several groups for senior adults. Reading fascinating short stories aloud and then generating interesting conversations, sharing what you think and who you are, in a safe space where you are taken into account, is, for me, Human Development mixed with literature, which I love.
I've seen in the senior groups that they care about feeling part of the community, being heard and valued, and that they have a lot of wisdom to share, they are so engaged to the programs because they can see those benefits.
The nonprofit organization is led by an exceptional group of passionate and committed people. They always have everything in order and on time, which helps them meet the program objectives in a timely manner. I’m so happy to be part of this organization.
I've been a People & Stories coordinator for nearly 25 years, working mostly with women in a residential program for recovery from substance abuse. I am always stunned by the insight, tenacity and candor participants bring to the discussions. No matter how many times I have read a familiar story--"Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes or "The Shawl" by Louise Erdrich--I learn something new from how people in the group respond. I listen to them share poignant, often difficult, experiences from their own lives; I watch them connect with each other. Over the eight-week series, I see them grow in confidence and self-expression. In their ongoing efforts to build sober, healthy lives, People & Stories offers connection and possibility. This program gives me hope.
I've been involved in People and Storie/Gente y Cuentos for almost 30 years, facilitating reading programs in the community in English and in Spanish, and helping to train facilitators in the US and in Latin America. It is so rewarding to see the deep impact the program has on participants: it builds their self esteem, encourages them to create new and healthy interpersonal relationships, and gives them the opportunity to engage with language and personal expression. This program touches so many lives: prison inmates, adult education students, adults in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, patrons of community soup kitchens and public libraries. More of a group experience than a class, the program opens up the world of literature to new audiences and validates their own life experiences.
I’ve witnessed firsthand how people from all walks of life, with differing opinions and very different lifestyles, come together in People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos and find common ground. Where else do we find that!? Short stories read aloud offer a collective experience to remember, while the discussions that follow build self awareness, self esteem and relationships in all types of settings. A timeless and invaluable program!