Sharing Light and Love: The Great Thanksgiving Listen

The Great Thanksgiving Listen 2020

2020 has been an undeniably challenging year for many of us across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic, presidential election and burgeoning atmosphere of social change have altered how we work, learn and live. Many of us have found ourselves distanced from friends and loved ones and have felt the burden of trying to navigate the changing landscape of work and education. 

There is no quick solution to the problems we face, and the changes we seek will likely take time. However, there are ways we can still work together to create some light and love, and to help support the individuals and communities we care about. One of the ways we can make that happen this year is through StoryCorps’ annual Great Thanksgiving Listen.

The Great Thanksgiving Listen is a national movement that empowers young people—and people of all ages—to create an oral history of the contemporary United States by recording an interview with an elder, mentor, friend or someone they admire. At the root of many of our challenges this year is a dire need for connection, understanding and care. We hope the Great Thanksgiving Listen will provide a space that can alleviate some of those needs, and help build connections during a time when connectivity is difficult to achieve. 

Thanksgiving Resources and Activities

For our invaluable educators, we hope this year’s Listen acts as a useful tool to help bring community and cultural understanding into the classroom—virtual or otherwise. For families and communities looking for ways to connect and share intergenerational wisdom, we hope the Listen provides a space for meaningful dialogue and comfort, especially during an atypical holiday season. And, for everyone who wants their story to be heard, their challenges vocalized or their unexpected joys captured for years to come, we hope this Listen provides an opportunity to honor and share your diverse voices and experiences. 

We may still have a long way to go, but we shouldn’t feel like we’re taking the journey alone. We hope you—and educators and communities across the country—will join us in learning, growing and sharing our experiences together during this extraordinary moment.

To learn more about the Great Thanksgiving Listen, visit here.

For resources to support bringing the Great Thanksgiving Listen into your classroom, explore our Educator Toolkit, and visit our Library of Materials.