About Our Town
Your Voice, Your Vision
“Our Town” features the local legends, history and personal memoirs of Rhode Island towns and villages — those untold or uncelebrated stories that capture the essence of life in town. Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio does not choose the stories; you do!
You can join the “Our Town” project by collecting video and becoming one of the local storytellers. Help document the people, places and events in your community. No experience is necessary – just enthusiasm!
Residents are especially urged to participate. Each installment of “Our Town” centers on a different Rhode Island town and its villages, but participants are not specifically required to live there. If you have a great story to tell or want to help someone else bring their vision to light, you are highly encouraged to sign up.
Great Stories
Great stories are all around us. “Our Town” is designed to give members of the local community a platform to tell these great stories and share perspectives of their own. It also builds a meaningful relationship between Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio and the local community, making engagement with the “Our Town” project mutually beneficial for everyone involved.
Where to Start
Spread the word about “Our Town” to local organizations in your community. There are no age or experience restrictions, and there is no cost or compensation to participate.
Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio offers production guidance, technical advice and support to all volunteer filmmakers. Print materials will be shared at town meetings, but our producers are always available by phone or email to help as well.
When you finish filming, Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio will edit your video story along with your neighbors’ stories to create a one-hour portrait of the featured town.
Do you have a story you’d like to submit? Let us know what it is, and when you are ready to start! Email us at ourtown@ripbs.org.
Questions? Contact Us
If you have any questions about the project please reach out to our team:
- Jodi Mesolella — Director of Membership & Special Projects/Our Town, Project Director (jodim@ripbs.org, 401-222-3636 x 209)
- Ross Lippman — Producer (rlippman@ripbs.org, 401-222-3636 x 413)
- Faythann Fallon — Newsletter and Outreach Editor (ffallon@ripbs.org, 401-222-3636 x 435)
