Over the next month, pairs of Temple community members are invited to share feelings of immense pleasure and happiness—in other words, joy. 

StoryCorps’ mobile recording studio has rolled onto campus, bringing a wave of joy and celebration as it captures and shares uplifting stories of Black joy for its latest historical collection project. This unique nonprofit initiative, Brightness in Black, is produced in collaboration with public media organization WHYY. In North Philadelphia, it promises to spotlight the rich and diverse experiences of faculty, staff, students and community members, two people at a time. 

“We are excited to be part of this pathbreaking initiative as we look forward to the many inspiring stories that will be shared,” said Valerie Harrison, Temple’s vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion and community impact. “This project is more than just a series of interviews; it is a celebration of culture, resilience and community.” 

StoryCorps is a nonprofit organization that has embarked on historical storytelling tours across the United States for the last 21 years, recording people from all levels of society. The interviews may be aired on NPR or through a podcast. The Airstream trailer’s Temple location is the grassy area on North Broad Street facing the Liacouras Center, which will see a stream of daily participants from Aug. 8 through Sept. 6. Inside the van, an intimate setting offers pairs of friends, partners, family members or colleagues a space to share their personal stories, experiences and moments of joy. These stories will highlight the richness and diversity of the Temple community and contribute to a broader understanding and appreciation for moments of Black joy.  

“Our mission is to engage audiences, broaden perspectives and empower communities through continuous learning, healthy dialogue and the amplification of diverse voices,” said Bill Marrazzo, president and CEO of WHYY. “WHYY is excited to partner with StoryCorps and its Brightness in Black initiative to spread diverse narratives and highlight stories often missing from traditional narratives.” 

The collected stories will be preserved and shared on StoryCorps’ online archive, and potentially as part of its collection at the U.S. Library of Congress. It offers a platform for voices that often go unheard and brings Temple a tremendous opportunity to highlight the strength, diversity and vitality of the community while contributing to the national conversation about race, identity and joy. 

In addition to the recording van, WHYY will be on campus for a special event on Aug. 24, Brightness in Black Double Dutch Meetup and Inline Dancing, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Pearson and McGonigle Halls at 1800 N. Broad St. The event is open to the public and attendees are asked to wear soft-soled shoes. An adult must accompany minors.  

“The goal of our partnership is to shine a light on the powerful and positive experiences within our Temple and neighboring community, celebrating the joy and resilience that define us,” Harrison said. “This project will honor individual stories and weave a collective tapestry of Black joy that will resonate with people far beyond North Philadelphia.”