Pugh Accardo proudly sponsored WWNO – New Orleans Public Radio to host StoryCorps, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of people from all backgrounds and beliefs. The program’s Airstream trailer studio resided at City Park outside the New Orleans Museum of Art’s Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden and recorded interviews – in person and virtually – as part of its Mobile Tour from November 14 to December 13, 2024.

Based in New York, StoryCorps produces a popular feature heard on WWNO and public radio stations nationwide on Friday mornings. Known for its heartfelt exchanges, the feature captures intimate conversations, highlighting the importance of relationships. StoryCorps selects recordings from its nationwide tours for the NPR segment.

“StoryCorps encourages communities to come together to both document and tell their individual stories,” said WWNO General Manager Paul Maassen. “In New Orleans, with the approaching 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we are also inviting people to share their experiences from this challenging period in our city’s history.”

Community members were invited to register for a 40-minute session, guided by a StoryCorps facilitator who will create a safe, supportive space for sharing. Participants will receive a digital recording, and recordings will be archived in the Library of Congress for future generations.

WWNO/89.9FM, will air a selection of the local interviews and create special programs around the project. Recollections about Katrina and its aftermath will be included in other stories WWNO will produce to coincide with the approaching 20^th anniversary in 2025.