Original Projects 

When the project initially began, it was funded by a Margot Stern Strom Innovation Grant that Jenny Staysniak received from Facing History and Ourselves. From 2015 to 2016, Staysniak and her students collected oral histories from the following organizations throughout the Boston area: 

Citizens for Juvenile Justice 

ReVision Urban Farm

Prison & After 

Partners for Youth with Disabilities 

Jane Doe, Inc.

Cradles to Crayons 

The Italian Home for Children

Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception 

The Armenian Genocide Remembrance Interview Project 

The Armenian Genocide Remembrance Interview Project was a 2023 community-based oral history initiative dedicated to preserving the often untold stories of genocide survivors and their descendants. Led with a deep commitment to honoring underrepresented voices, the project engaged local students in interviewing Boston-area residents with personal or family connections to the Armenian Genocide. Students gained valuable skills in primary source research, oral history methodology, and empathetic listening while producing thoughtful written reflections. These interviews were compiled into an educational resource guide designed for future classroom use and publication. The project culminated in a public event attended by Middlesex County Sheriff and former Massachusetts State Representative Peter J. Koutoujian, fostering broad community participation and earning local media coverage. It was featured in several press outlets, including Boston Students Conduct Armenian Genocide Oral History Project and Local High School Teacher Leads Armenian Genocide Oral History Project.