Coming Home: Re-storying U.S. | A Digital Testimonial Campaign leading up to America250
GRIEF ACKNOWLEDGMENT: March 11, 2020: The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic.
To mourn our grievances and loses we endured, I invite us to have a moment of silence for the more than million lives lost — and hundreds of millions who were infected and affected.
Please hold a 1 minute of silence before moving forward.
A Wounded Nation in Search of a Healing
The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It’s the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.
― Lois Lowry, The Giver
In the tumultuous year of 2020, the pandemic, civil unrest, and the horrifying death of George Floyd pushed me to reassess my career path. I felt an urgent need to find a profession that would enable me to better understand and respond to the chaos we collectively faced. The pandemic
and divisive political environment revealed the vulnerabilities of democracy to fear, irrationality, and demagoguery, not just for me, but for many others as well.
Seeking answers, I embarked on a journey into graduate school at the University of San Diego, focusing on the role of digital media in exacerbating identity- based conflicts, hate speech, and violence. However, during my independent research on people’s post-pandemic experiences, I immersed myself in countless narratives.
Yet, amid the multitude of stories I encountered, a profound realization struck me—I had neglected to listen to my own story. It became evident that within me lay a trove of experiences and memories waiting to be unpacked. If I genuinely wanted to comprehend the events that unfolded in America, I first needed to understand the personal journey I had undertaken. Though my research began with the intention of weaving together a cohesive narrative by listening to others, I now understood the significance of listening to my own voice.
The loss of my grandmother, followed by the passing of my grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousin, plunged me into the depths of grief. Countless families endured similar heartbreak, left shattered and bereaved.
As someone who studies collective grief, trauma, and healing, I’ve come to recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare our society’s vulnerabilities. The pervasive fear of the unknown has permeated every facet of our lives, from our social interactions to our access to basic necessities, and even our political landscape. Uncertainty looms large, casting a shadow over our rights and democratic norms.
In the face of profound loss, our collective sorrow has given rise to anger, creating fertile ground for power-hungry forces to take root. Fear has the potential to transform individuals into dangerous beings. The absence of certainty breeds desperation, corrupting even the noblest among us, turning them into monsters consumed by rage.
Recognizing the apocalyptic nature of our present times, I find myself pondering where collective trauma can find solace in our public sphere. Where can communities come together in vulnerability and intimacy within public spaces? While there are avenues for rehabilitating individuals facing addiction and life stressors, where do we collectively rehabilitate from the scars left by mass violence?
For my thesis, I delved into contemporary public discourse surrounding the unsettled history of the American narrative leading up to its 250th anniversary in 2026. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, I highlighted how modern American life is rife with stressors and disasters, presenting opportunities to forge a shared identity amid social conflicts.
Thus, it is time for an overdue public conversation — a conversation that delves into what has just happened, what is currently unfolding, and where healing lies, particularly as we approach America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. To facilitate this dialogue, we must ignite a movement of memory justice, granting people the space to pause, reflect, and find meaning in the events that shape our lives.
As part of this work, I have spearheaded a public impact program called Coming HOME: Re-Storying U.S., a digital healing campaign aimed at helping people remember and heal through art and storytelling.
Our Digital Campaign Image
Private to Public Healing
If change begins with connection — connecting with the stories we live and carry with us, then healing culminates with the stories we tell — finding constructive meaning in our experiences.
Conceived in response to the profound impacts of collective anxiety, social isolation, and trauma, particularly among our nation’s youth, “Coming HOME: Re-Storying U.S.” assumes a crucial role as the United States approaches its pivotal 250th anniversary in 2026.
Over the next two months, we will introduce our inaugural cohort of curators who have shared their stories of heritage, healing, and hope through artifacts from their lives. This diverse group of nine young individuals will empower us to bear witness to the stories we carry from this time. Staring next week, we will release portraits and inteviews of each curator’s journey to healing.
The digital story campaign of the “Coming HOME: Re-Storying U.S.” project will leverage popular social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to reach and engage with Generation Z. These platforms are widely used by young people as spaces for learning, self-expression, and entertainment. By sharing the digital memoirs and stories created by the curators through these channels, the project aims to ensure that the narratives and experiences of young Americans are accessible to a broad audience.
As a significant focus of the initiative, “Coming HOME: Re-Storying U.S.” will embark on a healing tour, engaging with secondary and post-secondary institutions to achieve our goal of collecting 250 digital testimonies that tell the story of our time by 2026. To do so, we are launching a $10,000 fundraiser to support our team.
Join us over the next two months by sharing, contributing, and telling your story. Follow us at @conversationsbycourage on Instagram, TikTok, and Linkedin.