Folklorist Alan Lomax famously believed that every voice matters, every story counts. Traveling America’s back roads, Lomax recorded musicians in porches, living rooms, and kitchens, introducing the nation to voices that might otherwise have remained unheard. At Narrative Arts, we’re driven by a similar belief: Everyone has a story, and capturing those stories authentically strengthens the fabric of our communities.

Take Jessica Thai’s story, featured recently on our Shoresides local journalism platform. Jessica grew up in Camden County, North Carolina—a small community near the Great Dismal Swamp. Her family, refugees from Vietnam, built their lives around crabbing, navigating the difficult waters of economic uncertainty and cultural isolation. Jessica’s memories, ranging from helping her father pack crab pots to the vivid smells of Vietnamese meals prepared by her grandmother, and how their cuisine fused with southern cooking, showcase how deeply personal experiences reflect broader communal histories.

As Jessica recounts, “It’s absolutely incredible what they’ve gone through to just come and have a better life here and to have a better life for their family and their kids, and coming over here with no money and they didn’t know how to speak English. They really made it—they really built a life for themselves here, and that is something that inspires me every day.”

The value of a story like Jessica’s isn’t just in its details, compelling though they are. Her narrative, much like Lomax’s recordings, invites us into lives we might otherwise overlook, helping us understand the intricate ties between individual experiences and collective community identity. Jessica’s description of finding one of her father’s old crab pot buoys, painted his favorite pine green, unexpectedly hanging at her boyfriend’s family home, embodies how deeply stories can connect generations, communities, and even strangers.

Looking for these stories doesn’t always require extensive travel or elaborate setups. Often, as Lomax demonstrated, and as Narrative Arts continues through programs like Shoresides to exemplify today,, it simply requires listening closely to our neighbors, friends, and family members. Asking questions and valuing the responses, even when—especially when—they come from quiet places.

Jessica’s reflections reinforce why we at Narrative Arts prioritize storytelling. These narratives are powerful precisely because they are rooted in real lives. They build empathy, preserve heritage, and strengthen community bonds. Like Lomax before us, our aim isn’t just to collect stories, but to amplify voices, celebrate resilience, and nurture connections that help communities thrive.