About Our Campaign

Storytelling is a powerful way to convey a narrative, shine light on an issue, and unite people across boundaries. Drawing inspiration from the storytelling practices behind the CNN stories, The First Time I Realized I Was Black and 25 Influential American Muslims, and co-creating theories and practices, we created our own campaign, Start Talking SJU. We are indebted to CNN producers, Jacque Smith and Tawanda Scott Sambou, who offered their time and expertise to help us better understand digital storytelling practices and craft.

We have chosen the topics of the new normal?, living in fear, attacked, belonging and mental health because these are critical issues facing the college campuses throughout the country, including at Saint Joseph’s University. We talked to students and faculty within the SJU community, as well as those students who have graduated and those who no longer attend SJU.

The goal of our campaign is very much held within the name of our initiative – Start Talking SJU. Through our stories, we hope to enact a powerful narrative that is essential for our campus to engage in. That narrative includes the new normal?, living in fear, attacked, belonging and mental health.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing feelings of and associated with a lack of belonging and/or concerns with their mental health, please consider visiting the CAPS center or reaching them at 610-660-1090. For more urgent assistance, call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Producers: The New Normal: Transitioning Back to Hawk Hill

Jessica Smith
Gabby Bekoka
Stephanie Wengler
Liam Morgan
Ally Hanley
Liam Majewski
Eamonn Irving
Meghan Harms
Brendan Farrell
Michael McFadden
Will Haywood

Producers: Living in Fear, Striving for Hope
Skylar Althouse
Jayne Baran
Briana Boyer
Audrey Brown
Noah Caruso
Ted Dolan
Chelsea Evans
Alyssa Farrell
Hanna Grimes
Anna Kalafatis
Michael McKelvey
Daniel O’Sullivan
Bella Oliva
Anthony Salatto
John Slusser
Lukas Van Sant
Elaina Wall

Producers: Attacked
Emily Bendock
Michela Bussard
Lauren Catalano
Lily D’Angelo
Laura Fuentes
Taylor Funk
Sophie Hampton
Erin Kelly
Anna Keppel
Lexi Mignogna
Sami Nigro
Julia Olaguer
Stephanie Rapp
Matt Ridings
Eliza Rocco
Mariana Ruiz
Erin Saggese
Nick Shisler
Khalil Thames

Belonging: Is the Nest Always a Home?
Megan Bevilacqua
Steven Branagan
Mike Farrell
Caitlin Gillard
Collin Giongo
Anne Howath
Lamarr Kimble
Anne McGinley
Jill O’Neill
Kelly Smith
Sabrina Stampe
Amanda Strydio
Elana Valentin
Rosa Weldon
Breanne Welsh
Sophie Werner
Alim Young

Producers: Mental Health: Silence the Stigma
Jennifer Altonji
Madison Auer
Keith Banquer
Emma Brenner
Cecelia Cianci
Maura Donnelly
Vilma Fermin
Julia Gray
Samantha Henry
Nathan King
Brett Lee
Michelle McCann
Clare Nastri
Erin Paccione
Joe Panichelli
Kaitlyn Patterson
Maggie Rawlins
Max Rosenfeld
Jennifer Tague

We encourage you to participate in the narrative, and if you feel called to do so, share your thoughts with #StartTalkingSJU. If you would like to give us feedback concerning our campaign, please let us know!