Finding and creating strong One Small Step pairings does take time, but the goal is for any and everyone at Dartmouth who’s interested to be able to take part! Recording slots for the 2024 spring and summer terms are limited, but there will be a growing number of opportunities to participate in One Small Step programming in fall 2024 and beyond – including opportunities to train in One Small Step facilitation to deepen skills and expand our One Small Step recording efforts across the community.

The program is designed to help you meet and build connection with someone new and different. We recommend letting the One Small Step team take care of matching you with a partner. 

StoryCorps’ matching protocols include several mechanisms to make sure that doesn’t happen. In the initial phase of the program, the One Small Step team will only pair students with other students, alums with alums, faculty with faculty, and staff with staff (later in the program, we may provide select opportunities for students to speak with alumni or members of the broader Hanover community). When we find a potential match for you, StoryCorps will reach out to you to learn about your goals and schedule availability, and during that time you’ll have the chance to confidentially discuss any specific concerns about match dynamics. Our #1 goal is to give participants a meaningful and productive experience, and that starts with ensuring we’ve created a pairing that is as conducive to trust-building as possible. 

The single most important thing to remember is that this is not an assignment or an academic exercise.  These conversations are meant to be personal and unscripted. You are not expected to have all the answers, or to be a “spokesperson” for any particular point of view.

The best way to prepare is to come with an open mind, curiosity, a willingness to share meaningful stories from your life, and a genuine desire to listen deeply and ask honest questions as you get to know someone new.  StoryCorps provides a suggested sequence of questions, and you’re welcome to bring your own.

Spend some time beforehand thinking about which questions you want to explore. You may find it helpful to think about some of your own answers, and reflect on stories from your life that might help illustrate them. But ultimately, there’s no need to over-prepare. Simply come ready to be yourself.

After you finish the conversation, the Facilitator will talk with you about whether you’d like to allow StoryCorps and Dartmouth to have a copy of the recording. You grant permission by signing a Release Form (StoryCorps will provide a copy in advance of your appointment to review). Signing a Release Form allows StoryCorps to archive the recording with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., as well as add your conversation to their Online Archive Collection. It also allows StoryCorps and Dartmouth to potentially publish/broadcast a portion of your conversation to help others understand and get involved with the program.  If you (or your conversation partner) decide not to sign the Release Form, the recording will not be archived or broadcast. StoryCorps will not keep a copy, and Dartmouth will not receive a copy. Regardless of your decision, you and your conversation partner will both receive the audio of the conversation for your own personal use.

It takes about 4-6 weeks to process StoryCorps recordings. Once your recording is processed, you’ll receive an email from StoryCorps with a link to a digital copy of it.