Stories bring people together in shared humanity. Personal stories can uplift, move and connect. In 2025, Dmae Lo Roberts embarked on a statewide storytelling experience focusing on personal stories from both artists and community members. These stories are a form of living oral history. The -Ism Storytellers Project was launched as a project of MediaRites with Dmae as the project director. Six storytelling events — in Astoria, Eugene, The Dalles and three in Portland — were held with the theme of “Courage, Grace and Grit.” Each event featured a different host who curated stories from their immediate communities.

What began as a personal storytelling event has quickly become an oral history gathering project that captures memories and experiences from some of Oregon’s prominent artists and community members. Each event is curated by a local host who chooses storytellers from within their own communities. MediaRites asked board member Shareen Jacobs to be the host and curator of the Black Femme event of The -Ism Storytellers Project.

This episode features music by Joe Kye at JoeKye.com. Original theme music by Clark Salisbury. Subscribe and listen to Stage & Studio on: Apple and Spotify and hear past shows on the official Stage & Studio website. 

Shareen Jacobs is an actor, deviser, and sometimes director who has appeared on stages around the Portland area, and sometimes on film. She is a board member of MediaRites and the Fuse Theatre Ensemble and works in procurement for the Multnomah County Library.

 “ I am always humbled and in awe of Black women. And in curating this group of people, I chose people that I admire, people that make me want to live up to the best possible version of myself…”

Sherita Trent is a mixed media and digital artist. She creates retro illustrations of colorful folks living extraordinarily ordinary lives. View her work at ofquirkywonder.square.site.

“ I realized my fear of failure had become my foundation for success. Through the healing process of making art, I also realized that not only had my art always been  good enough all along…”

Shani Harris-Bagwell, actor and founder & Principal of Bagwell Consulting, she is a strategist, organizer, and systems thinker with over 25 years of experience in education, public policy, and organizational leadership. Drawing on a Black Queer Feminist framework and a trauma-informed approach, she helps clients build authentic campaigns, inclusive policies and sustainable workplace cultures.

“ I believe that freedom of speech is often used as a weapon in this country, not a real freedom. In truth, it’s about the freedom of the press to publish truths about our government and leaders without fear of repercussion. But I believe there are consequences to running your mouth recklessly in public…”

Leslie Gregory is the founder of Right to Health, a nonprofit to help people recognize racial inequities using a restorative and health perspective. She is a certified Physician Assistant (PA-C), navy veteran, and mother of two. She is a longtime Portlander and social justice activist focused on healing those affected by everyday racism and she believes in the importance of taking a dynamic approach to teaching racial justice through health practices.

“ Black people are dying at three times the rate of white people  The inequities of employment, education, housing, every sector of our country is costing this country $2.4 billion a year, and nobody wants to recognize it. ….”

Kathleen Saadat is a public speaker and poet, originally from Missouri. She moved to Portland in 1970 and finished her interrupted pursuit of a college degree. She then became involved in civil rights struggles for Black people, women and the LGBTQ+ community. 

“You need courage to commit to something, especially if you do it publicly, ’cause it’s harder to go back on. Make a public commitment. Have courage to commit to something to make the world better. You need courage to love.  Think about that and what it takes, because you have to let something go, like your defense, your wall, the barbed wire that you keep around your heart. You need grit to stick to it. You need grit to keep going.”

  • “The -Ism Storytellers Project” is presented with support from the Ronni S. Lacroute Fund through the Oregon Community Foundation and the Portland Arts and Culture Arts Access Fund. This oral history audio program is made possible in part by the Oregon Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the America 250 Oregon Commission.
  • This is a co-production of MediaRites and Oregon ArtsWatch. Find these stories and more at Oregon ArtsWatch at orartswatch.org.
  • MediaRites is an award-winning nonprofit production organization in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to telling the stories of diverse cultures and giving voice to the unheard through the arts, education and media projects. More info: https://mediarites.org/

This series, which marks America’s 250th anniversary of its founding, is supported by funds from the Oregon Arts Commission through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. It is also made possible by the America 250 Oregon Commission.

Funding credits

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