Apr 16, 2023–Mar 31, 2024
The teen years are instrumental in the creation of a sense of self. They are also a critical time in the creation of what psychologists from The Family Narrative Lab at Emory University call the “intergenerational self”—a self embedded within a larger familial history.
What shapes us? Which family histories become our core stories? How do we make them our own? The sixth iteration of What We Hold presents individual audio recordings created by teens age fifteen to eighteen, reflecting on and connecting with their families’ stories of love, inheritance, and identity.
Teen participants worked with a series of professionals to learn about personal narratives, audio stories, and spoken word poetry as tools for self-discovery, empowerment, and connecting with family and community. Each recording represents a creative exploration and window into the experiences and thoughts of today’s youth.
This exhibition is presented exclusively online.
Listen to all of the recordings featured in What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project.
Special thanks to Dan Wolf, Chris Hambrick, and Jamey Williams for their instruction and inspiration.
Teen programs at The Contemporary Jewish Museum are made possible with generous support from the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and U.S. Bank.