The coalition for Saving Our Stories champions the recording and preserving family history and was organized to

prevent the loss of history with the passing of our elders,
Over 1500 American war veterans die every day and their stories are lost forever.
curtail students' declining knowledge of history,
Only 43% of 12th graders had a basic knowledge of history according to 2001 tests.
foster multicultural understanding in schools, the workplace, and the community ,
Many children and adults live in total isolation from other cultures, their history, and their family stories.
stimulate writing that is interesting, meaningful and frequent,
The National Commission on Writing found that only one of four students were ranked as proficient.

The coalition for Saving Our Stories met for the first time on May 29, 2002 at the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Dan LaVista, Executive Director, IBHE, convened the group in cooperation with Jean Wilkins, Director, Illinois State Library; Joseph Cipfl, President and CEO, Illinois Community College Board; John Johnston, Director, Veterans Affairs, and Margo Schreiber, Director, Illinois Department on Aging. The coalition has established one main goal: to champion the recording and preserving of family, cultural and community history. The coalition plans to do this through publicity, emphasizing it as a way of meeting educational standards; through intergenerational service learning; and by fostering writing skills among all ages.

National Partner: Peter Bartis, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
• History: Pat Bearden and Yolanda Simmons. American Family History Institute, Chicago; Peter Alter, Chicago Historical Society; Allen Schwartz, Chicago Metro History Education Center; George Wyler, Illinois Genealogy Association; Jane Ehrenhart and Kathryn Harris, Illinois State Historical Library; Keith Sculle, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; Tom Teague and Bill Furry, Illinois State Historical Society; John Daly, Illinois State Archives,
• Media: Nancy Bohl, Illinois Press Association, Linda Dawson, Illinois Association of School Boards; Jane Angelis, Continuance Magazine, SIU Carbondale;
• Community-Based Organizations: Joe Dunn, Illinois Coalition for Community
Service; Asta Bonheyo, Illinois Commission for Volunteerism and Community Service; Marilyn Okon, Illinois Department of Human Services; Ryan Lewis, Illinois Humanities Council; Mike Ragen, Illinois State Library, Dave Joens, Secretary of State's Office
• Education: Martha Jantho, Chicago Public Schools, Berni Ferrari, City Colleges of Chicago; Kay Pangle, Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents; Mary Walsh, Illinois Association of School Boards; Rick Jachino, Illinois Board of Higher
Education, Yvonne Singley, Illinois Community College Board, Lisa Schnell, Illinois Education Association; John Craig and Dick Carlson, Illinois State Board of Education; Brenda Diehl, Illinois PTA; Jan Fitzsimmons, North Central College
• Aging: Ralph Yaniz, AARP; Matt Wescott, Illinois Department on Aging; John Johnson, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
The project is co-chaired by Jane Angelis, Intergenerational Initiative, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Allen Schwartz, Chicago Metro History Education Center, Newberry Library, Chicago. The project is sponsored by Senator Emil Jones, Jr, Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, and the State Board of Education.
In addition to the students' publicity efforts, the Coalition will produce a 12-page Guide that will be published by the Chicago Tribune and disseminated to classrooms throughout the state as a part the Newspaper in Education program.