Colorado HealthStory, a three-year project of the Colorado Rural Health Center, ClinicNET and the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved, recently completed the pilot phase of their story collecting project. Colorado HealthStory, funded in late 2010 by The Colorado Trust and The Colorado Health Foundation, is working to create an appreciation of our shared experiences of health, one conversation at a time. Everyone has a story to tell, whether it be the joyous birth of a baby, the moving experience of sitting with a dying parent, a journey of remarkable healing, the perspective gained from providing care or struggling to navigate our complicated healthcare system.

Colorado HealthStory staff began gathering audio recordings this summer in three focus communities: Rocky Ford, Summit County and Aurora. After collecting and editing a body of stories in each community, HealthStory gathered community members together for a local forum and listening session. During the forums, storytellers, providers, elected officials, advocates and other members of the community were able to listen to collected stories and speak about local shared health issues. Health profiles for the region were presented at each forum which highlighted recorded stories and local health data. This fall, HealthStory staff will hit the road again to record stories in three additional communities.

To learn more about the Colorado HealthStory project, to hear the stories, or to view the community health profiles, visit the HealthStory website at http://www.coloradohealthstory.org/.