In every community, rich stories lie around each corner, in vacant buildings, in sleepy restaurants and overgrown lots. The St. Louis Storymapping Project collects these stories and personal histories through a series of site-oriented video narratives; the stories are shot and edited by young people who live in the community.


Together, the stories beg attention to the everyday wonders that exist outside of time or place: a twisted oak tree, a faded mural, the smell of barbeque, the steady bounce of a basketball on a neighborhood street. As we embrace their larger meanings and messages, the stories provide connection and a common cultural identity, while ultimately, blurring lines and boundaries.