Hear Here

Hear Here

Hear Here is KALW’s local community storytelling project. We seek out the stories of people who live and work in San Francisco and Oakland neighborhoods – and share what we hear on air and online!

Hear Here is currently recording stories in the Visitacion Valley, SF and East Oakland neighborhoods.

Take a listen to some of the stories we’ve collected below…

We've heard stories of immigration...

...and family...

...and work...

...and more.

Making Connections

Sometimes the stories we collect don't just stop at the radio.

How it Works

Hear Here partners with public libraries and community organizations to capture the often untold stories of the surrounding neighborhoods. We set up a date to show up at the library with our microphones and sit down for short, recorded conversations with participants. Every participant receives a CD copy of their interview. Some stories will air on KALW 91.7FM!

Want to share your story or partner with Hear Here to share the stories of your community?

Email hearhereradio@gmail.com or call (415) 264-7106.

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Soundcloud.

The Spot: From the mouths of musicians

This week on KALW's showcase for the best stories from public radio podcasts and independent radio producers..."Las Hermanitas Garza" produced by Texas…
Hear Here: Carolyn Brandy's mysterious dream

Ninna Gaensler-Debs

Caroyln Brandy started playing the conga drum in the late 1960s.“It was something that women didn’t really do back in those days,” Brandy says. “You…
Hear Here: Jeannette King-Harris wants to turn her neighborhood around

Ninna Gaensler-Debs

Jeannette King-Harris grew up in Oakland and says she’s tired of all the difficulties young people face there today. So, she’s launching an organization…
Hear Here: Tara Hagins remembers a loved one through the music he loved

Music has played a big role in Tara Hagins' life, beginning when she was 14 and started going to rock concerts with her cousin Holly. Hagins shared her…
Hear Here: Pete Villaseñor finds a home in San Francisco

Ninna Gaensler-Debs

Pete Villaseñor moved to San Francisco from his home state of Texas almost 20 years ago. That’s well before the Bay’s current housing troubles began. But,…
Hear Here: Life lessons from Rutka Messinger

RutkaMessinger is a retired high school literature teacher living in San Francisco’s Richmond District. But, she wasn’t born here. She was actually born…
Hear Here: Viola Rusca's memories of San Francisco

Viola Rusca has been watching San Francisco evolve for over nine decades. She shared some of her childhood memories from growing up in Visitacion Valley…
Hear Here: Astor Lee finds community in an ancient Chinese art

Ninna Gaensler-Debs

Astor Lee shared her story with KALW's Hear Here project at the Visitacion Valley library branch. She told us about how the art of Tai Chi helped create a…
Hear Here: Meet DaJuan Simpson

If you’ve visited your local library recently, you might have seen some kids listening to story time ... teenagers seated in front of computers ... adults…
Hear Here: Kiana Sezawar's gardening discovery

Third-grader Kiana Sezawar is learning to care for plants at the Visitacion Valley Greenway community garden.“I’ve learned that if you want to plant…
Hear Here: Eric Hannan remembers working at 81st Ave. Library in Oakland

Ninna Gaensler-Debs

Eric Hannan was only supposed to work as the 81st Avenue Library's Teen Service Director for a few weeks. He ended up staying two years."There was a…
Hear Here: Mary Joseph recalls a father she barely knew

Our relationships with our families are complicated – and they can change. Today, we meet Mary Isabel Joseph, who remembers growing up with a father she…