Welcome to Children of the Spills

From the Project Director:

The last months have been a whirlwind of listening to, transcribing, reviewing, rearranging, re-editing, re-reading, and working with audio and video from nearly 100 interviews in Alaska, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.  And that wasn't my day job! (That's the fun part, where I get to be silly and muddy as I work outside with kids, exploring science and our local ecology!) At times it has seemed like an overwhelming task, but I am nearing the end of what seemed unachievable.  All the interviews are transcribed (with generous support from my sister, Erika, and Colorado State University's Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis), and I am sending them out for review by each participant. 

There were many moments amidst the frantic typing that I was struck by how truly incredible these stories are.  Even after seeing them 5, 10, 20 times, I was still amazed by what people shared -- these stories brought me to laughter, to tears, and left me in awe.  I hope you take some time to read, look, and listen for yourself.  ~ Katie

Children of the Spills is a year-long oral history project with young people affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Alaska and with children and teens impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill along the Gulf of Mexico.  By empowering young people in “oiled communities” to share their memories, stories, and childhood artwork, this project strives to both broaden the public understanding of the long-term affects of oil spills and to assist communities as they work to protect and support their children after an oil spill. 

Generous support from The Ocean Foundation, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, Cook InletKeeper, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, Homer Incentive Trust, and the South Louisiana Presbytery and many local individuals have provided the funds needed to begin the project.  We're currently seeking further funding to continue developing the project in Alaska and the Gulf.