Truth be told, an elizabeth river trail immersive audio project, curates site specific stories to connect neighbors to the local history of the land they inhabit and transform a trail user S…

This Project Grant award from the National Park Service - Chesapeake Bay Office under the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network program (CFDA 15.930) provides $150,000 to The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation to develop an immersive audio experience along the 10.5-mile Elizabeth River Trail in Norfolk, Virginia. The "Truth Be Told" project will curate 10 seven-minute audio stories featuring the historical perspectives and experiences of underrepresented communities along the trail, connecting visitors to the local history and cultural heritage of the area. The stories will be accessible through interpretive signage, QR codes, and a digital archive, allowing both on-site and remote engagement to enhance the trail experience and broaden the audience. This project aims to illuminate inequities in housing, redlining, and Norfolk's role in the slave trade, while highlighting the resilience and self-emancipation of enslaved individuals along the Elizabeth River. The award period runs from August 30, 2024 to May 31, 2026.

Truth be told, an elizabeth river trail immersive audio project, curates site specific stories to connect neighbors to the local history of the land they inhabit and transform a trail user S connection to the surrounding areas. Experiencing the history at their feet through the personal narrative of voices often neglected and talked over, this project both enhances the trail encounter and invites new visitors. This project asks listeners to consider whether they know the history of the land they are on and creates space for them to answer why or why not? Featuring a selection of 10 seven-minute stories (or around 70 minutes of audio) of historically black neighborhoods, experiences and cultural touch points along the 10.5 mile urban riverfront trail, the truth be told project invites a deeper connection to norfolk and the working waterfront of the elizabeth river while connecting 28 neighborhoods and a diverse audience to an outdoor recreation space for all. Through interpretive signage on the trail as well as digital QR codes and an archive on the ERT website, listeners will be able to access the audio stories on their personal devices and can choose to experience the story at the place where IT happened or from the comfort of their home. This widens our audience reach by engaging with an unlimited number of participants online, and offering a deeper immersion into storytelling with those who are able to stand at the site where the story occurred. This is particularly poignant when discussing issues connected with housing inequality and environmental racism. IT also makes way for people to step into neighborhoods outside of their normal flow, experience new businesses, and to reconsider their city through a different lens. Starting at norfolk state university and running along the elizabeth river to the port of virginia, the trail has long been an educational destination. Home to the naval battleship USS wisconsin, fort norfolk, the cannonball trail, historic freemason and more, the truth be told project will illuminate the inequities of housing, red lining, norfolks role in the slave trade all while maintaining the connection to the water. In a region where the majority of our waterfront is not accessible to the public, the ertf believes the connection to our working waterways is critical to understanding our past and informing our future. The truth be told audio project truly makes the trail an outdoor classroom. Once fully informed, participants can delve into the why of structural racism, and are invited to become part of the dismantling of these systems. The power of storytelling has great potential for shifting culture, mindset, and creating a common framework where transformation can occur in local and state public policy making. Shining a light on the military and cultural history of the area, from lamberts point, the first neighborhood in norfolk where african americans could buy homes, to exploring the coal yards and rail history of the city, as well as sharing the stories of the elizabeth river as a means to self-emancipation for enslaved people, the elizabeth river trail serves as a gateway to understanding our past and amplifying stories of resilience that can serve to empower young people, giving them a sense of pride, belonging, and ownership.