Tap Talks – What’s a Story Map

Kent, OH – What’s a Story Map and how can it teach us about the rich history of Kent, Ohio? Todd Peetz, Director of Portage County Regional Planning will discuss the innovative Kent, Ohio Story Map project at North Water Brewing’s next Tap Talks on October 17 at 7 pm. This new digital tool is designed to give Kent residents and visitors innovative and engaging ways to collect, share, and tell our stories. Produced through a community-wide collaboration among Kent State University, Main Street Kent, the Kent Historical Society & Museum, and Portage County Regional Planning, online story maps combine the best of storytelling mediums — writing, photography, video, audio, plus of course maps — and transform a story into an experience.

Kaitlyn Leib, Alexander Zavertnik, Laila Forrest, and Nathaniel Hedington, Kent State history students, spent the summer research photographing, and compiling information about historic structures in Kent. According to Peetz, “The Kent Historic Structures interactive mapping can be built upon as new data becomes available. No starting over from scratch. Searching information is provided in just a matter of clicks. We can add oral histories, interior photos, website links and drone footage to any structure or district.”

Tap Talks was initiated by Don Schjeldahl, the creator of North Water Brewing, as a way to bring the community together for conversation about life in Kent, Kent’s history, and issues of the day that impact us all. It’s also a chance to enjoy an array of locally-brewed artisan ales and beers. Tap Talks are scheduled EVERY THIRD TUESDAY of the month at 7 pm at North Water Brewing, 101 Crain Avenue in Kent.

You can meet the Story Map team and learn how you can add your own content and stories to this unique community resource on Tuesday, October 17th at Tap Talks