By Leah Hamilton
staff writer | hamiltonl4@duq.edu

Scholars and moralists believe that with the mass increase in social media, artificial intelligence and fake news, authentic storytelling that is rooted in human experiences, has become vital to conversation in creative spaces.

Duquesne’s Mosaic Storytelling Lab is working to contribute to these discussions and engage a new generation on the intersection of faith and technology.

The lab was established as a digital space that allows students to create innovative work through different platforms such as Instagram and TikTok while also providing resources such as workshops and conferences to advance their skills.

On Nov. 5, the center hosted their inaugural Community Storytelling Night, where students and local speakers presented a variety of intimate stories through poetry and painting that connected to technology or faith.

The event also featured music, food and a gallery of art created by local artists.

Kelly Franklin, the associate director of Mosaic Storytelling, wanted the event to be a way for students and locals to become involved with the program and their message of community through creation.

“We wanted to capitalize on a larger audience and host a space where people would be able to engage in new stories,”Franklin said.

Community Storytelling Night was held in collaboration with the Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology and Law. As the Grefenstette Center focuses on ethics in technology, the Mosaic Storytelling’s focus will be specifically on community stories and amplifying student voices.

“Everyone has a story to tell. Our emphasis is always on using students’ voices and the fact that students’ voices matter,” Franklin said.

For students, the Mosaic Storytelling initiative provides vast opportunities such as fellowships where students are guided in producing personal stories that reach out to other communities.

Connecting to the theme of technology, Maeson Rebholz displayed their poem titled the “Lyrical Words About the Artificial Among Us.” The poem explored the daily presence and struggle of artificial intelligence in the modern world and the personal impact it can have on human culture.

For other student fellows, specific interactions with individuals and their experiences are the main focus of their work with the Mosaic Storytelling Lab.

Molly Morgan, a graduate student studying corporate communications at Duquesne, got involved with Mosaic last year before graduating as a way to further interact with Duquesne in her graduate years. Interested in the humanities and telling a story, she focused her project, a wide collection of writings, on alumni and their experiences.

“I’ve been getting to know past students of Duquesne and questioning whether they feel connected to the outside world now that they aren’t focused on education,” she said.

Her involvement with Mosaic has also led to a further understanding of storytelling as a way to foster new relationships by understanding community experiences outside of herself.

“Storytelling is a vital skill to have in this digital age. You can step into someone’s shoes and understand who they are,” she said. “Being able to tell a story and knowing how to communicate allowed me to better experience the world outside of Duquesne.”

At Community Storytelling Night, students from Duquesne were able to interact with poets and artists from the city such as RaiZarts, a cartoon and anime designer.

Through the interactions with other artists, the Grefenstette Center wanted to push boundaries on what students are able to do with their work and widen their perspectives.

Communications manager Jayda Benson said a large part of Mosaic’s identity is figuring out how to expand what is considered storytelling.

“Students typically have a narrow perception of storytelling, but all sorts of mediums and outlets can create an impact,” she said.

Regardless of major or background, the lab wants to create a space where student fellows can push the envelope on stories and fully express themselves.

The center believes that the intersection between faith and technology align organically with the daily lives of students on campus.

“With Duquesne being anchored in Catholic teachings, we want students to feel more comfortable with their day-to-day lives as they engage with faith and technology,” Benson said.

Events such as Community Storytelling Night aim to encourage students to display how these concepts have impacted them personally.

Mosaic Storytelling is aiming to expand into a larger program where they will be able to increase the opportunities available and host a wide range of story tellers across the country.

“We want students to feel heard and understand that Mosaic exists as a lab where their voices can be heard and appreciated,” Franklin said.

To learn about how to get involved with the Mosaic Storytelling Lab, check their website madeatmosaic.com for more information.