Investing in Our Past

We’re serving up something different on Rooted Reading today: a guest post from Kwento founder Aidȳn Mancenido. When I learned of Aidȳn’s new business, it reminded me of how much value there is in our stories. Learn about her offering below:

As the holidays have passed and having spent precious time with those I love, including family and friends I don’t see often, I realized just how fortunate I am to be surrounded by such gorgeous humans; many of whom I consider resilient, wise, soulful, and abundantly generous in spirit. I caught up on stories of navigating the challenges of a new marriage; on the heartaches of supporting an older sibling contending with a heroine addiction since the age of 15; and the victory of overcoming stage IV cancer at the tender age of 79. These and many other stories make up the beautiful breadth and depth of our humanity. We are ever-evolving creatures immersed in a strikingly beautiful and kaleidoscopic array of life.

I started Kwento so that I can offer individuals the opportunity to capture some of these unique and impressive life experiences of those we love, including our aging parents and grandparents. I help folks preserve their family history as a legacy for future generations. I interview individuals through a series of 1-hour interviews to identify the threads and poignant elements, then I craft the story, which is shared as a printed book. With over 20 years of experience as a cultural anthropologist and writer, I am invested in documenting histories that lead to greater knowledge and appreciation of our pasts, and therefore, of ourselves.

You can learn more about Kwento at www.kwentome.com, or email me at kwentome@gmail.com.