Iowa Stories and Lived Experiences (ISLE) is a multimedia documentary workshop seeking to build community through community storytelling. This 16-day workshop is offered each summer through the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication. This year's project is focused on connecting Muscatine's surprising history to it's present, illuminating the way today's residents reinterpret what they've inherited.


The completed project will premiere at FilmScene in Iowa City in November 2026.


Want to see more?

View last year's project here.

MEET OUR STORYTELLERS
  • Grace Escritt
    Reporter
  • Alec Bauer
    Videographer
  • Natalie Jasso
    Photographer
  • Myranda Nelson
    Reporter
  • Ethan McLaughlin
    Videographer
  • Alayna Larson
    Photographer
  • Sarah Fournier
    Reporter
  • Hannah Neuville
    Videographer
  • Jolie Archer
    Photographer
  • Shreya Reddy
    Reporter
  • Gabby Drees
    Videographer
  • Emma Calabro
    Photographer
  • Kabedi Mutamba
    Student Coach
  • Sophia Restiffe-Favoretto
    Student Coach
MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
  • Leah Latella
    Field Producer, Visuals Mentor
  • John Richard
    Video Mentor
  • Kevin Ripka
    Co-Director, Design & Interactive Mentor
  • Alex Scott
    Co-Director, Photography Mentor

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

The Williams Family

The Kiwala Family

The Mariet Family

The Taylor Family

The Langan Family

The Garcia Family

Mary Alice & Richard Sessler

Anne & Paul Carroll

Sarah Lande

Melissa Tully

Tamara Edwolt

Kelvin Nuccico

The Merritt Hotel

Musser Public Library

Muscatine Community School District

The Stanley Center for Peace and Security

The University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Wider Muscatine Community

Behind the Scenes