Our story
Untold Stories is an arts- and media-based community-action project seeking to illuminate the experiences of older adults and the professionals who serve them through conversation, collaboration, art, and advocacy.
The project began in 2022 with the Untold Stories Art Exhibition, which includes artwork from over 30 artists. Pieces capture stories of aging, later life, and intergenerational (dis)connection, and submitting artists are encouraged to engage in conversation and collaboration with older adults who have played some role in shaping the artist’s life. The purpose of this art collective is to cultivate a space for older adults to share aspects of the aging experience that are not typically discussed in legible spaces and terms so that we all might be better informed, prepared, and inspired for our own aging futures.
In 2023, professionals working in the field of aging were interviewed about their own experiences of working with older adults to inspire other professionals to contribute to aging-focus advocacy, community-building, and service delivery. Both the art exhibition continues to grow in our online gallery space, and both the live art exhibition and interviews with professionals were documented in videos hosted here.
Project Hosts
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Sarah Jen
Assistant Professor, School of Social Welfare; Director, Sigler Family Aging Scholars Program, University of Kansas
Sarah began working with older adults living with dementia as a teenager and has remained passionate about contributing to the field of gerontology ever since. She has work in aging practice as a volunteer, CNA and social worker in sub-acute, mental health, palliative, hospice, and long-term care settings. As an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Welfare, she teaches courses on social theory and research and aging-related practice. She studies intersections of aging, sexuality, and sexual identity using primarily qualitative and creative methods.
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Olivia Sabal
BSW Sigler Family Aging Scholar, 2022 University of Kansas
Olivia Sabal is currently a student at the KU School of Social Welfare. She is passionate about working with older adults and in end-of-life care. Olivia was inspired by caring for her grandparents to enter the field with a focus on Gerontology. She plans to graduate with her BSW in May and will then go on to get her MSW from KU starting in June. Her goal is to work in Hospice care.
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Kamri Wolverton
MSW Sigler Family Aging Scholar, 2022 University of Kansas
Kamri Wolverton is currently a social work intern at the Ozark Center in Joplin, MO, a mental health agency serving the adult population. She has a passion for working with older adults, specifically, and advocates for the underserved geriatric population. She plans to become one of two social workers, among many other interdisciplinary members within Ozark Center, to establish, form, and administer direct services to the aging population. Kamri plans to graduate in May of 2022 with a Master’s in Social Welfare.
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Tobi Barta
MSW Sigler Family Aging Scholar, 2022 University of Kansas
Tobi Barta loves working with older adults and hearing about their lives and experiences. This is a key reason she decided to become a gerontological social worker. Tobi Barta is completing her clinical social work practicum at a hospice agency, serving rural communities. As a KU Integrated Health Scholar, Barta has committed as an interprofessional to pursue employment in behavioral health within an underserved community. She also serves with the KU Center for Research on Aging and Disability Options, as a MSW Research Scholar, in collaboration for a study on Medicaid/KanCare Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) in Kansas during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Barta is honored to be a Sigler Scholar, which has allowed her to take initiative thoughtfully, creatively, and collaboratively engaging in social change. Tobi looks forward to graduating with her Clinical MSW, from the University of Kansas, May 2022.
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Lindsay Huddlestun
MSW Sigler Family Aging Scholar, 2023 University of Kansas
Lindsay Huddlestun is currently a student at the KU School of Social Welfare. Lindsay enjoys working with older adults and the aging population. Lindsay graduated from Kansas State University with her bachelor's in social work and has worked in the aging field ever since. Lindsay has experience at Adult Protective Services and the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging, where she currently works. Lindsay enjoys advocating for better care for our older adults and recently started a Dementia Friendly Initiative in Johnson County. Lindsay is excited to continue to grow in her career and education, finishing her master's degree this next May of 2024. Lindsay hopes to continue her work at the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging and continue to educate others on older adults, resources, and Dementia Friendly Communities.
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Samantha Gibson
MSW Sigler Family Aging Scholar, 2023 University of Kansas
Samantha Gibson first became interested in gerontology while working at an assisted living community. She decided to pursue a career in work to build more meaningful connections and better advocate for older adults. Samantha became especially passionate about aging-in-place and dementia care while completing her BSW at K-State. While attending the MSW program at KU, Samantha explored a different area of aging practice by completing her practicum at a hospice agency. She intends to continue working in hospice after earning her MSW in May 2023.
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Kristin Nichols
MSW Sigler Family Aging Scholar, 2023 University of Kansas
Lindsay Huddlestun is currently a student at the KU School of Social Welfare. Lindsay enjoys working with older adults and the aging population. Lindsay graduated from Kansas State University with her bachelor's in social work and has worked in the aging field ever since. Lindsay has experience at Adult Protective Services and the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging where she currently works. Lindsay enjoys advocating for better care for our older adults and recently started a Dementia Friendly Initiative in Johnson County. Lindsay is excited to continue to grow in her career and education with finishing her master's degree this next May of 2024. Lindsay hopes to continue her work at the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging and continue to educate others on older adults, resources, and Dementia Friendly Communities.
