Documentary filmmaker and community activist Pablo Korona is first and foremost, a storyteller. A production professional for 15 years, Pablo has now focused his attention on “Our City, Our Story,” a community-based storytelling project based in Rockford, Ill. He created the ambitious series to give voice to the people who give life to the city and to help the community diversify its perceived identity.

Though the stories told are specifically about the people of Rockford, Ill. they have garnered attention far beyond the mid-size city’s borders and been featured throughout the world. Recent episodes have ricocheted throughout the halls of NASA and anchored an all-staff rally at Etsy, the innovative and highly successful world marketplace. Our City, Our Story uses cinematic documentary production in episodes to tell compelling stories that redefine the city’s intricate identity. Just over a year old, Our City, Our Story is in the exploratory process of expanding to other cities.

Pablo and Our City, Our Story have been profiled in Fast Company and the work has been shared by Etsy, Entrepreneur Magazine, Washington Post Blog, Mental Floss, BoingBoing.net and Kottke.org.