Connecting Communities Through Storytelling: How Recollect Enhances Engagement

Thank you to our valued Chapter Sponsor, Alison Barnett, from NZMS, for submitting this article.

Effective community engagement begins with clear, consistent communication. Traditional tools—newsletters, case studies, direct mail, events, and social media—remain essential. Alongside these, the community engagement platform Recollect offers new ways to deepen connection through storytelling and shared memory.

Recollect is used by schools, universities, and organisations worldwide to share student and alumni stories, celebrate achievements, and preserve archival collections. It offers a dynamic online space where individual items—photos, yearbooks, maps, timelines, biographies, and videos—are thoughtfully curated into rich, interconnected narratives. These collections invite users to explore their history and identity in personal, meaningful ways, often rediscovering their own stories—or those of family and friends—within a broader institutional context. In doing so, Recollect helps strengthen institutional identity, rekindles emotional ties, and fosters lasting connections within communities.

Recollect content can be integrated into newsletters, social media, and campaigns to support engagement goals and celebrate community milestones. Carefully selected links and highlighted stories help reinforce shared values and encourage participation.

As the Aotearoa New Zealand Recollect Reseller, NZMS works with a wide range of organisations to unlock the value of their archives, often participating in early-stage planning in the development of digitisation and access strategies that align with anniversaries and capital development projects.

Ready to explore how Recollect can support your communications and engagement strategy? Get in touch with NZMS for a free, no-obligation chat. Let’s talk about how we can support your work as you connect, celebrate, and engage with your stakeholders and Alumni.