#MyBirminghamStory asks influential people in Birmingham to write or record themselves telling a story about their experiences of life in the city.

By engaging with our emotions, building our empathy and sharing our stories, we can become not only better readers and writers, but also better able to understand other people and communities beyond our own - something that has never felt more urgent than now.

Listen to the stories of the people of Birmingham by following the links below, or if you would rather, you can read the transcripts. If you've been inspired to tell your Birmingham Story, you can share it with us on social media using the hashtag #MyBirminghamStory.