College Speaking on Diversity and Inclusion

I had the chance to perform in front of college students on the themes of Diversity and Inclusion. I love their responses! I used stories as THE BEST WAY to discuss difficult topics. In the breakout sessions, we worked on communicating across lines of difference. That’s what the one student is referring to – she wants to post the communication guidelines on her wall. All of us get in situations where we just don’t know what to say especially when the conversation is about race, gender and other hot topics. Young people are looking for this guidance but they don’t want to be preached at! Sharing our stories is the most respectful and productive way to value others and feel appreciated yourself.

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Bring a Harmony Day to Your School

I stopped by a school where we had presented a Harmony Day: a multicultural assembly with storytellers, Antonio Sacre, Michael D. McCarty, Anne Shimojima and moi, Susan O’Halloran, followed by breakout sessions on race, immigration, cyber bullying, Japanese American internment camps and other family stories and leaving a legacy of inclusion. Here’s what one of the teachers had to say and some examples of  the posters the students made after our day. The event was sponsored by Angels Studio, a communications ministry of the Society of the Divine Word, Chicago Province.

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Speaking at Youth Diversity Conference

I had the pleasure of giving the keynote address at the Fenwick, Oak Park/River Forest and Trinity High Schools’ Youth Conference on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. The student leaders were wonderful and following the keynote I was able to do breakout sessions on Valuing Difference Religions.

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Why Use a Story Coach?

Yes! Even the best storytellers rely on coaches to help edit their new stories before they perform them in public. Syd came over to my house this week to work on a new story that he is going to perform at the Celtic Knot in Evanston, IL at 8 pm on March 20, 2011. It was an honor to work with him and he was a huge help to me as I am working on a new story as well. Storytelling: don’t try this art form alone! Get yourself a story coach!

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Go hear stories this summer!

There are Storytelling Festivals all over the United States this summer – go have a great time and remember how much you enjoy LIVE entertainment!

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Young people want to be involved!

I had the chance to work with wonderful young people this summer in the Chicago Peacebuilder Program. Whenever people say “young people don’t care anymore” I wonder what young people are they talking about? Given half a chance young people are ready to be active citizens and work for justice and opportunity for all.

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Summer story festivals

Have you had your fix of storytelling yet this summer? Go to: www.storytelling.org for a schedule of events in Illinois. Go to: storytellingfestival.net for news on the National Storytelling Festival and residencies in Jonesborough, TN and go to www.festivals.com and put in the keyword “Storytelling” for more ideas.

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