holding the course
For three days last week, I had the blissful privilege of listening to a varied group of strangers unearth a single story that they were carrying around –and learn to dig out my own– at a workshop led by the Center For Digital Storytelling.
I’ve been pretty pensive all weekend about the tangible effects of knowing other people’s stories; I have a hunch it could be revolutionary to this world, dramatic as that sounds. The other students and facilitators in the group at that ramshackle farmhouse in Lyons were all bursting with incredible stories that I would have never ever guessed they held. I would like to be permanently affected by this way of seeing the world.
[please turn it up, and watch it big].
Instrumental 1 (demo) – Wilco
We all have stories. Tell them.
Name: Heather Browne
I have goosebumps on my arms and tears in my eyes right now. Very honest, very true and beautifully told. Thank you.
Antje — August 8, 2011 @ 10:33 am
yep, crying. i am in kindergarten again. i love your “tangible effects of knowing other people’s stories.” doesn’t aloe blaac also say something like that? so good, thanks.
Heather B — August 8, 2011 @ 11:04 am
I’m not able to watch right now (I shake my fist at you, work filters!), but I 100% believe that hearing the stories of others, and giving voice to those people who don’t often get a chance to tell their stories, can change the world. There’s tons of proof out there, but one of the books that made it real for me was “Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago,” by LeAlan Jones, Lloyd Newman, and David Isay. Check it out if you haven’t yet!
Mallory — August 8, 2011 @ 11:45 am
Moving and very well done. I think the Wilco song is “let me come home” which adds an additional emphasis (at least for me.) Thanks for sharing.
konan — August 8, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
Loved this Heather, thank you
Allie — August 8, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
Any chance one of your facilitators was Alison Myers? The CDS folks are really great!
Jon Ford — August 8, 2011 @ 1:08 pm
no, my facilitator was daniel weinshenker, but it seems like all the CDS peeps are extremely amazing. i am going to do the facilitators’ training in berkeley in late oct, i think.
browneheather — August 8, 2011 @ 3:04 pm
Very beautiful. Very touching.
I always love stories like this… They make me feel like I am reading the intimate detailings of someone’s diaries and make me feel just a bit more in touch with this tangled mass we call humanity.
Thanks for sharing!
Barry — August 8, 2011 @ 6:14 pm
Well done.
Domingo — August 8, 2011 @ 6:24 pm
Daniel is awesome too. I worked with him once. We’ve done many more sessions with Allison. Congrats on your story. I know firsthand the kind of transformation that takes place during these workshops. It’s really brilliant.
Jon Ford — August 10, 2011 @ 11:18 am
That was/is wonderful!Thank you.
Beech — August 22, 2011 @ 10:31 am