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are transformed into storytellers. In the final class or performance, they <br />take the spotlight with confidence and ease and tell gripping stories full of <br />emotion and authenticity. <br />This success is also a function of the model I’ve used for years: prompts to <br />generate ideas, discussion of craft elements (e.g. hook, stakes, endings), <br />gentle feedback on stories-in-progress, stage exercises, and active <br />listening techniques that create safety. This approach empowers students <br />to find their unique voice and gives them the confidence to use it. <br />Story creates connection and community, which is the driving force behind <br />this project. Even in progressive Orange County, we have much ground to <br />cover toward knowing and understanding each other’s identities and <br />struggles and even inhabiting the same spaces. Story Connection will <br />continue to hold space for underrepresented and underresourced voices; <br />equitable access will remain central to this endeavor as it grows. <br />Storytelling is a sacred and joyful act. Your continued support will allow <br />Story Connection to move toward its ultimate goal: an ongoing, self- <br />sustaining storytelling series that elevates diverse voices, celebrates our <br />rich humanity, and offers glimpses into the vast depths inside each of us, <br />strengthening our community one story at a time. <br />Community Impact The success of last year’s Story Connection wildly exceeded my <br />expectations. Students came from a wide range of backgrounds and <br />identities–queer, trans, and disabled folks, immigrants, and people of color. <br />This mixture was not controlled by me in any way; it simply reflected the <br />broad range of people who answered the call. The final performance was <br />attended by 50 people. <br />Here is some of the feedback collected anonymously from storytellers and <br />audience members: <br />"​​This event had all the intimacy, aliveness and bigness of spirit that so <br />much of modern life lacks. <br />I laughed, I cried, and I felt really connected to my local community. I'm <br />already looking forward to the next one! <br />Hearing someone else's story (especially if that person has a story that our <br />culture doesn't want to hear) creates empathy, compassion, and <br />awareness. <br />The thing I most enjoyed about this experience was hearing about the lives <br />of fellow North Carolinians. It helped build community and bridge <br />differences. <br />It was powerful to hear such a wide range of voices, especially since these <br />voices were ones that we don't hear from very often. It made me sit and <br />think about the experience of living in a body that looks and sounds <br />different from mine. <br />So much heart that came through in these powerful stories by rarely heard <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 53A18A07-6090-48C5-85EF-DAC4C4CD5BA4