EX.MM 102 - Say that Shit: Storytelling as Activism!

This is a five-part workshop taking place from 5:30 to 7:30 PM on Wednesdays March 29, April 5, April 12, April 19, April 26 2023. Attendance to all dates is strongly recommended.

Course Description:

Storytelling is ancient! It’s about as human as opposable thumbs. Every person has a story to tell. But how do we do it well? How do we tell stories that people will listen to, even and especially when the story is hard to hear? How do we use our stories to advocate for ourselves and our communities? How do we use stories to inspire others to act and to work towards meaningful change? How do we build community with story? And, maybe most importantly of all, how do we learn to stand confidently in our own stories?

In each workshop we’re going to have a conversation about storytelling as a form of communication, an artform, and as a tool for political and social change. But, most importantly, we are also going to sit around and tell stories to each other and listen to each others’ stories. The goal here is to better understand each other and how we and those around us tell good stories so that we can learn from each other.

Each week we will focus on a different question:

1. Why do we tell stories?
2. What makes a good story?
3. How do we tell a good story?
4. How do we place ourselves in our stories?
5. What is the responsibility of the storyteller?

This workshop series is designed for community members, activists and advocates, but is open to anyone! 

It will be facilitated by local spoken word artists and slam poets, Jon Hedderwick and Elizabeth Jenkins. At the end, participants will have the option to record audio versions of their stories.

Elizabeth Jenkins is a poet, spoken word artist and activist. She finds beauty in broken by embracing hard edges. She is the Peterborough Poetry Slam’s Artist Liaison and co-organized the 2017 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. She’s performed across Canada and is a two-time Canadian Independent Poetry Slam Championship finalist.

Jon Hedderwick is a poet and spoken word artist. He is a past Peterborough Poetry Slam Grand Champion and is the Peterborough Poetry Slam’s current Artistic Director, one of the lead artists in Take-out Poetry, and is in the spoken word duo, WordCraft. He has written and performed two solo shows, Bubbie’s Tapes and Enkidu.

Dates:

Wednesday, March 29 2023 5:30-7:30 PM

Wednesday, April 5 2023 5:30-7:30 PM

Wednesday, April 12 2023 5:30-7:30 PM

Wednesday, April 19 2023 5:30-7:30 PM

Wednesday, April 26 2023 5:30-7:30 PM

Age:

This course is 18+. If you are under 18 and interested in taking this course, please be in touch.

Facilitators:

Elizabeth Jenkins

Jon Hedderwick

Cost

Gift economics is a different way of interacting with money and understanding what something is “worth.”  In a Gift model, goods and services are not sold as they are in a market model of economics.  Rather, they are given freely with no requirement of an exchange.  We believe that the lessons and teachings we give and receive in our workshops are priceless.

At the same time, we do have needs as an organization operating within the current economic and social structures.  Therefore, all participants in our community workshops are offered an opportunity to support our work.  No one is required to give, and no amount is considered too small or too large. (Adapted from East Point Peace Academy)