Rewriting My {American} Dream

The {American} Dream has been changed, evolved, grown, and redefined for immigrants and refugees of all origins. Sharing those experiences and deeply listening to others’ stories has been instrumental in building empathy and bringing communities together, and it can be cathartic and affirming to our journeys. In this 2-day virtual storytelling workshop, we will come together to explore and reflect on those stories from our lives that surround our identities and lived experiences, and discover how to shape, expand, and structure those stories in a fun, compassionate, and safe space. 

This 2-part virtual workshop series is open to immigrants and refugees wanting to start or continue their storytelling writing process. No prior experience is necessary. 

Meghna Bhat, a Capital Storytelling Ambassador and first-generation immigrant, will facilitate the workshop on August 23 and 25, 2022. On Day 1, you will be led through multiple reflective activities to help you discover your own unique stories and to see meaning in those stories. On Day 2, you will return to the session to shape and finalize the story you began using tools and strategies for creating meaningful narratives. Participants will be encouraged to share stories in small groups and share in the main session (if they choose). You can choose to come only to Day 1 or you can enroll in both Day 1 and 2 as a package. Information about each day is below.

Come connect with others in the community, discover more about yourself, find your voice, and learn more about the power of storytelling. 

Day 1: Finding and Writing Your Story
Tuesday, August 23 @ 5:00 – 7:00 PM PT / 8:00 – 10:00 PM ET
Cost: $45

On Day 1, participants will be led through multiple individual reflective activities accompanied by silent grounding exercises to help them think of a moment and identify a story. Whether you are new to storytelling or have taken a similar workshop, you are welcome to learn the basics and the process of storytelling. Participants will be introduced to important elements of storytelling to strengthen and structure their story drafts and will be guided through prompts and buddy sharing. We will also work on developing an intentional practice of active listening to the stories of those around us. Participants will walk away knowing how to structure their story drafts, and be given tools and optional homework to prepare for the 2nd session (if they choose to attend Day 2).

Day 2: Building Your Story Characters
Thursday, August 25 @ 5:00 – 7:00 PM PT / 8:00 – 10:00 PM ET
Cost: $90 (for Day 1 and 2)

Day 2 of this 2-day workshop is intended for participants who attended Day 1 and want to continue their storytelling journey by learning how to strengthen their stories. This session will start with creating space for sharing of stories and reflections from Day 1. Using resources and instructions, we will explore an important element of storytelling: characters. In this session we will talk about the role that rich, complex characters play in a meaningful story and we will do reflective activities to help develop the characters in your story. By the end of Day 2, participants will walk away with two stories and tools for finding and developing new ones. 

Important Notes:

• *We strongly recommend registering for both Day 1 and 2 of the workshop to maximize your storytelling development and ability to implement the skills in future story creation.
• **This 2 day  workshop has been intentionally created for immigrants, refugees, or asylum seekers. We are intentionally creating space for our immigrant community in this workshop. If you want to attend but do not identify as an immigrant, please email meghna@capitalstorytelling.com. We will work together to make sure there is space for everyone in our storytelling spaces. 
• Scholarships are available on both days: Please email Meghna at meghna@capitalstorytelling.com to request the scholarship application.
• Any other inquiries, please feel free to email Meghna at meghna@capitalstoryetlling.com