Building Community

During the pandemic, Simon Sinek shared on a YouTube that “Humans are social animals. We seek belonging. We feel safer in a tribe than alone. But not all tribes are health.”



Boy oh Boy, did I get that. How about you?

The year of 2020 was difficult for each of us. In the spring of that year, I faced a need to support the big corporation I worked for and felt my integrity was being tested by their desire for me to do certain things. As the year waned on it got tougher. Then in the fall, I stepped into a leadership role in a non-profit organization I had only volunteered at in smaller roles since 1997. I soon discovered that there were two tribes and a very wide chasm between them. You may recall that this was remarkably like what was going on in our country at the time. 

My leadership role for this organization called for me to try bridge the gap or make it smaller. I went on a mission to understand how to build community and create a sense of belongingness for each side. It was a journey to learn how to honor each person’s beliefs, feelings, and perspective AND to find a way to create a sense of unity toward a common mission. Being a person who has always believed that there is a connection between story and community building, I used this as a starting point. Why? I have always been a storyteller. First as an actor, singer, director, writer, and teacher. I have watched stories and music shift the mood, perspective, and attitude of groups of people. I wondered during this time in 2020 if my art form could help me with the task of creating a community and a sense of belonging in a group who felt disconnected and in opposition. The question became, could I help these two groups of people I love, understand one another, and find common ground so they could feel connected?

As is usually the case, the universe showed me a way. A podcast called Home Bound Oregon. I got to know Mark Yaconelli and learned he was the founder of The Hearth, a nonprofit that offers training for people who want to improve their storytelling skills while learning how to build and strengthen community within a transformative, collaborative, and supportive environment. His book, Between the Listening and Telling, helps the reader understand why stories are so important in the role of building shared understanding and community. I signed up for and dove headfirst into the nine-month long training to become a Certified Community Storyteller facilitator.

If you are like me, when you begin a journey of understanding you end up going down rabbit holes that lead you to new avenues of insight. That was the case as I journeyed with my cohort to The Hearth. Not only did I learn how to use stories to bring communities together, but we also learned how stories can help and create shared understanding. Through this training we also learned about other organizations who do similar work, Narrative4 and their Story Exchange. I fell in love with Story Exchange!

Narrative4 teacher’s facilitators go into classrooms, work environments, and boardrooms, to help build cultures of inclusivity and connectedness. A Story Exchange has those participating share their stories with a partner. The partner actively listens while their partner shares their story. Then the partner who has been listening then shares with the whole group the share they just heard. Sitting and watching this is awe inspiring as you watch a room where there have been conflicts and shift to one where there is a sharing of tears, laughter, and hugs show up as the community gets to know one another deeper.

As a coach of creative artists, performers, musicians, and such, it is important to build communities of connectedness especially in a world where it seems like we are losing our connectedness. It is important to find people with whom you can share yourself and know that they will honor your dreams, pains, and your challenges so that you can create, get inspiration, become engaged, and thrive in the world today.

Not familiar with the work I do. I work with artists, writers, dancers, musicians, actors, and creatives who feel called to express their truth, share their stories, and make a meaningful impact.

If you seek clarity in your creative path, want to overcome fear and self-doubt, and crave a supportive community that nurtures your growth, this is for you.

I help you cultivate presence, design a life that aligns with your purpose, and deeply explore your "why"—so you can strengthen your voice, step into your power, and create what you love with confidence, joy, and purpose. Along the way, you will also sharpen your craft and elevate your skills to new levels.

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Are you an artist ready to step into your power, define your creative path, and make a living doing what you love? We are here to support you every step of the way.

Connect with me today and become part of a thriving community that values creativity, passion, and purpose.

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