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Attend

Develop your storytelling skills in a Sidebar Stories WORKSHOP or catch a storytelling PERFORMANCE created by our reflective arts team members.

Most experiential WORKSHOPS are free and focus on stories of an announced topic. The contribution you make is the story you tell.

PERFORMANCES are supported in part by donation when you reserve your ticket.

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Host

Sidebar Stories will conduct a workshop for your organization or cause. Each workshop can be designed for your group and current goals. We offer a training workshop for your leaders to encourage a culture of storytelling in your organization.

We also offer a workshop for your group members that honors each voice and strengthens community. As a host, you will be responsible for providing space and workshop promotion. Cost is determined on a sliding scale. Contact us for details.

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Let us help you strengthen relationships, clarify group identity and increase loyalty to your mission by sharing common stories. Stories well told bond people with each other.Telling them encourages your members to become guides and cheerleaders for each other, regardless of their position. Storytelling is a natural way to achieve inclusion and belonging.

Stories act as viruses that infiltrate a group one person at a time until members share a commitment to common goals and values. Leaders understand the power of story to generate healthy or dysfunctional systems. We teach your leaders to further storytelling skills and habits in everyday conversation throughout the organization that lead to greater hope and competency.

You’re doing good work that deserves to be known and supported. Stories about your programs and people make the importance of your work evident. As personal stories about the impact you make in individual lives spread through the community from person to person, others will be drawn to the work you do. 

FUNDRAISING: Increase your funding as you share personal stories with donors in a way that respects and honors every member of your group. You affirm storytellers when original artwork, music, drama and written narratives are created that demonstrate the value of your work.

Storytellers gain confidence, competence and a sense of purpose as they share their stories. We place a high value on the safety and dignity of each storyteller, especially when stories contain elements of trauma, shame, or difficult relationships. The integrity and experience of Sidebar Stories leadership and the methods used avoid exploitation of anyone who freely chooses a level of vulnerability as a path to healing and individual growth. Seeing this process at work creates social change as others become more comfortable in owning and telling their own stories in a way that is meaningful and makes a difference.

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Attend a workshop to learn how the PHD Story Map works, discover more about your own story and begin telling it. Workshops are practical and interactive. You will be surprised at how much you and other ordinary experts have to offer toward changing common false narratives that impact your life.

Experience the fullness of true personal stories being translated into music, art, spoken word and drama. These community events are designed for social change as well as entertainment. Interdisciplinary storytelling creates a difference that makes a difference in the way we see and hear each other. Join us in a public expression of important stories in the news through the lens of personal experience.

Who’s telling your story?

HELLO

We teach storytelling
and gather stories
from Ordinary Experts*
who change the conversations
we all live by.

* those who get it because they've lived it

Join Us

because your story counts.

Tell your own story

You’re the expert on the lessons and adventure
wrapped up in your own life experience.

So after I figure out my story, what do I do with it?

Your brain is hard-wired for story. Sidebar Stories are designed around recently discovered neurochemical responses to hearing and telling different parts of your story. You will learn a simple story pattern that can be used in everyday conversations or in a public forum. This elementary organizing tool makes effective storytelling accessible to everyone.

Our biological story map makes your story

Meaningful
Undeniable
Memorable
Impactful

We'll help you

Find your own story
Tell it in your own voice
Make sure it gets heard
Find your own story
Tell it in your own voice
Make sure it gets heard

We’ll help you:

  • Find your own story
  • Tell it in your own voice
  • Make sure it gets heard

You’ll learn to make your story:

  • Meaningful
  • Undeniable
  • Memorable

Put your Story to Work

Your story is a sidebar to larger social narratives. Telling it shifts common assumptions people hold about what’s true, what’s important, what’s right, and the best way to live. We’ll show how to use your story in everyday conversation for the common good and to connect with others who share your passion.

Whenever your story is told wholeheartedly, it strengthens the trust, understanding, relationships and hope that our communities need. A good story sticks and lives on from heart to heart. This is what inspires change.

OK.  I found my story and told my friends.
What else can I do with it?

Bring your story to our Reflective Arts Team

After a time of deep listening to take in your story, a reflective arts team will produce a community event with original music, visual art, spoken word, theater and a written narrative- all created from the actual words of selected storytellers.

The performance of selected stories in a community setting increases awareness of things you care about by connecting you with others through a creative, transparent,and entertaining expression of who you are- your experience, your beliefs, your values, your work. Public performances are built around storytellers with shared concerns.

We will also share your story with educators, social service agencies, policy and change makers who are shaping the Big Stories and need to hear from ordinary experts like you.

What We Can Do Together

Everyone has a story
Learn to tell yours
Let our team help you spread it

Discover and tell your own story

1.  Craft Your Story

Workshop participants report surprise in discovering powerful real life stories they have taken for granted or not noticed before. A story-driven culture will inspire innovation and build trust.

This experiential workshop outlines a simple and practical story map based on the biology of storytelling. You will practice telling undeniable stories that make it easy to connect with others and contribute to any conversation.

Direct the performance of your story for an audience

2.  Celebrate Your Story

Story Slam/Concert/Art Gallery/Theater

Take your story to the stage. A small number of storytellers will be chosen to share their story with a reflective arts team made up of artists, musicians and writers. After spending time to understand what you believe, feel and value, the listening team will work under your direction to produce your story for a community storytelling event.

Community events address a variety of important social and spiritual concerns. What you have learned for yourself can now be passed along in the form of original music, a visual storyboard, spoken word, written narrative and short dramatic sketch- all using your own words.

What is a Sidebar Story?

  a short account of personal experience that relates to a featured theme. Often used to confirm, shift or add to the dominant narrative.

  something incidental, a sidelight adding insight or perspective to the primary article, usually near the main story, but separate from it.

Sidebars create a whole new conversation

What are the dominant narratives
you want to confirm or change?

How do SIDEBAR STORIES  happen?

Create a safe enough space

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We respect the dignity, choices, safety and rights of storytellers to tell their own story in their own way and be comfortable with how it is told by others.

Listen your story into existence

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We teach and practice listening skills that honor each storyteller, allowing them to be heard deeply on several levels. Only when someone takes our words seriously and hears our heart do we recognize the power of stories we have lived but taken for granted.

Follow your biological story map

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You will learn to tell narratives that are in sync with neurochemical responses that occur naturally while telling or listening to a well constructed story. This allows your story to be easily understood and remembered.

Integrate reflective arts

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Learn how to engage right brain communication with symbols and metaphors that clarify your story and reach the heart. See the impact of your story change your relationships and your world

MEET THE TEAM

Dr. Ron King

Grateful for the unique privilege of hearing so many incredible stories from ordinary experts through his experience as a family therapist, hospice chaplain, restorative justice facilitator and spiritual director, Ron realized these stories need to be heard by people seeking change in their own lives and in the world. So he made up Sidebar Stories.

Glenda Francis

Born on the island of Dominica, Glenda grew up among storytellers, especially her father, where stories were her source of news and entertainment. As a graduate of Columbia University and author with experience in corporate finance, Glenda brings her own story and skills to keep us organized.

Neal Stephens

Neal is a successful composer and musician who writes and sings his own story and the stories of others. With experience in working with young people, directing worship, social services and program director of an urban nonprofit, he has a passion for justice that teaches and moves us to care about what matters. Neal is a social networker who keeps us all connected.

Mimi Scalia

As a clinical art therapist, Mimi has been deeply involved in facilitating stories of human trafficking, domestic violence, refugee displacement, criminal justice, racism, grief and trauma. Her own story includes being a survivor of much, lover of beauty and justice, a drummer and yoga instructor. She stretches us all to be creative, peaceful, caring and healthy.

MEET THE TEAM

Ronking

Grateful for the unique privilege of hearing so many incredible stories from ordinary experts through his experience as a family therapist, hospice chaplain, restorative justice facilitator and spiritual director, Ron realized these stories need to be heard by people seeking change in their own lives and in the world. So he made up Sidebar Stories.

Hide Details

Glenda Francis

Born on the island of Dominica, Glenda grew up among storytellers,especially her father, where stories were her source of news and entertainment. As agraduate of Columbia University and author with experience in corporate finance,Glenda brings her own story and skills to keep us organized.

Hide Details

Mimi Scalia

As a clinical art therapist, Mimi has been deeply involved in facilitating stories of human trafficking, domestic violence, refugee displacement, criminal justice,racism, grief and trauma. Her own story includes being a survivor of much, lover of beauty and justice, a drummer and yoga instructor. She stretches us all to be creative, peaceful, caring and healthy.

Hide Details

Neal Stephens

Neal is a successful composer and musician who writes and sings his own story and the stories of others. With experience in working with young people,directing worship, social services and program director of an urban nonprofit, he has a passion for justice that teaches and moves us to care about what matters. Neal is a social networker who keeps us all connected.

Hide Details

Testimonials

Michael Margolis

Author, CEO and Founder of Storied

Michael Margolis

Author, CEO and Founder of Storied

“Thanks to Sidebar Stories, people are discovering how to tell their own story on their own terms with freedom, respect and hope, no matter what their journey may be. Few models of storytelling in community effectively and respectfully humanize storytelling as a vehicle of empowerment and social change. This is one of them. They have cracked the code of translating the solid science of storytelling into a simple and practical method easily accessed by everyone. Ron and his team bring a depth of skill, creativity, integrity, and wisdom to lead this work. The design of these stories cuts through much of the jargon, data, labels and assumptions associated with just talking.”

Kristyn Korminicki

Director of Dialogue and Convening at ESA/Sider Center

Kristyn Komarnicki

Director of Dialogue and Convening at CSA

“Under the gentle guidance of the facilitator, and spurred by the discussion with and input from the other members of the group, I discovered new beauty and meaning in my story, teasing out significant themes and seeing where they pointed in terms of my future. The emphasis on movement, journey, healing is powerful. The use of images takes verbal folks like myself out of our wordy brains and into a more fluid space that is rich with possibility and freedom to imagine. I highly recommend the experience to anyone who is in need of an impetus for change, the encouragement that comes from dreaming of new directions, and the courage that comes from community storytelling.”

Michael Margolis

Author, CEO and Founder of Storied

Tamia Govan

Minding Your Mind

Michael Margolis

Author, CEO and Founder of Storied

Todd Pisani

Regional Coordinator TEEM Gateway at Rutgers

Michael Margolis

Author, CEO and Founder of Storied

Roxanne Nelson

Reiki Practitioner and Yoga Instructor

Get Involved

You are an Ordinary Expert because you have LIVED your story. With your permission, we will share your story with educators, donors, service providers, policy makers and others who need to know what you have learned by living it. This is how your story becomes a sidebar to the bigger narratives we hear every day and you create the change you want to see.Your involvement makes a difference.

Develop your storytelling skills in a Sidebar Stories WORKSHOP or catch a storytelling PERFORMANCE created by our reflective arts team members. Most experiential WORKSHOPS are free and focus on stories of an announced topic. The contribution you make is the story you tell.
PERFORMANCES are supported in part by donation when you reserve your ticket.

Sidebar Stories will conduct a workshop for your organization or cause. Each workshop can be designed for your group and current goals. We offer a training workshop for your leaders to encourage a culture of storytelling in your organization.We also offer a workshop for your group members that honors each voice and strengthens community. As a host, you will be responsible for providing space and workshop promotion. Contact us for details.

If you believe in the power of story to change the way things are and in the mission of Sidebar Stories, you can donate toward the cost of upcoming events. We often work with people in the margins of life who lack resources to support our services. Make sure their voices are heard. Having your voice heard shouldn’t depend on having the money needed to spread what needs to be said.

Upcoming Storytelling Events

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Workshops

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Narrative Worship
Friday April 22, 2022
view details
X

Performances

UPCOMING Performances
No Graven Image
April 22, 2022
No Graven Image

Sidebar Stories and Your Organization

You work with people who matter who have stories that matter. Schedule a Sidebar Stories workshop now to let those stories become part of the story about the work you do and what you stand for. Here’s what building
a culture of storytelling can do for your organization.

Build
Community

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Develop Leadership and
Storytelling Culture

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Community Awareness and
Fundraising

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Personal Growth and
Wholeness

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Build
Community

Strengthen relationships, clarify group identity and increase loyalty to your mission by sharing common stories. Well told stories create a bond of friendship that makes working together more enjoyable and productive. Telling them encourages your members to become guides and cheerleaders for each other,regardless of their position. Storytelling is a natural way to achieve inclusion and belonging.

Develop Leadership and Storytelling Culture

Stories act as viruses that infiltrate a group one person at a time until members share a commitment to common goals and values. Leaders understand the power of story to generate either healthy or dysfunctional systems. We teach your leaders to further storytelling skills and habits in everyday conversation throughout the organization that lead to greater hope and competency.

Community Awareness and Fundraising

You’re doing good work that deserves to be known and supported.Stories about your programs and people make the importance of your work evident. As personal stories about what you do are spread through the community from person to person, the results are greater than using expensive media in a world with too much noise. Increase your funding by getting personal undeniable stories to donors in a way that respects and honors all members of your group. Original artwork, music, drama and written narratives can be presented to promote your work on stage, online and in print.

Personal Growth and Wholeness

Storytellers gain confidence, competence and a sense of purpose as they share their stories. We place a high value on the safety and dignity of each storyteller, especially when stories contain elements of trauma, shame, or difficult relationships. The integrity and experience of Sidebar Stories leadership and the methods used avoid exploitation of anyone who freely chooses a level of vulnerability as a path to healing and individual growth. Seeing this process at work creates social change as others become more comfortable and benefit from telling their own stories.

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Join our dedicated and creative
team of volunteers

Journal Notes and News

Review the research, values, conceptual foundations and history of Sidebar Stories.

Take a look at what other groups are learning about the use of story
for personal, corporate and social change.

Keep up with new things that we are learning and
what is happening with Sidebar Stories.

Our Project Wishlist

We’re excited about collecting stories that matter from people who matter. Here are some stories we’d love to hear from you.
Can you help make our dreams come true?

Stories we’re looking for

Experience of citizens returning home from
incarceration

What happens when you can’t earn a
living wage?

What challenges do you face in getting
medical care?

How does bias in race or gender
show up?

LGBTQ stories and concerns

What is different about living with autism?

Stories of spiritual migration to new beliefs
and practices

Living as an immigrant in America

I'm getting old

What stories are you interested in hearing?

What stories do you have to tell?

Sidebar Stories humanize and contribute to bigger stories that impact all of us. They leverage the power of real life, transformative storytelling and the arts to create new perspectives on old narratives.

Take the next step now . .

Let's talk about collecting stories for your cause or organization by holding a storytelling workshop or performance in your area. Sidebar Stories is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the greater Philadelphia area and will travel to gather stories anywhere in the world.

Leave a Message
Or just give us a call in New Jersey at (609) 332-2798. We'd love to chat with you about working together.
DONATE
Make it possible for someone who needs your help to find their story