Community Stories
Sharing stories builds community and connection.
Finding creative ways for a community to share stories can be a powerful and meaningful experience. Community projects offer a safe place to share stories, create connections and have fun!
Contact me to discuss ways we can work together to bring a shared experience into your community, maybe you have an idea and would like some help bringing it to life?
Past Community Projects
Storytelling at the Studio Royale Senior Centre
I joined 1st Grade Students from Linwood E Howe Elementary School on a bus trip to the Senior Centre at the other end of town.
The class had been making weekly trips to visit with the elderly residents, to chat and play cards, they had made friends and the visits were eagerly awaited by everyone.
I joined them on their final trip at the end of the year and shared the story of the Selfish Giant. The children and seniors loved hearing the story together. A story brought two communities together in a unique and enriching way.
“You are brilliant at what you do. The kids loved it and the seniors were more engaged than ever. I wanted to get up and dance with you!
”
Lin Howe Welcome trees
When we were all 'safer at home' in August 2020 the children starting in kindergarten at my local elementary school in Culver City, Los Angeles would begin their journey in the Zoom Room.
We wanted to welcome them and their families, so they'd know they were joining a community that cared about them, to acknowledge the difficulties but still celebrate the beginning of their time at Linwood E Howe Elementary School.
We invited all families to leave a message on the Welcome Tree, right outside the entrance to the school.
The tree became ladened with paper tags full of gratitude, hope and expressions of sadness too.
All the new students in Kindergarten were offered a leaf to draw a picture to introduce themselves and invited to hang it from the branches, it became an outdoor classroom display.
I adapted a story by Danyah Miller about a sapling tree and the fairy that cared for it to suit our Californian location and recorded it for the school community.
It's a story about a tree that grew strong despite adversity.
Leaving messages on a tree is not a new idea, in fact I believe it is an ancient tradition. It can be a very effective and tangible way to build community and you don't even need a real tree... but it could be a reason to plant one!
