Smart Fund and AHIP - Storytelling Conference 2007

OUR
stories
Demonstrating Change through Storytelling
APRIL 11/12, 2007
ROUNDHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE
181 Roundhouse Mews (Corner of Pacific and Davie), Vancouver, BC
conference program
Join the Vancouver Coastal Health SMART Fund and Aboriginal
Health Initiative Program to explore simple and practical ways to
demonstrate change through storytelling. Integrating storytelling
into our programs and reporting (including writing, spoken word
and visual arts) can have a profound impact on the work we do.
It can also enhance our ability to communicate the true impact
we have on program participants and our community.
highlights
Opening prayer by Leonard George, Elder, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Keynotes by Dr. Ron Labonte and Dr. Evan Adams
Showcase of engaging storytelling approaches
Over 20 workshops to build your capacity for storytelling!
Evening program of sharing our stories
Special dialogue session on the challenges and
opportunities of including stories in reporting outcomes
Sponsored by
In partnership with
For more information, contact:
˙
Kate Sutherland
Tel: 604.708.3093
Email: [email protected]
To ensure accessibility to this invitation-only event, there will be no cost to attend.
WELCOME!
We warmly welcome you to
Our Stories -- Demonstrating Change
through Storytelling!
We hope you will be inspired, make friends, learn new skills
and share your stories. We hope too that the conference builds
your capacity and commitment to share the powerful stories of
your work.
Early in the planning process we recognized that stories are too
important to be confined to reporting outcomes. And at the
same time, we know that their very power makes finding ways
to include them in reporting crucial to helping others
understand what we do.
So while this conference is very specifically focused on
storytelling for demonstrating change, we trust it will
indirectly nurture and support you accessing the many other
benefits and uses of storytelling.
By bringing together community workers, funders and
academics, we hope this conference will help us all to better
harness the power of stories.
Enjoy!
Advisory Committee
Sabrina Bonfonti Self Help Resource Assn. of BC
Deepthi Jayatilaka Vancouver Foundation
Aline LaFlamme Aboriginal Front Door Society
Renae Morriseau Independent Artist
Chris Morrissey LGTB Generations Project
Marshall Thompson Richmond Youth Service Agency
Jil P. Weaving Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Office of Arts and Culture
Baldwin Wong City of Vancouver, Social Planning Dept.
Peter Bruckmann VCH:SMART Fund
Sue Davis VCH:Community Engagement
Diana Day VCH: Aboriginal Health Initiative Program
Kate Sutherland, Conference Coordinator
What’s Where…
(in this program)
Conference Schedule
2
Keynotes & Showcase
6
Workshop Overview
8
Workshop Descriptions
9
Presenter Bios
13
Origins of the Conference
Early in 2006, Vancouver
Coastal Health’s SMART
Fund asked its community
partners to share stories of
change for a person or in a
community. The results were
stunning, and sparked
growing interest in the power
of stories.
WHO is the event for?
• Representatives of Aboriginal
Health Initiative Program and
SMART Fund projects
• Funders from the Lower Mainland
• Vancouver Coastal Health staff
• A total of 200-250 participants
1
Conference Schedule – Day One
Wednesday,
April 11, 2007
7:45 am – 8:30 am
Registration (light continental refreshments, displays)
8:30 am – 9:15 am
Plenary - Stories to Demonstrate Change
Opening Prayer & Welcome:
Leonard George, Elder of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Welcome:
9:15 am – 10:15 am
Lezlie Wagman, Manager, VCH SMART Fund and
Aboriginal Health Initiative Program (AHIP)
Aline LaFlamme, ED, Aboriginal Front Door Society
Keynote – Dr. Ron Labonte
Speaking Truth to Experience: Storytelling as Evidence
A saying goes: “The shortest distance between a human being
and truth is a good story.” What do stories offer to a better
understanding and accounting of our work? The contemporary
science of evaluation has become as messy and seemingly
contradictory as the field of health itself. Just as we are torn
between the two poles of genetic explanation and social
determination of health, our interventions are asked to honour the
plurality of evidence (including stories) even as they eliminate bias
by adapting the ‘gold standards’ of drug trials, and to be
community-driven while still delivering on funder-defined outcomes.
• Where do stories fit into this mix?
• What is the ‘evidence’ on the effectiveness of story-telling as
evidence?
• What are the strengths and limitations of incorporating
narratives into program evaluation?
• How do we bridge the seeming contradictory pushes and pulls
in accountability for our community work?
These are a few of the questions that will be addressed, though be
forewarned: They will not be resolved, merely wrestled into a more
comfortable and practical ambiguity.
Q & A will follow
10:15 am – 10:30 am
BREAK
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Showcase - of great stories and storytelling approaches
•
Twelve short (20-25 minutes) interactive presentations, each offered
four times in a row.
•
Different approaches (writing, photography, videography, etc.) for
using storytelling to demonstrate change.
•
Participants visit four “stations”
12:30 pm – 1:20 pm
LUNCH (catered)
2
Wednesday,
April 11, 2007
1:20 pm– 1:40 pm
Plenary - The power of clarifying your story
Doug Sabourin, past ED, Family Services of North Shore (FSNS), will
share the story of FSNS’s work with the communications company
Envisioning and Storytelling: how distilling the essence of their story led to
significant positive change. Brief Q & A.
1:40 pm – 1:45 pm
Time to move quickly to the next workshop
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Workshop Session #1 (70 minutes) – Choose one of:
Gathering Stories
Storyscapes
The Voice is Sacred
Video Storytelling
Games for Capturing Stories
The Written Word
Essence of Story
Digital Storytelling
Branding your Organization
Photography
Stories for Measuring Outcomes
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm
BREAK
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Workshop Session #2 (70 minutes) – Choose one of:
Gathering Stories
Storyscapes
Games for Capturing Stories
Video Storytelling
Theatre for Performing Stories
The Written Word
Essence of Story
Digital Storytelling
Communications Planning
Photography
Stories for Measuring Outcomes
4:30 pm
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm
7:30 pm
workshop ends
Social Hour. Optional! A chance to mingle with others
Evening Program – An evening of great storytelling including examples of
how storytelling can demonstrate change. Open to the general public.
9:15 pm
End of Day One
3
Conference Schedule – Day Two
Thursday,
April 12, 2007
8:00 am – 8:40 am
Registration (light continental refreshments, displays)
8:40 am – 9:50 am
Plenary – Ethics, Representation and Power - will explore the
complexity and importance of issues that arise when people tell
stories about one another.
Keynote – Dr. Evan Adams
Telling Stories About Indians, Babies and Lovers
Through examples of storytelling, Dr. Adams marries his 2 careers:
as an actor who tells dramatic stories to illuminate the human
condition and bear witness to others' lives, and as a physician who
tells true-life stories to inspire action, courage and healing in his
patients. In both these roles, he is supported by rich storytelling
traditions that teach respect for the lineage and integrity of stories as
well as healthy doses of humour. With a particular focus on the
power of truth and the patient voice, Dr Adams will explore what
matters in the way we tell stories.
A panel with:
• Dr. Evan Adams
• Loree Lawrence, Partner, Resonance Creative Consulting Partners
• Terri-Lynn Davidson, Member of Haida Gwaii, President, WHITE RAVEN
Law Corporation
Q & A and/or other participatory elements
9:50 am – 10:05 am
10:05 am – 11:15 am
BREAK
Workshop Session #3 (70 minutes or 2+ hours) – Choose one of:
Appreciative Interviews
Creative Mapping
Evaluation Frontline
Stories for Measuring Outcomes
The Storied Organization
Storytelling for Grantseekers
Popular Theatre (2+ hours)
Arts-Based Evaluation (2+ hours)
11:15 am – 11:20 am
Time to move quickly to the next workshop
11:20 am – 12:30 pm
Workshop Session #4 (70 minutes or 2.5 hours cont’d) – Choose one of:
Appreciative Interviews
The Storied Organization
Talking Circle
Storytelling for Grantseekers
Creative Mapping
Funding – A Conversation
Evaluation Frontline
Popular Theatre (cont’d)
Stories for Measuring Outcomes
Arts-Based Evaluation (cont’d)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
LUNCH catered by Salishan Catering, an Coast Salish caterer
4
Thursday,
April 12, 2007
1:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Plenary Session – Forum Theatre
Streamlining the Use of Stories in Reporting Outcomes of Our Work
Members of the Conference Advisory Committee will present a 7-10 mins
Forum Theatre play created by the committee, and facilitated by Renae
Morriseau. This play sets out the key opportunities and challenges facing
different stakeholders (funders, fundees, funders’ funders, etc.) In a second
run through of the play, audience members will have an opportunity to
interact with the characters/scenarios, exploring through theatre/story ways
we can break through to new levels of trust, collaboration and effectiveness.
3:15 pm – 3:35 pm
Break
3:35 pm – 4:20 pm
Closing Plenary
This session will likely include a great story or two along with presentations
from some of the workshops. It will be a chance to reflect on highlights and
key learnings, and to explore next steps.
4:20 pm – 4:30 pm
4:30 pm
Evaluations
End of Conference
5
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Ron Labonte
Dr. Evan Adams
Plenary Session on Stories to
Demonstrate Change
“Speaking Truth to Experience: StoryTelling as Evidence”
Wednesday, April 11, 8:30 am
Plenary Session on Ethics, Power and
Representation
“Telling Stories about Indians, Babies and
Lovers”
Thursday, April 12 at 8:40 am
Ronald Labonte is Canada Research Chair in
Evan Tlesla II Adams of the Sliammon
Globalization/Health Equity at the Institute
First Nation (Powell River, BC) is an
of Population Health and Professor, Faculty
actor and physician whose numerous
of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He
performances include a starring role in
is the former Director of the Saskatchewan
the Emmy-winning TV-movie LOST
Population Health and Evaluation Research
IN THE BARRENS and, most
Unit, a bi-university interdisciplinary
memorably, as Thomas Builds-The-Fire
research organization he created and led
in the Miramax feature SMOKE
from 1999 until 2004, that was committed to
SIGNALS, which won him many
“engaged research” on population health
awards including an Independent
determinants at local, national and global
Spirit Award for performance in 1999.
levels. His recent work includes analyses of
Dr. Adams completed his MD at the
the health impacts of economic globalization,
University of Calgary, his Aboriginal
studies of the determinants of quality of life
Family Practice residency at St Paul’s
and development of culturally relevant
Hospital/UBC (as Chief Resident), and
population health measures. In the early
is currently the Director of the Division
1990s, he and colleagues developed a
of Aboriginal People’s Health,
workshop method for incorporating stories
Department of Family Practice, UBC.
into knowledge development and evaluation.
(‘Story/Dialogue Method’)
6
Showcase
10:30 – 12:30
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
We hope you will be inspired!
•
Go to your choice of four out of 12 short
(20-25 minutes) interactive
presentations, each offered four times in
a row.
Programming for the Showcase will be
•
Learn about different approaches to
finalized soon. Here’s a sample of
storytelling – writing, photography,
confirmed sessions:
videography, digital storytelling, etc.
•
See how others have used storytelling to
demonstrate change.
•
Get a glimpse of great initiatives created
in partnership with SMART Fund,
AHIP, Roundhouse Community Centre
and others.
Warriors Against Violence showing and
sharing about their DVD portrayal of
the work of their Family Healing
Program -- traditional teachings and
family healing for Aboriginal women
who have experienced family violence.
Arts, Health and Seniors Documentation
work-in-progress for a three year multisite project exploring the value for
senior’s health and well-being of
creating art with support from
professional artists.
I Am Here
Visual journaling as a way of capturing
the richness of community projects
based – in this case – on dance and
theatre.
7
Workshop
Overview
Over the event’s two days
you can participate in 3-4
of the 22 workshops on
offer in the following four
streams (note descriptions
below). Workshops are
either 70 minutes (most)
or 2+hours long and give a
practical introduction to
the topic or approach.
Most of the 70 minute
workshops will be offered
two times in a row. (For
times, please see the
Conference Schedule on
Pages 2-5
FOUNDATIONS
Learn skills supportive of
storytelling, regardless of
the approach
Gathering Stories -- A Simple
Approach
∼ Presenter: Cathryn Wellner
The Voice is Sacred:
Supporting Others to Tell
Their Story
∼ Presenter: Rain Daniels
Games for Capturing Stories
∼ Presenter: Meredith Thomson
Stories of Change through
Appreciative Interviews
∼ Presenter: Leslie Kemp
Using Theatre to Help People
Share and Perform Their
Stories
∼ Presenter: Valerie Methot
Talking Circle
∼ Presenter: Aline LaFlamme
CLARIFYING YOUR
STORY
Distil the essence of the
story of a project or
program
Finding the Essence of Your
Story
∼ Presenter: Mairi Campbell
Branding: Building Your
Organization’s Identity
∼ Presenter: Cathy Beaumont
Building a Strategic
Communication Plan
∼ Presenter: Cathy Beaumont
Creative Mapping
∼ Presenter: Cathy Stubington
APPROACHES
Gain an overview of one
specific approach to
storytelling
Video Storytelling
∼ Presenters: Patti Fraser &
Corin Browne
The Written Word – Conjuring
the Poetic
∼ Presenter: Vanessa Richards
Community and Digital
Storytelling – How & Why?
∼ Presenter: Jules Rochielle
Photography and Social
Change
∼ Presenter: Joshua Berson
PROJECT DESIGN
Learn ways to integrate
storytelling into the design
of your projects and
programs
Introducing Popular Theatre
∼ Presenter: Victor Porter
Arts–Based Evaluation:
Demonstrating Change
through Visual Arts
∼ Presenters: Margo Charlton &
Loree Lawrence
Stories – A Creative Way to
‘Measure’ Outcomes
∼ Presenter: Kathy Coyne
Stories from the Evaluation
Frontline – Tips for Evaluating
Your Program in the Real
World
∼ Presenter: Kylie Hutchinson
The Storied Organization:
Communicating Value, Inviting
Caring, Celebrating Success
∼ Presenter: Barbara Oates
McMillan
Tell Your Proposal Story!
Storytelling for Grantseekers
∼ Presenter: Cheryl A. Clarke
Storyscapes: Rewriting
the Stories of a City
∼ Presenter: Kamala Todd
Funding Recipients &
Funders – A Conversation
∼ Advisory Committee
Members
8
Stories of Change through Appreciative
Interviews
FOUNDATIONS
Gathering Stories – A Simple Approach
We will experiment with some simple and effective
methods for gathering stories that demonstrate
change. The principles underlying these methods
apply equally to working with youth, seniors,
immigrants or executives. You will also learn ways
of developing an intentional, story-gathering
approach within a project or organization. Handouts
and brief discussion will provide resources for those
wanting to learn more about identifying, recording,
analysing, and presenting stories that provide
narrative evidence for work that supports
community health.
Cathryn Wellner
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
The Voice is Sacred: Supporting Others to Tell
Their Story
As a service provider you win every time a program
participant learns how to “raise their voice” and tell
their story. Participant’s stories can be a living
demonstration of the changes brought about through
the services of your organization. Learn practical
ways to support participants to give ‘voice’ to their
experience. Discuss and reflect on the best ways to
encourage the emergence of voice and gain tools to
enhance voicing and listening.
Rain Daniels
(once) Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00
Games for Capturing Stories
Loosen up – yourself and the groups you work with
– to get conversations and stories flowing! In this
highly interactive workshop we’ll play (and learn)
games that draw out stories from one another and
games to teach others how to gather great stories.
Come prepared to stretch your vocal chords and
willing to share ‘vignettes’ about change in your life.
Appreciative Conversations or Interviews are a
powerful tool for gleaning stories about personal or
organizational change and transformation. By
tapping into peak experiences and positive stories
from the past and present, these conversations bring
forth themes and images that both express the “heart
of the matter” and that are catalysts for change.
Learn the potential of appreciative conversations and
explore where they might be useful for reporting on
the outcomes of your work. We’ll practice
appreciative interviews so you can discover this
powerful tool for yourself.
Leslie Kemp
Thursday, April 12 10:05-11:15 & 11:20-12:30
Using Theatre to Help People Share and
Perform Their Stories
Learn how theatre is used as an artistic and
educational tool to help people share and perform
their stories for a live audience. This successful
method is very empowering for communities and
individuals as it focuses on what is important to the
individual, provides a tool to express it, and a
creative process that enables individuals to work in a
group environment safely and artistically,
culminating in a public performance. Theatre is a
very powerful tool in that it inspires confidence,
communication, critical thinking, problem-solving
skills, decision-making and most of all creativity.
Valerie Methot
(once) Wednesday, April 11 3:15-4:30
Talking Circle
In this workshop you’ll be invited to participate in a
talking circle on the theme: “What does storytelling
mean for me and my work?” Talking Circles are a
traditional First Nations way to share wisdom, find
healing and create connectedness. The traditions of
the talking circle help us share our stories—speaking
and listening with our hearts, minds, bodies and
spirits. Talking Circles are a powerful way to
explore what has meaning and impact for us all,
including the people we work with.
Aline LaFlamme
Thursday, April 12 11:20-12:30
Meredith Thomson
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
9
CLARIFYING YOUR STORY
Finding the Essence of Your Story
Building a Strategic Communication Plan
Humans have always been captivated by stories.
Today, the ancient art of story telling is still our most
potent medium for inspiring change, sharing
knowledge and creating meaning. In this workshop
we’ll explore the elements of both inspirational and
knowledge sharing stories. You’ll discover simple
ways to activate your own natural story telling
ability, identify the essence of the story you need to
tell and invoke the “secret” language of stories. You
will craft a story that ignites your audience’s
imagination and inspires them to co-create with you.
This is a fast-paced workshop that will introduce you
to the foundations of communications planning,
including the link to storytelling. Strategic
communications can increase your organization’s
profile with the media and public, draw in new
donors and volunteers to your work, and increase
the credibility of your organization and the
credibility of your issue. The format will include
lecture, discussion and small group work, and you’ll
gain tips and techniques for your own planning
process.
Cathy Beaumont
(once) Wednesday, April 11 3:15-4:30
Mairi Campbell
Wednesday April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
Branding: Building Your Organization’s Identity
Understanding and strengthening your
organization’s brand identity can help you stand out
and get noticed – in the way you want to be noticed.
Brands often tell our audience about our positioning,
values, reputation and promise. They express the
essence of your organization’s “story”. This seminar
will outline the broad strokes needed to understand,
clarify and strengthen your organization’s brand
identity – what it is, what you want it to be, and how
to get there.
Cathy Beaumont
(once) Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00
Creative Mapping
In this hands-on workshop, participants will have an
opportunity to examine their communities in a new
and creative way, through making a map that
represents not only official and concrete
geographical landmarks but also natural and human
places. Through the making of the map, we will find
existing and potential centres of activity, memory,
and positive change – and perhaps discover key
stories. The community described can be a
geographically defined community, a network of
common interest, or a workplace.
Cathy Stubington
Thursday, April 12 10:05-11:15 & 11:20-12:30
10
Tell Your Proposal Story!
Storytelling for
Grantseekers
PROJECT DESIGN
Stories - A Creative Way to ‘Measure’ Outcomes
Organizations have many stories to tell about the
work they are doing for, and with, communities. But
how can these stories be used in outcome reporting?
And what makes a ‘story’ evidence of an outcome?
This workshop will set the stage for discussions of
‘stories’ as creative and highly useful evidence of
social change created through community health
projects. It will provide an overview of outcome
language and situate ‘stories’ as a valuable and
meaningful method of community groups collecting
information and reporting to funders. Kathy Coyne
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
Thursday, April 12 10:05-11:15 & 11:20-12:30
Stories from the Evaluation Frontline – Tips
for Evaluating Your Program in the Real World
“I love my work but hate to evaluate it.” Does this
sound like you? In this workshop we will take a
realistic approach to look at evaluation in the
nonprofit sector and discuss some of the ways that
organizations can avoid common pitfalls when
planning or conducting evaluations. Using personal
stories and experience, we will also look at ways to
strengthen an evaluation design when budget and/or
organization capacity is limited, as well as several
means of integrating storytelling into evaluation
practice.
Kylie Hutchinson
Thursday, April 12 10:05-11:15 & 11:20-12:30
The Storied Organization: Communicating
Value, Inviting Caring, Celebrating Success
Integrating storytelling into your organization’s
culture is a powerful way to increase your
effectiveness. Explore ways that groups can become
more intentional about recognizing, collecting and
using stories in their work. Individual and group
exercises, along with examples, tools, and references,
will demonstrate the scope and value of using stories
in awareness, media, marketing, fundraising, policy
and evaluation activities.
Barbara Oates McMillan
Thursday, April 12 10:05-11:15 & 11:20-12:30
As a grantwriter, are you an effective storyteller? Do
your proposals persuade funders to award the grant?
Cheryl Clarke, author of Storytelling for Grantseekers:
The Guide to Creative Fundraising, will give helpful
tips for crafting successful proposal stories. She will
demonstrate the parallels between storytelling and
grantwriting: compelling characters, detail-rich
locations, colorful dialogue and carefully executed
plot development. You don’t need to be a novelist to
learn how to adapt these techniques to your proposal
writing.
Cheryl A. Clarke
Thursday, April 12 10:05-11:15 & 11:20-12:30
Storyscapes: Rewriting the Stories of a City
What do you do when the official stories of a city,
neighbourhood, community don’t include you?
When you don’t see your own stories and culture
reflected around you? This workshop will highlight
the Aboriginal storytelling project Storyscapes to
show how stories have transformative power to
create deeper, more inclusive understandings of
communities-especially by decision-makers and the
wider public. By recording and sharing local oral
histories (through a range of media), Storyscapes is
creating an innovative means to inform planners and
others about the diverse histories, perspectives, and
dreams of Aboriginal people, thereby helping to shift
perceptions and create new approaches to planning
and decision-making.
Kamala Todd
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
Funding Recipients & Funders – A Conversation
This session will give funding recipients and funders
an opportunity to jointly explore the implications of
storytelling to demonstrate change. Facilitation from
Deepthi Jayatilaka and Marshall Thompson will keep
the discussion focused on the subject of stories and
the reporting of outcomes. Possible themes include:
What kinds of stories do fund recipients want to tell and
what opportunities would they like to have to tell them?;
How do funders see including stories in their work and
how will it help them to track outcomes?; Are there
challenges and opportunities in including stories in your
work and how can both groups work together to address
these? Max: 25 people.
Planning Committee Members
Thursday, April 12 11:20-12:30
11
Photography and Social Change
APPROACHES
Video Storytelling
This workshop will provide participants with
insights into how they may use video in community
development, and as a way to portray and reveal the
human impact of projects and issues that require
documentation. We will screen examples of work,
look at elements involved in creating a community
video storytelling project, and the elements of what
can make stories work when digitally documenting
projects or issues.
Patti Fraser & Corin Browne
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
The Written Word – Conjuring the Poetic
Every project is laden with complexities, grace,
failures and breakthroughs. Offering an account of
the process and results need not be daunting. This
workshop will help you translate these experiences
into succinct and insightful stories. We will explore
how one can enhance accurate information using
dialogue, details, and scenes from the project. Using
the primary tools of poetry we will explore an
approach that fosters confidence and creativity when
faced with the task of explaining, “What happened?”
Vanessa Richards
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
We’ll use on-the-spot photographic assignments,
taking multiple photos, to learn how photography
can be an effective tool for documenting social
change. Discuss the impact of social, economic and
cultural background for the audience and the
photographer. Our aim as a group could be to
prepare a ‘slide show’ by afternoon’s end.
Joshua Berson
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
Introducing Popular Theatre
Learn the basic philosophical foundations, games
and exercises widely used in community work across
the continents. Through games and exercises,
participants will become familiar with the “language
of images” and explore its concrete applications to
storytelling. The work is physical and fun. (This is
an introductory course. Participants will need
further training to facilitate Popular Theatre for
others.)
Victor Porter
(2+hrs) Thursday, April 12 10:05-12:30
Arts – Based Evaluation: Demonstrating
Change Through Visual Arts
Using a combination of presentation, hands-on
participation, and discussion, this workshop will
provide an overview of the field of evaluation,
describe ways in which visual arts activities can
enhance evaluation activities within communitybased programs, and give participants a chance to try
out some arts-based evaluation activities.
Margo Charlton & Loree Lawrence
(2+hrs) Thursday, April 12 10:05-12:30
Community and Digital Storytelling – How
and Why?
What happens when community and social sector
voices, marginalized by mainstream media, acquire
the skills and confidence to go behind the camera
and take centre-stage? The work of AMES makes it
clear: something very special happens. In this
workshop we’ll view and discuss short digital stories
to explore how this approach can both document
change and empower communities. You’ll leave
understanding the basic tools of the trade and what’s
involved in creating a digital storytelling project for
your organization / community.
Jules Rochielle
Wednesday, April 11 1:45-3:00 & 3:15-4:30
12
Presenter Bios
Cathy Beaumont is a Strategic Counsel at the
Institute for Media Policy and Civil Society
(IMPACS). She facilitates client planning
processes, offers expert advice on
communication tactics and helps develop
excellent print and online communication
resources. Cathy’s clients include the
University of British Columbia, Community
Foundations of Canada, Voluntary Sector
Forum, Canadian Paraplegic Association,
Community Energy Association, Seniors
Services Society (Lower Mainland), and Centre
for Interactive Research on Sustainability.
Joshua Berson is a professional photographer
who knows firsthand that photography is a
powerful tool for social change. “For 25 years I
have worked with people and organizations,
both locally and internationally, to create a
more fair and just world. It is my goal to create
a connection with the people I am
photographing; hopefully this results in a more
profound image and a more meaningful
relationship”.
Corin Browne has worked as a media
educator, video maker, and community video
artist for the past ten years. She recently
completed an MA exploring the emancipatory
potential of community videomaking with
young people through the construction of a low
watt pirate TV station.
Mairi Campbell (BA, BFA, MA (cand), PR
cert) is the principal partner of Personae
Communications, a communications company
that specializes in helping organizations
develop and communicate their distinct identity
through compelling storytelling. Mairi has
worked extensively with private and nonprofit
organizations, using storytelling to build brand
awareness, inspire personal and organizational
change, foster community engagement, and
generate media attention.
Resonance Creative Consulting Partners is a
collaboration between Margo Charlton and
Loree Lawrence. Margo and Loree have
cumulatively over thirty-five years of
experience working in the community arts field
as animators and program coordinators. They
have worked with diverse communities in BC,
Manitoba and Ontario, and have taught
workshops on community arts and made
presentations at national and international
gatherings including events in Nicaragua,
Panama, Cuba and Brazil. Founded in 2006,
Resonance combines practical experience in the
field with theoretical research to shine a
spotlight on current issues in the community
arts field. Resonance is a resource for
practitioners, planners, funders and advocates
interested in the intersection of arts and the
community.
Cheryl A. Clarke is a consultant, trainer, and
author of Storytelling for Grantseekers (Jossey
Bass, 2001). Her new book, Grant Proposal
Makeover: Transform Your Request from No to
Yes, co-authored with Susan Fox, was published
by Jossey Bass in November, 2006. Clarke has
worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20
years and held development positions at the
University of San Francisco School of Law and
the University of California – San Francisco. She
is a member of the AAGP and AFP and serves
on the board of directors of the Development
Executive’s Roundtable.
Kathy Coyne is committed to community
capacity building and has worked with the
SMART fund to develop and implement a
“Splash and Ripple” approach to outcome
planning and monitoring. With over 15 years of
experience working with socially excluded
communities, Kathy seeks to draw out the
inherent expertise, creativity and assets of
community members in order to build
community, promote social change, and
increase the validity of the ‘data’.
13
Rain Daniels is a mixed heritage Indigenous
woman whose personal history highlights the
importance of voicing. Rain’s work history
includes 15 years working in social services in
the areas of violence against women, alcohol
and drugs, crisis work, community
development and training. She has worked as a
peer counselor, facilitator, trainer and
community developer, and in all areas of work
and personal life, supports the potential within
individuals and groups.
Aline LaFlamme is Executive Director of
Aboriginal Front Door Society – an organization
that provides healing based in traditional
teachings and ceremony for Aboriginal people
living on the streets in the Downtown East Side.
She is a Metis woman from Alberta, a
grandmother, a pipe carrier, a sundancer and a
drum maker (over 900). She’s been sharing
traditional ceremonies and teachings, and doing
workshops on healing and recovery for 18
years.
Patti Fraser has worked as an artist in
community as a popular theatre practitioner,
and as a story mentor and producer in digital
video. She has written and performed for the
professional stage and national radio. She has
worked in many communities: HIV/AIDS and
youth, First Nations health and social justice,
youth and violence, and refugee rights to name
a few.
Barbara Oates McMillan is Community
Foundations of Canada’s Regional Coordinator
for BC, and National Consultant on Youth in
Philanthropy; teaches proposal writing for BCIT’s
Fundraising Management program, and presents
on topics such as youth engagement,
organizational storytelling, governance, and
planning. She holds a BA in Communications
from SFU and a Masters of Management Degree
(National Voluntary Sector Leaders) from McGill
University, and serves on the boards of the
McCreary Youth Foundation, PLAN, and Vancity
Community Foundation.
Kylie Hutchinson is a local consultant to
nonprofits with 19 years experience in the field
of program evaluation. She is a popular trainer
for the Canadian Evaluation Society’s Essential
Skills Series and specializes in conducting
evaluation for organizations with limited
resources.
Leslie Kemp coordinates Community
Development Programs for Langara College
Continuing Studies and is active in social
justice, community arts and communitybuilding processes. Over the past several years,
Leslie has integrated Appreciative Inquiry
approaches into her work as an educator and
community organizer. An active participant in
Vancouver’s Appreciative Inquiry Network,
Leslie has facilitated a variety of AI processes
for community organizations, education and
faith groups.
Valerie Methot (BFA, MFA) is a theatre
director/writer/facilitator/visual artist who has
led several collaborative community theatre
projects including: Take a Breath, Express and
Mirror, Mirror. Valerie is artist-in-residence at
the Roundhouse and artistic/project director of
the Roundhouse Youth Theatre Project;
artistic/project director of the Youth Theatre
Action Group with Vancouver Coastal Health;
and Community Arts Development
Programmer for the City of Burnaby.
Victor Porter is the Manager of Community
Outreach Programs for Mosaic, an immigrant
serving organization. He works in the field of
Popular Education. His work includes use of
Theatre of the Oppressed, a vehicle to explore
issues, reflect, evaluate, share experiences and
search for solutions in an active, accessible and
participatory way. Victor has worked across
Canada, Asia and Latin America.
14
Vanessa Richards, Mphil, is an articulate and
experienced cultural worker with a
specialisation in participatory process, art in the
public realm and leading edge practices related
to community-based arts and urban
regeneration. She combines energy and passion
with the professional expertise and global
vision needed to assist organisations or projects
in reviewing, developing and implementing
new strategies to advance intersectoral
innovation and sustainability. Her poetry has
been anthologised in the UK, Holland, Canada
and the USA
Jules Rochielle is Executive Director of The
Access to Media Education Society (AMES), a
registered non-profit dedicated to helping
people cultivate individual, group and mass
communications skills. Jules has been exploring
the intersection of creativity, social activism and
community for over 10 years. She is committed
to forging new community based programs that
create access to the arts, creative exploration
and community engagement. Jules believes that
the personal voice is a political voice.
Cathy Stubington is a puppeteer and
community-based artist living in Enderby, BC,
where she is Artistic Director of Runaway Moon
Theatre. She’s used puppets ranging from
miniature to giant proportions for health
education as well as theatre. She generally
starts community projects with creative
mapping – projects that have engaged hundreds
of people from all walks of life, including the
Enderby Play and a community shadow play
about Addictions Awareness on a Drive-in
Movie Screen.
power tools for personal, family, organizational
and community healing.
Meredith Thomson loves swapping stories
with interesting folks (like you)! As an outdoor
educator, she does this mostly around the
campfire, ‘along the trail,’ or en route to/from
an adventure. She has worked with a range of
ages, slipping some FUN into a wide variety of
settings. Her one-year old daughter ‘stars’ in
the majority of her stories these days.
Kamala Todd (MA, Urban Geography, UBC)
is a writer, filmmaker, community planner, and
mother. She is creator/director of Storyscapes, a
community arts project that creates
opportunities for Aboriginal people to tell their
stories of Vancouver – through video, text,
public art, and more. From 2001-2006 Kamala
was the City of Vancouver’s Aboriginal Social
Planner. She is also creator/director of
Indigenous City, a multidisciplinary project to
promote urban sustainability and inclusive
planning that acknowledges local traditional
knowledge.
Cathryn Wellner is food and health project
leader for Interior Health. She gravitated to
community development through traveling and
performing as a professional storyteller. Her
community development work is based on the
premise that stories underlie all of human
activity and that it is possible to identify,
analyse, and, where necessary, change them for
the health of our communities.
Doug Sabourin currently Executive Director of
Deltassist Family and Community Services, has
used the power of story and myth in his work in
social services as a social worker and Executive
Director of non profit organizations. As an
Executive Director of local, regional, provincial
and national organizations and as a university
teacher and facilitator, Doug uses stories as
15