Moments of connection, creativity, and community.
Stories in Action
Explore photos, videos and voices from our storytelling events, workshops, and circles. Each image captures the power of lived experience and the beauty of sharing our stories together.
StoryBridge Programs in Practice
Across storytelling circles, workshops, and community events, StoryBridge programs create spaces where people can share lived experiences, build confidence, and connect through meaningful dialogue.
Participants frequently describe StoryBridge programs as transformative—creating opportunities for reflection, connection, and community learning.
This page highlights moments from StoryBridge storytelling initiatives and the impact they have had on participants and communities.
What Participants Say
“The stories shared resonated very much with my own life. The group dialogue and reflection prompts allowed for deep internal processing.”
Storytelling Café Participant
“This should have been longer. I would love to see an extended version of this workshop.”
Open Circle Participant
“I was impressed with the use of lived experience storytelling. Hearing a fully developed story sparked new ideas about how I can better support my clients.”
Workshop Participant
“I could empathize with the stories because they reflected different aspects of my own experience—and the experiences of the clients I work with every day.”
Workshop Participant
These reflections illustrate the impact of storytelling when it is combined with dialogue, reflection, and ethical facilitation.
2026 Black History Month Open Circle Pop-Up
Black Voices on a Page
StoryBridge collaborated with community partners to host a public storytelling and dialogue event celebrating Black voices in literature and community storytelling.
The event brought together authors, storytellers, and community members for an afternoon of storytelling, reflection, and conversation.
Participants described the experience as powerful because the storytelling created space for both personal reflection and shared dialogue.
Highlights included:
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Storytelling exploring identity, belonging, and lived experience
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Audience dialogue and guided reflection activities
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Community conversations about representation and cultural storytelling
We Are All Stories
2025 Community Storytelling Showcase
We Are All Stories is a public storytelling gathering where community storytellers share personal narratives followed by dialogue and reflection with the audience.
The event invites listeners and storytellers to move beyond passive listening and engage in meaningful conversation.
Participants often report that the storytelling prompts them to reflect on their own experiences and perspectives.
Holiday Alley Newcomer Storytelling Café
Taking Root in Selkirk, Manitoba
StoryBridge once again partnered with community organizations in Selkirk to deliver a storytelling café workshop program for Selkirk-based newcomer participants.
Participants met weekly to explore storytelling and art-based prompts and develop personal narratives along with a visual story display about identity, migration, and belonging.
The program concluded with a public storytelling gathering during Holiday Alley, where newcomers and longtime residents shared stories and engaged in dialogue.
Impact highlights included:
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Increased confidence among participants in sharing their stories
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Cross-cultural dialogue between newcomers and local residents
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Strong community engagement at the final storytelling event
Open Circle Pop-Up
2025 International Women's Storytelling Circle
Open Circle gatherings bring storytelling into community spaces, including libraries, cultural venues, and partner organizations.
In one recent session, participants used the Tree of Life storytelling framework to reflect on personal journeys and life experiences.
Participants created visual storytelling prompts and shared their stories in small group conversations.
The session demonstrated how storytelling can:
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Strengthen empathy and understanding
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Build connections among participants
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Create space for reflection and dialogue
Holiday Alley Newcomer Storytelling Café
A 2024 Pilot Project
StoryBridge partnered with community organizations in Selkirk to deliver a storytelling café pilot program to support local newcomer residents.
StoryBridge invited newcomer storytellers from a previous program to share their stories of migration and journeying with Selkirk residents at a public storytelling gathering during Holiday Alley. After the public performance, the featured storytellers, Selkirk newcomers and longtime residents, shared stories and engaged in impactful dialogue.
Impact highlights included:
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Increased feelings of newcomer inclusion in local festival events
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Cross-cultural dialogue between newcomers and local residents
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Strong community engagement at the final storytelling event
Why StoryBridge Programs Matter
StoryBridge programs combine storytelling, dialogue, and trauma-aware facilitation to create spaces where people feel safe sharing their experiences.
Across programs, participants consistently report:
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Increased confidence in sharing personal experiences
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Improved English Language speaking, writing, and cultural competency skills
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Deeper connections with others
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Meaningful reflection on identity and belonging
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Stronger empathy across cultures and communities
By creating opportunities for storytelling and dialogue, StoryBridge helps communities connect through lived experience.
Explore StoryBridge Programs
Community storytelling programs where participants develop and share personal narratives through writing, dialogue, and performance.
Low-barrier storytelling circles hosted in community spaces that foster connection and belonging.
Storytelling and expressive arts programming designed to support youth confidence, creativity, and cross-cultural learning.
Explore examples of StoryBridge storytelling programs, workshops, and community engagement initiatives.