Everyone has a story to tell. What brought you to Prescott? Where have you traveled? What experiences have you had that changed your life? These stories are gifts to be shared and celebrated. The mission of Stories That Matter, a dedicated local nonprofit operating as AZ Wordsmith, is to bring the art of storytelling to life through live events and workshops.
Since its inception in September 2023, Stories That Matter has been encouraging people from all walks of life to come together to share their stories. The founders, a group of enthusiastic writers, recognize the power of storytelling to connect, heal, and inspire. They believe everyone has a story worth telling, and that sharing these stories can foster a stronger, more empathetic community.
Founding member Lee Reeves says, “All cultures have passed on stories through the millennia. There are mythology stories; we know about Hades and Penelope, the Greek myths and the Roman gods. That’s how society got its principles. That’s what holds it together. They say that in families that tell stories, kids have a stronger sense of self, more confidence.”
Stories That Matter hosts several live storytelling events through the year, with themes as diverse as the stories themselves. From tales of personal triumph and heartache to humorous anecdotes and historical accounts, each event offers a variety of voices and experiences. The atmosphere is always supportive and inclusive, encouraging both seasoned storytellers and first-timers to step up to the microphone. Topics have included Life Changes, A Time I Was Pushed into the Unknown, and A Holiday to Remember.
The September event will feature stories that fit the topic Getting Schooled. Topics aren’t meant to be limiting, but rather give the storytellers a place to start; interpretations may be literal or figurative.
Inspired by and based on the NPR podcast The Moth, the group’s original members Lee Reeves, Janet Hopkins, Steven Kartstein, Sue Favia and Matt Santos arranged with the Elks Performing Arts Center’s Crystal Hall to provide space to encourage and promote the artistry of true stories told to live audiences, creating an intimate, and enriching experience for both storyteller and audience.
As Reeves explains, “There’s a little theatre. There’s a sense of connecting with an audience.” Kartstein adds, “I think the idea of the theatre aspect is perfect, because when you’re up there telling the story, you’re telling the story with your whole body and your hands and your eyes and your facial expressions, and you’re moving those emotions out into the crowd and the people around you.”
The group believes that storytelling can be a catalyst for social change. By giving people a platform to share their experiences, it hopes to foster understanding and empathy among community members. It brings to light diverse perspectives and experiences, helping break down barriers and encourage inclusion. As Kartstein states, “In landscaping it’s called a borrowed view — when you open up a space and you can see farther than your own property, you’re borrowing the view. In storytelling you’re borrowing their story and you’re bringing it into yourself, and you’re listening to it and being captured by it. It’s becoming a part of you.”
The experience of telling or listening to a story recalls simpler times. Kartstein continues, “When I’m sitting there and listening to some of those stories, I will glance out at the crowd that’s listening to the tale and it’s amazing to see they’re focused. The phones are down. They’re paying attention to that person on that stage, and there is nothing else going on in their minds. Sometimes there are tears, there’s laughter. There are chuckles. There are gasps.”
There are definitive differences between writing a story to be read and preparing one to be told. In addition to the live events, Stories That Matter conducts storytelling workshops, small, intimate sessions designed to help participants develop storytelling skills, whether they are beginners looking to find a voice or experienced storytellers working to hone their craft. Workshops cover various aspects of storytelling, including structure, character development and performance techniques, to help convey the story with confidence and authenticity. Experienced storytellers, writers and performers lead the workshops, providing personalized feedback and support.
While the workshops often encourage participants to tell stories to an audience, it’s important to remember how often we tell our stories on a daily basis — on a walk with a friend, over dinner with family, to teach a child, to demonstrate empathy with a colleague, to explain what our company might do, and sometimes just to entertain. The workshops offer a fun, supportive environment for learning how to craft a better story, and are kept small to ensure that every voice is heard.
Volunteers interested in telling a story may contact the team members at StoriesThatMatterAZ@gmail.com, or call the “pitch line” at 928-351-7899. The next storytelling workshop will be held August 3, and the next live storytelling event will be on September 29. Tickets available at PrescottElksTheatre.org.
