The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is excited to bring Narrative 4 to the Wood River Valley this spring as part of our community outreach efforts.  We will be offering educators and community leaders Narrative 4’s Story Exchange training and certification, fully subsidized by our generous donors.

Founded by writer Colum McCann, who spoke at last summer’s conference, Narrative4 is a global nonprofit that uses storytelling and the arts to foster empathy, connection, and a deeper sense of community.  To learn more about Narrative 4, please see the attached info sheet and watch this recent PBS NewsHour segment spotlighting the organization’s work. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-power-of-stories-helps-young-people-overcome-differences

The Story Exchange is at the heart of the Narrative 4 methodology and offers a powerful way to build meaningful connections across differences.  Every Story Exchange asks participants to share true stories from their life, listen with intention, and retell one another’s experiences from the first-person perspective – creating stronger relationships, deeper understanding, and momentum for positive change.

About the Workshop:

The workshop will take place on Saturday, April 25th, at the Community Library in Ketchum, from 10:30 am – 5:00 pm. In the morning, we will experience a Story Exchange facilitated by a team of Narrative 4’s master practitioners.  Following lunch, we will receive training to become Certified Story Exchange Facilitators. Trained facilitators will be able to lead their own Story Exchange that centers on listening, reflection, and understanding, and create spaces of connection where all people feel heard and valued.

Our hope in offering this program is to help strengthen relationships, foster inclusivity, and create space for thoughtful, positive dialogue among students and throughout the broader community. We are delighted to offer this opportunity to educators, students, and community members.

Space will be limited to 50 participants. We hope this feels like an opportunity that might resonate, and we would be delighted to have educators, students, and community members join us. We will share an online registration form by the end of next week for those interested in participating. For additional information or questions, please contact [email protected]

Thank you for your interest, and we hope to see you in April!