StoryMuse 2018 Annual Report

S T O R Y M U S E
2 0 1 8 A N N U A L R E P O R T
AN OVERVIEW OF THE SECOND YEAR OF STORYMUSE

Issue 2
S T O R Y M U S I N G S
Two years. It's so hard to
believe it's been two years since
StoryMuse came to be. This one
has certainly been a whirlwind.
I called Year One an
experiment. I didn't want to feel
bad if it didn't work out.
In the proverbial "sophomore
year," StoryMuse grew to a level
of certain sustainability,
developed new partnerships,
and took advisable risks.
I feel so proud of all that was
accomplished.
C O N T E N T S
03 By the Numbers
04 GCDD Storytelling Project
05 Devereux
06 Workshops & Residencies
07 Fun
08 The Big Next

26
Year 2
B Y T H E
N U M B E R S
GCDD Storytelling Project
62 Stories
74,400 Words
Workshops
28 Workshops
330 Participants
Individual Coaching
119 Hours of Coaching
42 Clients/Participants
Keynotes/Panels
4 Speaking Engagements

P A R T N E R S H I P S
Georgia Storytelling Project
commissioned by the
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
In late 2017, just as I was closing out the first
year, StoryMuse landed its first major,
sustaining contract. I've spent all of 2018
traveling the state of Georgia as part of a
team, collecting 75 stories that represent the
experience of individuals living with a
developmental disability. These stories, in
long form of 1000-1800 words and short
form of 500-800 words, accompanied by
6-12 photographs, include constituents
from each of Georgia’s 56 State Senate
Districts. Story packages are being used for
the Georgia Council on Developmental
Disabilities (GCDD) advocacy efforts. This
project helped me increase my
understanding and appreciation of
intersectionality between race, class, and
disability. There are 9000 Georgians on the
waiting list for Medicaid waivers. Many of
the people who need these resources most
are the ones who have the least access.
As primary storyteller on the project, I
collected, wrote, and edited 62 of the 75
stories. Along with the GCDD, project
partners included our admin team,
Resurgens Impact Consulting;
photographers (pictured to the right on our
last day for 2018), Lynsey Weatherspoon
and Haylee Anne Fucini-Lenkey;
fellow storyteller, Moira Bucciarelli;
project advisor, Beate Sass; and
fiscal sponsor, L'arche Atlanta.
2 0 1 9 S T O R Y T E L L I N G
P R O J E C T & P O D C A S T
I'm truly excited to announce
that in 2019, we will be doing a
new version of the Storytelling
Project, a deeper dive with 25
new stories.
More, we're producing an allnew
podcast, Heard & Seen, to
feature audio from these
interviews. I'm truly looking
forward to the opportunity to
explore themes that have
already bubbled up from this
work, including assistive
technology, service animals,
independent living, and
supported employment.
Please stay tuned!

P A R T N E R S H I P S
Our Stories, Our Journeys
artist residency at
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
2 0 1 9 @ D E V E R E U X
In 2019, I return for two more
six-week cycles of programming
at Devereux. January-February
will be with teenage boys in
treatment foster care. There will
be another round following to
be scheduled. I can't tell you
how pleased I am to be working
with this organization. The staff
there are thoughtful and
courageous.
You may remember Trigger Warning, the
first major, independent StoryMuse
production back in June 2017. Trigger
Warning featured eight storytellers
sharing everyday encounters with trauma
and violence. As a result of that project, I
connected with Dr. Yolanda Graham,
Executive Director of Mental Health
Services at Devereux Advanced
Behavioral Health's Kennesaw, Georgia
facility. Dr. Graham could see the
therapeutic value embedded in the
workshopping, rehearsal, and production
of a storytelling show. Thanks to an
internal grant from the Devereux
Foundation, we have worked in
partnership throughout 2018. The pilot
project with girls who have been
commercially sexually exploited, also
known as sex trafficking, occurred April-
May of this year. A second six-week cycle
with the same population came in
September-October 2018.
Note: Due to the necessarily private and
sensitive nature of the work, I'm afraid I
can't speak specifically about the girls and
their stories. Just know that it has been
very rewarding work. Here's one line
from a story I can share:
"They say you gotta play the hand you're
dealt. But my deck started with one king, one
queen, and 52 jokers."

Workshops & Residencies
Despite the enormity of the GCDD and Devereux Storytelling Projects, I was able to
continue developing my storytelling curriculum by offering keynotes, workshops,
panel discussions, and short-term residencies all over the region:
Carrie Steele-Pitts Home
January 2018
youth in foster care
Georgia Tech's Center for Teaching & Learning
January 2018
Faculty Retreat
March 2018
Celebrate Teaching Day
Atlanta Legal Aid
April 2018
pro-bono staff training*
(*Thanks to your giving through the December 2017 Indiegogo campaign.)
Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church
May 2018
second residency with clergy & laity
GSU's MWF-Young African Leaders Initiative
June-July 2018
third year residency with young professionals
Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
September 2018
Using Our Stories for Advocacy
Georgia Tech's Theatre Department
September-October 2018
Devised Theatre Techniques
National Guild for Community Arts Education
November 2018
Storytelling for Impact

Fun Stuff
*Volunteering monthly with Second Helpings Atlanta
*Five years as co-host at North Avenue Lounge
*Alternate ROOTS Late Night Coordinator
*Decatur Book Festival panel
*Officiated a wedding ceremony for dear friends
*Two meditation & writing retreats at Great Tree Zen Temple
*Featured on Atlanta Interfaith Bureau

T H E B I G N E X T
As I enter into the third year of StoryMuse, 2019
is shaping up to be a full and fulfilling new
adventure.
On top of returning to the GCDD Storytelling
Project and Devereux, I already have several
other projects underway or in serious
conversation. Of note, I'll be returning to the
Decatur Writers Studio to teach for six weeks,
January-March.
Pending grant funding, I will be working with the
Atlanta Center for Self-Sufficiency to produce a
two-night storytelling show with their homeless
constituents, board, and staff. This project will
also feature photos and web stories.
There are other irons in the fire, too early to discuss. I hope they work out so that I will
be making pages about them in this publication next year.
The biggest news about the next phase of my career, though, is that I'm currently
developing my first book proposal.
Walks with Grief will be a collection of short essays and stories, reflections on my
personal experiences of grief, what I've learned through my work in the world about
the function of grief, and a discussion of how my walking practice has helped me move
through it all.
Just like I coach people through the process of making a manifesting story, I close my
eyes now and picture holding my first book in my hands in the future. I imagine
sending out the announcement that it's finished and ready for sale. I see myself signing
it, putting it in an envelope, and sending it in the mail to you.
Until then, never forget the proverb:
The shortest distance between two people is a story.