Tales From the Teenage Years June 27 at Emek Shalom

Our summer storytelling event takes place June 27th from 7 to 9pm at a NEW LOCATION: Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon (for directions go here). The theme is “It was the Summer of Our Youth: Tales from the Teenage Years.” Proceeds will go to the Creekside Music Scholarship Fund. Music by Duane Whitcomb, Wendi Stanek and various teenage performers from Ashland High School. Hosted by Mark Yaconelli. If you have a story to share (told first person in ten minutes or less) please contact Mark Yaconelli at yaconelli@msn.com. 

Bring an Object to Share at “Show and Tell” April 18

Our Spring storytelling event is “Show and Tell: Tales of Treasured Objects.” All audience member are invited to bring a treasured object. We will have a table set up for audience members to display one of their objects. Bring a 3 x 5 card and write out the description, story, history, and/or meaning of your object. You can display your object for viewing by other audience members during intermission and after the show.  Make sure you place your name on the object as well.

Thursday, April 18, from 7 to 9pm at the Unitarian Fellowship, 87 Fourth St., in Ashland. Cost is $5. All proceeds to the Family Nurturing Center.

Show and Tell: True Tales of Treasured Objects April 18

Your grandfather’s watch. The arrowhead you found in 2nd grade. The necklace your boyfriend gave you. Your dad’s fiddle. The pressed flowers from your wedding. It’s time for Show and Tell: True Tales of Treasured Objects, an evening of local folks sharing true stories of the objects that have great meaning (and great stories) attached to them. Our spring storytelling event takes place Thursday, April 18 from 7 to 9pm at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall at 87 Fourth street in Ashland. Storytellers include Kevin Carr, Mark Gibson, Marla Estes, Jani Cochran, Joseph Linashke, and My-Linh Phan. Music by Jeff Kloetzel, Duane Whitcomb, and the Carr Family. All proceeds from the evening go to the Family Nurturing Center a powerful and beautiful organization in Medford that helps abused and neglected children.

All audience member are invited to bring a treasured object. We will have a table set up for audience members to display one of their treasured objects. Bring a 3 x 5 card and write out the description, story, history, and/or meaning of your object. We will have a table where you can display your object for viewing by other audience members during intermission and after the show.  Make sure you place your name on the object as well.

Huffington Post Article on The Hearth

Local Ashland resident Craig Comstock wrote a nice article on the Hearth as a model for building community. He refers to the Hearth as a “social invention” designed to help cultivate compassion, relationships, and dialogue. You can read the article here.  We’ve had inquiries on how other communities might develop a similar series. You can find a description of the workshop that Mark Yaconelli offers to other communities here.

Record Breaking Attendance at Bully Stories

Our January 24th  winter Hearth event drew over 240 in attendance raising funds and awareness for Mediation Works and their ChoicePoints bully prevention campaign as well as the teen theater program at Lotus Rising. Our next event will be April 18th. The theme is “Show and Tell: Stories of Treasured Objects” and the funds will go to The Family Nurture Center in Medford, Oregon. If you have a true story to tell, first person, based on this theme, email Mark Yaconelli at yaconelli@msn.com.

Daily Tidings Prints Front Page on Bully Stories

The Ashland Daily Tidings gave a preview for Bully Stories tomorrow night. Read stories from local kids and profiles of tomorrow nights tellers in the article here. For more information on tomorrow night’s event go here.

Bully Stories January 24th–NEW LOCATION

We’ve gathered seven brave tellers for a powerful night of true stories by bullies, the bullied, and bystanders. Tellers include locals Steve Roe, James di Properzio, Kyndra Laughery, Andrew Seles, Michael Fitzgerald, and Carolyn Anderson. Cost is $5 and all proceeds from the night will go to Mediation Works and their ChoicePoint bully prevention and bystander empowerment campaign. The event takes place 7 to 9pm, on Thursday January 24th at a NEW LOCATION provided by the Unitarian Fellowship at 87 Fourth street in Ashland. The evening will be hosted by Mark Yaconelli with music by Duane Whitcomb and friends. Bring family and friends as we increase our understanding of bullying and it’s effect on our community.