Dates: Wednesdays, November 1, 8, 15, and 29 (skips 11/22) || 6:30-8:30pm
Location: SE Uplift || 3534 SE Main St
$149, individual rate || $229, organization rate || Discounted Tuition available

It's easy to feel powerless in our current climate: we hear heartbreaking stories in the media and on the streets, but don't know how to act. But what if we had the power to change the script and add our own stories to the world? In this course, we will examine how stories personally affect us and advance a better society. Cognitive linguistics research and social movements throughout history prove that stories inspire true change. By advocating for new narratives and making them visible to mainstream culture, we can call others to action.  

Over four weeks, seasoned storytellers Matt Kinshella and Sara Guest will help students flesh out stories of their own, understand the complex roots of social movements, and challenge preconceived notions along the way. Their storytelling has elevated the profile of social services and motivated people to take action in their communities. Matt and Sara will teach you to tell compelling stories, and even change the course of history.

Week One: Our Stories, Our Movements, and Our Values

Week Two: Honing your Big Idea

Week Three: Changing the Landscape and Prototyping Your Story

Week Four: The Battle of the Story

Matt Kinshella is a communications and technology professional that has spent the past 10 years helping nonprofits, advocates and government tell stories. He's trained hundreds of people to use cognitive linguistics principles for strategic communications, he's also trained on social media and innovation. Matt has worked in Washington DC and Portland. He now works for Multnomah County and lives in NE Portland with his family.

Sara Guest, MA is a poet, literary facilitator, Delve guide with Literary Arts and volunteer facilitator with Write Around Portland. She has been lecturing and leading community-oriented literary courses for 20 years.