Sunday, September 17, 2 – 5 pm at Desert Palm UCC

UPDATE: The storytelling event has been expanded to become intergenerational because we received some parent/adult interest. So anyone -- adults and teens --can participate.

Tempe’s Desert Palm is hosting an open invitation to Phoenix-area sister campuses to participate in a free storytelling workshop. The interfaith workshop in Desert Palm’s sanctuary will be led by master storytellers, Rev. Doug Bland and Storytelling Institute Faculty Director Liz Warren. Participants ages 12+ will learn how to brainstorm, craft and share at least a 5-minute story on stage. (Pizza, drinks and dessert will be served after the workshop.)

Participants can then demonstrate their new skills in front of family, friends and the church community during a special, TBA StorySlam! The evening event will feature voluntary workshop students taking the stage to share their polished story. After the show, light refreshments will be served.

Storytelling has demonstrated an ability to foster connections among teens and trusted adults, encourage discussion of challenging topics and aid healing with narrative medicine. We hope this fast-paced, creative, no-pressure activity will promote awareness about the current teen mental health crisis, and provide space for youth to tell their stories, their way.

Questions? Email Desert Palm’s Christian Education director Sonja Haller at sonja@desertpalmucc.org or Rev. Dr. Tom Martinez at revtom@desertpalmucc.org.