IT ALL STARTED WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION...
Can storytelling deepen
community connections?
On Saturday, September 28th, 2024, Anna Julia Cooper School and Virginia Commonwealth University hosted a Narrative 4 Story Exchange to foster partnerships, deepen understanding, and identify community connections between the two schools and community stakeholders.
EXPLORE THE RESULTS
EXPLORE THE RESULTS
In a Narrative 4 Story Exchange, individuals tell a partner a true story from their own life based on one of several prompts. Then, in a larger group of 10–15 people, participants tell their partner’s story as if it were their own.
The Richmond Story Exchange was held at Anna Julia Cooper School and supported by a VCU Division of Community Engagement Academic-Community Partnerships Planning Grant, participants included AJC families, staff, and administrators; VCU faculty, students, and Community Engagement grantees and their community partners. From the community, there were participants from the worlds of healthcare, education, nutrition, the arts, and environmental stewardship. Thirty-five people in all joined to share their stories.
LEARN MORE
The Richmond Story Exchange prompts below were inspired by the eight VCU community engagement priority areas:
- Tell the story of a time you realized how much community matters.
- Tell the story of a time you had to give or receive care.
- Tell the story of a time you spoke up for something or someone.
- Tell the story of experiencing and meeting–or failing to meet–a need.
- Tell an embarrassing story of a time when you were younger.
- Tell the story of a time someone believed in you.
- Tell the story of a time you celebrated a part of your identity.
- Tell the story of a momentous learning experience–either in or out of school.
- If you don't have a story that responds to one of these prompts, we look forward to hearing any true story from your life that you're inspired to share!
Featuring Narrative 4 Facilitators Sean Cain, Elizabeth Johnson, and Summer Payne, with additional facilitators Susan Barstow and Hope Ginsburg, and interviewees Justin Walker, Riley Ely, Katelyn Schifano, Treyonne Harris, and Leilei Xia.
Special thanks to Tanisha Moyer, AJC Lower School Administrator and Head of Parent Council, Mike Maruca, AJC Head of School, and Jennifer Curtis, VCUarts Department of Kinetic Imaging Administrative Coordinator. Documentation and editing by Njood Albawardi and Layan Aljambi, BFA candidates in the Department of Kinetic Imaging at VCU School of the Arts, with the support of Cabell Library Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian Oscar Keyes. Additional video design by Katie Pelikan.
Special thanks to Tanisha Moyer, AJC Lower School Administrator and Head of Parent Council, Mike Maruca, AJC Head of School, and Jennifer Curtis, VCUarts Department of Kinetic Imaging Administrative Coordinator. Documentation and editing by Njood Albawardi and Layan Aljambi, BFA candidates in the Department of Kinetic Imaging at VCU School of the Arts, with the support of Cabell Library Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian Oscar Keyes. Additional video design by Katie Pelikan.