The collecting and sharing of people’s stories has been a part of human history since the dawn of time, and yet many believe that the art of storytelling -- and, perhaps more importantly that of communication -- is slowly being lost. Pinning the world’s problems on a breakdown in communication is a bit of an oversimplification, but we do know that good communication is key to finding solutions. We won’t be tackling the world’s problems at this Topical Tea, however, but will start a little closer to home!
With Thanksgiving, koselig hytte weekends, and winter holidays right around the corner, opportunities for family togetherness and story-sharing abound. The focus of this Topical Tea is on preserving the stories we love to hear … or bringing those that have long lain dormant in our families’ collective memories out into the open. Whether it’s getting friend-of-the-family Dorothy to open up about preparing Thanksgiving dinner using war-time rations, asking Grandpa Ned to tell again how he saved a neighbor from a rhinoceros attack, or uncovering the story behind the set of china that always comes out around the holidays, Nicole Gallicchio will share some of the tricks and tools she’s learned during her many years as an ethnographer (essentially, a professional story collector and analyser) to help us collect those stories.
We will learn: - How to ask the right questions - How to be a good listener - The difference between listening and hearing - How to approach your story “hunt” - What to do with the stories once they’ve been collected - Why people’s stories are important
Whether you have a story you’ve long been wanting to “collect” from a friend or family member, or you’d simply like to learn how to enhance your communication with those around you, please join us!
Funds raised from this event will support the FAWCO Target project, Hope Beyond Displacement. For more information about the project, please click here.
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