Storytelling Connects People of All Faiths

FSA members can benefit from grants.

Interfaith Story Circle     by Katie Green

Members of the Florida Storytelling Association are fortunate that our organization makes small grants available to support our efforts to bring storytelling to the community.  I was pleased to receive a member grant that supported my work to create the Dunedin Interfaith Story Circle.

Coming out of the COVID experience, and living through a period of political divisiveness, I think that people are longing of more interpersonal connection. Many people are living with feelings of fear and distrust.  Storytelling is an important tool for connecting people.  When we share stories, we gain understanding of others and more empathy.  Stereotypes and barriers can be reduced. 

Participants at the April Dunedin Interfaith Story Circle break into small groups to share their stories of childhood memories about the natural world. The April story theme was Stories from the Earth.

For the past six years, the churches in Dunedin have come together once a year for a United Faiths Walk of Peace. I believed that this loosely affiliated group, which was organized to promote peace, justice, mutual respect and increased knowledge of each other’s faith traditions . . ., provided fertile ground for an interfaith storytelling circle.

I called my friend, Marni Gillard, a storyteller from Schenectady NY. Marni was the initial energy behind two storytelling groups: Interfaith Story Circle and Children at the Well. These groups have been active for almost 30 years. www.withourvoice.org and www.childrenatthewell.org Marni and several other storytellers who are now active with these organizations encouraged me to start a group in Dunedin. I deeply appreciate the Florida Storytelling Association’s members grant for recognizing the time and energy I have I put into starting up a group here: Dunedin Interfaith Story Circle (DISC).

At the time of this writing (April 28, 2023), we have had two meetings.  The first was attended by 28 people, representing 8 faiths, and the second was attended by 40 people representing eleven faith groups. I believe this was partially possible because of my 5 year involvement in organizing the Walk of Peace and sharing a story at the event. The next DISC meeting will be held on May 23 at Masjid Al Salaam, the Islamic Society of North Pinellas. The theme will be Generosity. 

I am in the process of identifying a small group of people who will support DISC on a continuing basis.  DISC plans on meeting a different house of worship each month. We will assist each hosting site as they choose a theme and featured tellers. Music will be encouraged at each meeting.  After the featured tellers, the participants are invited to share stories. The shared stories may be stories from their faith tradition, from their experience or they may be a traditional tale that relates to the theme.

So far, the participants at DISC have been enthusiastic about the program.  There is interest in starting a youth storytelling program in the fall.   Time will tell how many people like DISC enough to continue coming. I encourage others to start story circles in their own communities. I am available to discuss my experience with anyone who may be interested.

I believe that stories can, and do, change the world.

Katie Green was the recipient of a $200 Teller Community Outreach Grant from FSA awarded this spring. The grants are available to members of the Florida Storytelling Association. The grants awarded in the spring and fall. They are funds that help promote the art and craft of storytelling in Florida. Members are eligible for one grant per year. For more information see the Grants section on this FSA website (Grants – Florida Storytelling Association (flstory.com)

Katie Green’s stories have delighted audiences from coast to coast for thirty years. Known for her skill in sharing the heart of a story with the heart of the listener, Katie brings characters to life with her vision, voice and movement. Katie lives in Dunedin, Fl. where is active in storytelling groups. Katie has performed and presented workshops at the Florida Storytelling Festival, National Storytelling Network, Sharing the Fire, Connecticut Storytelling Festival, Three Apples Storytelling Festival, Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Center, Friends General Gathering (Quaker), and hundreds of libraries, schools, and museums.