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It’s community building, it’s networking, it’s spiritual growth. It’s one of the best programs I have ever done.

Liz Munoz, Oakland, CA
I learned my story matters which has given me confidence and bravery in my personal and professional life.
Robbie Goldman, Denver, CO
Not only will you become a better storyteller, you will learn how to use story as a great democratizing force within your community.
Fumiaki Tosu, Portland, OR
The Certificate in Community Storytelling provides practical tools that draw individuals and communities together in meaningful and healing ways.
Shannon Savage-Howe Thousand Oaks, CA

2024 Certificate in Community Storytelling

SUNDAY, APRIL 21- FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024

Improve your storytelling skills while learning how to build and strengthen community within a transformative, collaborative, and supportive learning environment. The Certificate in Community Storytelling is for anyone interested in learning how to use the power of personal storytelling to heal, enrich, and mobilize communities for good.

The training is a one-week long intensive April 21-26, 2024. The training involves lectures, narrative exercises, small group sharing, and group discussion. This year’s training will be held in a retreat-like setting on the edge of the Columbia Gorge just 30 minutes outside Portland, Oregon.

In addition to the week long intensive, participants will receive four months of online group teaching (90 minute gatherings once a month) and three personal story coaching sessions via zoom or phone with one of our story coaches. In order to receive certification, participants will be required to design and complete a community storytelling project with individual coaching and mentorship by Hearth facilitators. Participants will present their projects at a final zoom meeting in September 2024.

Individuals who complete the certification course will:

  • Understand how stories function in our personal and public lives
  • Learn how to create transformative events that deepen relationships within a local community or organization
  • Explore narrative practices that promote individual growth, social awareness, and community action
  • Learn how to create a variety of public story-sharing platforms that engender trust and vulnerability
  • Gain concrete skills for community storytelling including story recruitment, event promotion, audience building, public participation, media integration, and fundraising
  • Learn how to craft personal stories for speaking, teaching, and facilitation
  • Increase skills for coaching groups and individuals in personal storytelling
  • Discover methods for amplifying the voice of marginalized populations
  • Learn how to apply storytelling techniques within families, friendships, and other informal gatherings

The Certificate in Community Storytelling is ideal for nonprofit staff, social entrepreneurs, government officials, educators, parents, ministers, therapists, journalists, artists, social justice activists, and anyone seeking to strengthen families, local communities, or charitable organizations. Registration is limited to thirty-one participants.

Dates

April 21-26, 2024: Certificate in Community Storytelling Training

  • Check In: Sunday, April 21st at 5pm (Creevey Commons Meeting Room)
  • Monday – Thursday 9am-5pm (Lunch 12-2)
  • Check Out: Friday, April 26th at 11am

May – August: monthly 90 minute webinars (Scheduled via Doodle Poll post-training)
Friday, September 27th, 2024 2-5pm: Final meeting via Zoom: project presentations.

Location and Transportation

Menucha Retreat and Conference Center (Corbett, Oregon). A 30 minute drive from Portland, Oregon.
38711 E, Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett, OR 97019
Please visit this page for detailed directions.

Portland International Airport is closest to the retreat center.
We will organize a shuttle from PDX to Menucha in the early afternoon of Sunday, April 21rd and from Menucha to PDX at 12pm on Friday, April 28th.

If you need transportation to or from the airport, please email susannah@thehearthcommunity.com with your flight times as soon as you register.

Tuition
Get $200 off of tuition when you register before December 29th, 2023!

  • Early Bird Tuition Special: $1150
  • Regular Tuition Cost: $1350
  • Non-refundable deposit: $250

For scholarship inquiries please visit this page.

Lodging and Meals

Participants can opt for a single or double room at the The Menucha Retreat and Conference Center. **Single rooms are limited** If you are interested in a single room, register early to secure your spot. Once singles are filled we will be only offering doubles. Meals will start with dinner on Sunday, April 21st and end with breakfast on Friday, April 26th.

  • Single room w/meals included: $860 ($600 for single room + $260 for meals)
  • Double room w/meals included: $560 ($300 for double room + $260 for meals)
  • Commute w/all meals included: $370 ($110 for facilities fee + $260 for meals)
  • Commute w/o meals: $110 (for facilities fee)

*If you choose a double room, please specify in the comment box if you have someone else registering that you want to room with. If you have more than one person attending with you, arrangements and pricing can be arranged for a triple occupancy room. Please email susannah@thehearthcommunity.com*

*If you choose to commute to the training, please email susannah@thehearthcommunity.com.*

Tuition is separate from lodging and meals.

Additional Information:
To Pay Your Balance:

If you are already registered and wish to make your final payment, please click on the link below to pay with PayPal or a credit card (checkout as Guest):