A big thank you to the Ronni S. Lacroute Fund and City Arts for supporting this project!

Stories have power to heal. Stories can effect change between differing peoples and give them some common understanding. Personal stories especially have the power to change lives.

In an effort to find more common ground between artists, educators, blue collar workers, disenfranchised community members and divided communities, MediaRites will produce The -Ism Storytellers Project.

Five storytellers will meet in a community setting in each event. It could be a theater, a community room, a library or living room. Storytellers will mix performers, artists and writers with community people to tell 10- minute stories of Courage, Grace and Grit. These stories are meant to evoke more universal ties between audience members who may open up with their own stories in a conversational format.

The -Ism Storytellers Project is an evolution from the original The -Ism Project of touring monologues in 2018. It combines inspiration from the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project in which Roberts worked as a conversation leader for over two years in many rural Oregon communities. The -Ism Storytellers combines a parlor theater experience with audience open-mic and dialogue.

This program will include eight events led by eight different host/producers. Locations may include Portland, Salem, Silverton, Newberg, the Dalles and Eugene. Stay tuned for more specifics as we get closer!