Instructor: Vanessa Vartabedian
Mondays* & Tuesdays
November 4 - 19
5 sessions (*no class Monday, Nov 11)
9am - 12pm
Location: Main Campus, 10 Meetinghouse Road

The power of storytelling is immense. Storytelling creates community and offers catharsis. It bridges the individual with the universal and reveals our shared humanity, building space for belonging and new conversations. Storytelling is healing, it is art, love, activism and personal growth. Storytelling has the potential for profound impact for both the teller and listener alike. Many people think they don’t have any “good” stories to tell, or that if they do, they are not worth sharing. Trust me, you do, and they are.

Investigating and telling our own stories is risky, courageous, and requires deep curiosity. Sharing these stories with others is an act of self-love and selflessness.

There is a cultural longing to connect. In an increasingly digital world, our personal connections have become highly mediated, leaving us less connected than ever. so it’s no surprise that people are hungry for experiences such as live storytelling events, like The Mosquito Story Slam, which has presented to sold-out audiences for the past 10 years.

There is a cultural-longing and need, to share our experiences with one another. In 2023, the US. surgeon general, Vivek Murthy declared a national loneliness and social isolation epidemic throughout the country.

Whether you are preparing for the TED stage, are an aspiring story slam participant, or want to connect your professional mission to your purpose, sharing your personal stories can build trust, cultivate empathy and offer humor. Come create the story you want to tell in a supportive, results-oriented, playful and fun environment.

Vanessa Vartabedian is the Creator and Producer of the Mosquito Story Slam and podcast which takes place across Cape Cod. Currently in its11th year, The Mosquito has presented hundreds of stories to thousands of audience member. Vanessa knows the intimate truth of what makes a compelling story and how to tell it. She coaches groups and individuals in live storytelling, corporate speaking, presenter preparation, artists and writers, including journalists screenwriters, and more. She has over 20 years of experience as a teacher and served as faculty at Lesley University and Emerson College where she taught Filmmaking and Television Production. Vanessa regularly teaches The Art and Craft of Live Storytelling at Truro Center for the Arts, online and at other esteemed institutions. She has shared her own stories at The Moth in Los Angeles and Boston, and regularly on The Mosquito stage. She is also a filmmaker

This workshop was great for improving my confidence and communication skills.
– Sandra P

As someone who has to often speak in front of groups, Vanessa’s teaching and constructive feedback helped me identify ways I can more effectively bring the intimacy of storytelling into my mission-driven work, whether it’s in a staff meeting or a large event. I can also easily see utilizing her course material in other formats. I would highly recommend Vanessa’s course.

- Kevin McAteer Jamaica Plain / Wellfleet, MA

The experience of telling my first personal story in front of strangers was so satisfying that I was motivated and confident enough to try writing my first novel!

– Judith Greenberg