Workshop ‘Folklore and Social Justice’

Use of old stories for awareness and change on societal challenges

About the workshop: 

Fairytales can engage us in the imaginary and hopeful. Folktales also give us glimpses into cultural thoughts and norms. This session will combine hopes and cultural thoughts to address social justice issues, like suicide, PTSD, poverty, immigration, race reconciliation, etc. Hear a story combining a fairy tale and a current issue, and then join a group discussion and brainstorm how we can use the oldest stories as vehicles for awareness and change.

Bio: 

Sheila Arnold has a talent for storytelling, a passion for history, and a compassion for people. She provides Storytelling, Historic Character Presentations, Christian Monologues, and Professional Development for schools, festivals, churches, and organizations nationally and internationally.  She is co-founder and Artistic Director of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST), a source of inspiration, strength and action in the storytelling world.  Sheila has bee honored as a co-recipient of the 2021 National Storytelling Network Distinguished Service Award, 2021 MacDowell Artist Fellow, a 2020 Mt. Vernon Research Fellow and a 2019 Hewnoaks Artist Colony summer residence Noted Artist. Sheila lives in Hampton, VA near her son, grandsons, and parents.

Workshop in English