We know there are a lot of webinars and online workshops you can attend. What makes this afternoon different?
First, this summit was created specifically for the social impact community during this time of global upheaval. This isn't general advice or high level inspirational speeches (your work is inspiration enough). All our Summit speakers are bringing tools, how-to's or advice to the table. You will have lots of time to interact with our featured speakers and each other before and after the summit. We want to help transform your storytelling work as we all adapt to the new reality.
Also, each presentation was designed to expand your social impact storytelling toolkit. We know your time is valuable and we want to make sure you and your team find value in each 40 minute session. There will be time for breaks, stretches and reflection. Register for your free or pay-what-you wish ticket now!
2:00 - 2:45 EST (11:00 PST)
Ryan McMahon is a globally accomplished storyteller charting new paths for his community and bringing a unique perspective to media making.
He is an Anishinaabe comedian, writer, and media maker from Couchiching First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory. Ryan talks, yells, and writes for a living. Ryan tours North America independently with his irreverent, nuanced and boundary-pushing storytelling comedic style. In 2012, McMahon became the first native comedian to ever record a mainstream comedy special with the CBC, when he recorded, “Ryan McMahon - UnReserved.”
When not standing on a stage making strangers laugh he’s usually making podcasts. McMahon’s podcasts - Thunder Bay, Red Man Laughing and Stories From The Land - have garnered millions of downloads globally. Thunder Bay, a podcast deep dive into the legacy of colonialism on a small city in Canada, was named to dozens of “Best Of” podcast lists, including lists in the Globe and Mail, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. McMahon is the CEO of the Makoons Media Group, an Indigenous media company committed to telling Indigenous stories to worldwide audiences. His current focus is continuing to build Indian & Cowboy, the world’s only member-supported Indigenous podcast network.
4:45 pm EST (1:45 PST)
The art of drag has been raising money at the grassroots for decades and we are so excited that one of the most successful drag queen philanthropists is joining us at the Summit!
Andrew Levitt has been performing in central Ohio and around the United States for the last 18 years, doing regional theatre and of course, drag. As Nina West, he has produced over 35 main stage production shows and raised over three million dollars for local and national charities through his charitable fund The Nina West Foundation. He rose to national prominence with his appearance on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where he placed sixth and won Miss Congeniality.
The Nina West Fund, established at The Columbus Foundation in 2015, the only "drag-queen-supported fund of its kind" in the U.S. The fund has raised more than $3 million, supporting charities such as the ACLU of Ohio, Dress for Success Columbus, Equitas Health and Kaleidoscope Youth Center (the largest LGBTQIA youth center in Ohio).
He has received the Create Columbus Commission Visionary Award from the Columbus City Council and an equality award from the Human Rights Campaign Columbus chapter.
Getting our social impact messages heard isn’t easy at the best of times, it’s getting even harder during this global crisis. One of the comments we hear most often from friends in the social-purpose sector is that they want better “storytelling abilities.” This is exactly what this afternoon of skills-building is about.
We will learn from some of the very best social impact storytellers in North America. Together, it’s our goal to:
Share what’s working (and what’s not) as we adapt our social impact storytelling work in this era of physical distancing and pandemic-awareness
Learn how to build bridges to new communities when we can’t shake hands and visit; to tell more inclusive stories and to make more people feel welcome in our spaces, real and virtual
Create a space for co-learning and interaction with experts in social impact storytelling that leads to the creation of new stories with impact
Helen leads the Laboratory for Artistic Intelligence. An inter/transdisciplinary artist-researcher, Helen makes installations, interactions and interventions. She creates and curates exhibitions, as well ass designs environments and performances (theatre, dance, digital, live art).
Amara supports organizations that are building a just and caring society. She is a professor at Seneca College and was a board member at the Center for Story-based Strategy. She has built capacity in the climate movement for over a decade. She also helped mobilize community response to the pandemic.
A member of Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Sheila North was Grand Chief of MKO from 2015 – 2018. Sheila North worked as a journalist at CBC and CTV, an entrepreneur, a Cree translator, economic development officer and radio personality. Sheila is also an accomplished filmmaker and commentator.
Celina helps organizations create more inclusive and equitable spaces by challenging the notion of diversity as a goal. Diversity is ubiquitous. Equity and inclusion require intentional, sustained and measurable work to build capacity and transform systems.
Author of Boys: What it Means to Become a Man. It won the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing and was one of the Globe and Mail’s top 100 books of 2018. She is also making change at Xtra, Canada's LGBTQ2S online magazine and community platform.
Dr. Kapoor is a public policy expert and is the founder of Sayfty, a non-profit dedicated to educating and empowering women and girls in India. Sayfty aims to create awareness of the laws and legal rights regarding the issues of violence against women.
Teddy is an Anishnabek 2-spirit/queer storyteller and advocate from Batchewana First Nation. They want to take down misogynistic, racist, homophobic, elitist patriarchs and systems. Teddy’s background is in social work, theatre and bingo.
Uma Gahd is everybody's favourite unofficial auntie. A Broadway babe with a penchant for classic pop culture. She's performed on stages across Montreal with her high energy concept, and hilarious numbers and hosting. Uma is also an engaged community advocate.
Selma is here to help you unlock your full potential to annihilate your haters and protect your loved ones. She is the producer and manager of House of Laureen. She will cut a deal with the devil and come out victorious; she is the mistress of business.
Dibs is a fitness professional from Sydney, Australia who loves spreading knowledge about holistic health. They identify as gender diverse and specialize in training vulnerable members of the LGBTIQA+ community, as well as our wonderful allies.
Anthony says he's an idealistic pragmatic optimist. He is the originator of At Home in New Haven, a virtual stage and gathering place. It was built in direct response to COVID-19 to showcase and support artists, makers, healers, nonprofits, and small businesses.
Jessica is an impact architect specializing in social innovation and experience design strategy. She bridges the worlds of design and business to create meaningful experiences and products. She is also a passionate Climate Reality Project activist.
Shawn is a social impact journalist, broadcaster and co-founder of Secret Agents. He worked as a federal communications executive for over a decade; a news anchor and is a past president of the parliamentary Press Gallery. He is an expert at communicating public policy. He will be hosting the Summit.
Ian is the producer of the Social Impact Storytelling Summit. He is a strategist, social entrepreneur and passionate about making social innovation more equitable and ethical. He is active in the emerging field of social impact strategy and measurement. Reach out to Ian with questions about the Summit.
The Social Impact Storytelling Summit will have a private Facebook group active before, during and after the event. This group will be a hub for conversation, resource files and another way to meet other attendees. After the Summit some of the sessions will also be posted here.
This isn’t a webinar! We want you to meet each other. After the sessions are over, we’ll be hosting small break out rooms where we can connect and unwind. You will be able to move from room to room. Some spaces will be designated for "shop talk" and others for relaxing/music. Kids and pets welcome!
We are looking forward to hosting an educational and collaborative afternoon. Kids and pets more than welcome!
Storytellers are needing to rethink traditional methods and outreach strategies. This panel will feature advice on how to adapt and thrive in your practice in the post-COVID19 world.Our guests are emergent strategists and experts in creating narratives for change. Each has adapted their skills in unique ways during this global crisis. Learn how to pivot your storytelling practice.
Ryan is a social innovator, comedian and top-rated podcaster. His podcasts (Thunder Bay, Red Man Laughing and Stories From The Land, Think Indigenous) have been downloaded millions of times globally.Like his comedy style, Ryan keeps things loose and interactive and would prefer to talk with our guests rather than at them. Bring your best questions for Ryan and he’ll bring out his best stories.
Too much screen time leads to less moving around. Let's loosen up a little with some stretches for all - bring your kids and pets too!
Are you accidentally excluding people with your stories or marketing? Maximize your impact or fundraising through ‘inclusion.’ Lessons from the LGBTQ2S communities on how to make everyone feel welcome.
Telling difficult stories and creating powerful narratives takes skill. In this session, be inspired by three women who have stayed true to their core values while representing others on the international stage.
During the Summit, we’ll be taking notes on key points and polling you on your views. We’ll share what we heard.
This isn’t a webinar! We want you to meet each other. After the sessions are over, we’ll be hosting small break out rooms where we can connect and unwind.
The Summit is 100% free. However, if you or your organization is in a position to help offset the costs, please use the pay-what-you-wish function. If we gather more than the total cost of the gathering, the extra will be donated to the Center for Story-based Strategy.
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