On June 10 at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, The Moth will be hosting a virtual workshop focused on memory and personal narrative. Two-time Moth StorySLAM winner Janel Schermerhorn shares why she values the storytelling approach of The Moth.
The Moth reminds us all that our stories matter — and those stories need to be told. I am inspired by how the organization facilitates storytelling by encouraging others to join in the process together — and proud to say that I’ve taken part in the process myself.
I’ve been part of The Moth community for years. I’ve attended workshops as a storyteller, and events as a listener. I’ve shared stories that made an impact on me — and I’ve sat in audiences listening to people talk about moments that meant so much, they needed to be shared. Sometimes those moments were funny. Sometimes they were heartbreaking. Even more often, they were an uneven balance of the two… And those are the stories that captivate.
What I’ve learned is that storytelling isn’t really about performance. It’s about preserving perspective. This upcoming information session will give participants an overview of The Moth’s approach to storytelling while offering the opportunity to discover potential story ideas and a chance to learn more about an upcoming workshop tied to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
I think the fact that this workshop is being offered in conjunction with the museum is an important one; I believe this event will be valuable for attendees in the way that it will prompt them to view their own personal experiences within the context of a larger narrative — reminding us of our continued connection to each other and to major events.
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