BEARING WITNESS: A CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION & AUCTION.
Presented by Center for Story & Witness in partnership with Art Works for Change; curated by Randy Jayne Rosenberg in alliance with Tiphanie Spencer-Babinet.
Fall/Winter 2026
Chicago, IL
Event details TBA
THE HAROLD WASHINGTON LITERARY AWARDS: A PRINTERS ROW LIT FEST EVENT.
Keynote TBA; Co-Chairs Anne K. Ream of Center for Story & Witness & Rosellen Brown of Art Institute of Chicago to give opening remarks.
September 2026
The Union League Club
Chicago, IL
Event details TBA
CREATIVE INTERRUPTION: THE THEOLOGY OF PEACE CONFERENCE.
Center for Story & Witness co-founders Anne K. Ream and R. Clifton Spargo and ethicist and theologian Wolfgang Palaver are keynote presenters.
July 7, 2026
9A – 5P CST
DePaul Center
Chicago, IL
AI FOR PEACE IN THE GLOBAL RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: A DAY LONG CONFERENCE ON THE MARGINS OF THE UN’s 70TH SESSION OF COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
Organized by Apne Aap, Microsoft and AI for Good; Anne K. Ream, Center for Story & Witness, is a featured panelist.
March 11, 2026
Microsoft, Times Square
New York City, NY
(or online)
SIXTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LAW CONFERENCE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Esther Salas, United States District Court Judge; Anne K. Ream, Center for Story & Witness, to receive the 2026 Epiq Women Award for Justice and Advocacy.
March 10, 2026
New York City Bar Association
New York City, NY
TELL THE STORY, BE THE CHANGE: A presentation on the power of storytelling in partnership with the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).
Feb. 11, 2026
Virtual
Closed Event
THE STORIES WE TELL: A testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence.
Nov. 8 & 9, 2025
FreeFrom
Los Angeles, CA
Closed Application
THE STORIES WE TELL: A testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence.
Oct. 25 & 26, 2025
Sanctuary for Families
New York City, NY
THE STORIES WE TELL: A testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence.
Oct. 11 & 12, 2025
The Jackson School at Yale University
New Haven, CT
THE STORIES WE TELL: A testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence.
October 3 & 4, 2025
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Alexandria, VA
Closed Application
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE & JOY: How survivors of gender-based violence are changing the world, and themselves, by sharing their stories. A keynote presentation by Anne K. Ream.
September 30, 2025
ICASA Statewide Conference
Springfield, IL
THE STORIES WE TELL: A testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence.
Sept. 13 & 14, 2025
The Jensen Project
Dallas, TX
THE FUTURE ISN’T GOING TO WRITE ITSELF: A Center for Story & Witness dialogue dialogue on using story to create social change featuring Jimmie Briggs, Ruchira Gupta, Anne K. Ream, and R. Clifton Spargo.
Sept. 6, 2025
4P-5P
THE HAROLD WASHINGTON LITERARY AWARDS: Keynote by National Book Critics Circle Award-winner Sandra Cisneros; opening remarks by Selection Committee Co-Chairs Anne K. Ream & Bette Cerf Hill.
Sept. 5, 2025
THE POWER TO CHANGE: Healing through storytelling in Morocco (a partnership with IREX and the US State Department)
July 26 & 27, 2025
Collaboration for Community Impact
Marrakech, Morocco
A STORY CHANGES EVERYTHING: Healing Ourselves & Transforming Our World Through the Power of Narrative. A conversation between actress and StoryFinder CEO Ivana de Maria; and author and Center for Story & Witness Founder Anne K. Ream.
June 6, 2025
CREATING AN EXPLOITATION FREE SEATTLE: A presentation & dialogue on bringing The Ugly Truth anti-trafficking campaign to Greater Seattle/King County.
May 30, 2025
Rotary Club of The Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking
Seattle, WA
THE FUTURE ISN’T GOING TO WRITE ITSELF: A conversation about story, social justice and the art of bearing witness with Center for Story & Witness leaders R. Clifton Spargo, Anne K. Ream and Jimmie Briggs, and moderator Jamia Wilson
May 22, 2025
Events @ Stone Park
Brooklyn, NY
Created to honor the legacy of the beloved educator, advocate, and Center for Story & Witness supporter, the Mimi Taylor Grimes Scholarship Fund takes its inspiration from Mimi’s deeply held belief that in order to heal, survivors first need to be heard. Our 2025 class of Mimi Scholars are living that legacy. These...
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At a time when funding for survivor-centered organizations is tightening, public conversations about basic rights are increasingly polarized, and those of us doing work at the intersection of art, advocacy, and social justice are under unprecedented attack, the mission of...
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Today, more than ever, the stories of those most impacted by social injustice need to be heard. But how do we challenge those who seek to “disappear” stories that speak truth to power? And how can we use our own...
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We know from history and social justice movements that stories are among our most powerful tools for creating social change....
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When Sandra Cisneros, an icon of American arts and letters, received the 2025 Harold Washington Literary Award last month, book...
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Today, more than ever, the voices of those most impacted by social injustice need to be heard. But how do...
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Developed to help those who have lived through or witnessed gender-based violence or other human rights violations use their voices,...
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Apply today for The Stories We Tell, Center for Story & Witness’s award-winning testimonial writing program for those who...
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Center for Story & Witness is excited to announce The Power to Change, a groundbreaking storytelling and narrative advocacy initiative...
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