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
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
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
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
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 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 STORIES WE TELL: A testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence.
Sept. 13 & 14, 2025
The Jensen Project
Dallas, TX
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.
October 3 & 4, 2025
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Alexandria, VA
Closed Application
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.
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.
Nov. 8 & 9, 2025
FreeFrom
Los Angeles, CA
Closed Application
BEARING WITNESS:
A contemporary art exhibition & auction, presented in partnership with Art Works for Change and curated by Randy Jayne Rosenberg.
Fall/Winter 2025
Chicago, IL
Event details TBA
We know from history and social justice movements that stories are among our most powerful tools for creating social change. But how does the act of sharing the truths we’ve lived or witnessed alter the person doing the truth-telling? What impact can “activist storytelling” have on personal healing? How do we challenge those...
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Sandra Cisneros, the acclaimed poet, short story writer, novelist, and essayist, has been selected to receive the 2025 Harold Washington Literary Award. This prestigious award, named for Chicago’s first Black mayor, will be presented by Chicago’s Near South Planning...
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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, faces, and stories to call the public to greater compassion and — more importantly — social action, our Center for...
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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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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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Anne K. Ream, co-founder of Center for Story & Witness, was recently part of a powerful strategy day held in...
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Melva “Mimi” Taylor Grimes – an activist and educator who taught for three decades in Chicago-area elementary schools before becoming...
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We know from history and social justice movements – particularly the movement to end human trafficking – that the stories...
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