In A Nutshell:

         Storytelling has played a key role in Heart & Soul Community Planning:
         in early identification of Heart & Soul community values and emerging issues as well as in
         building trust and relationships for a long term planning process and community action. Story
         interviews and story circles have formed the backbone of the Heart & Soul storytelling values
         identification process, as they actively give individuals a chance to voice their own experience of
         the town and to connect with their neighbors. These detailed stories, shared with the community
         and the wider world, illuminate nuanced perspectives on quality of life in the community and
         provide a unique context and narrative for the traditional quantitative data relied on in a planning

         process. (from Orton's upcoming Storytelling Discussion Paper)

Here are several reasons why to incorporate storytelling into your community project:

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Storytelling draws in more voices. Most planning processes are not inviting to people
who may not have experience with land use issues or who do not feel comfortable
speaking up at the typical public hearing. Storytelling, on the other hand, allows anyone
to share their perceptions in a form that is common across cultures. And stories provide a
human face to the complex challenges facing communities today.

Example:  Coromandel Project from New Zealand

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Storytelling creates connections. Storytelling can bring to life shared experiences
and community values and can be an effective way to build common ground among
individuals who typically do not connect. Stories can provide a common text for spurring
community dialogue about decisions for the future.

Example: Damariscotta, Maine (Orton Heart & Soul Community)

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Storytelling builds empathy. How many times have you read a book or watched
a movie and found yourself understanding a character that is so different from you?
Listening to someone else’s story allows us to be open to their views; it gives us a space
to reflect on their perspective and grow to see new possibilities. Storytelling can embrace
contradictory perspectives in a non-confrontational environment and promote active
listening.

Example:  Biddeford, Maine (Orton Heart & Soul Community)

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Storytelling reveals our values. The collection of community stories reveals strong
common values for what draws residents and businesses to stay in the community
as well as what the challenges are for staying. It taps local wisdom and local knowledge.

It can also highlight any disconnect or contradictions between various
groups and/or individuals. Story creates a context and deeper understanding to what
is important to our quality of life and whether it is perceived as eroding or improving.

Example: Victor, Idaho (Orton Heart & Soul Community)

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Storytelling teaches us the consequences of our actions. Telling stories can illustrate
how a community has changed over time. Stories can honor and illuminate the past
and allow us to trace the roots of how we came to be who and what we are today.

Example:  Golden, Colorado (Orton Heart & Soul Community)

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Storytelling can give us hope for the future. A story can also speak to our aspirations
for the future in a way that invites others to feel connected to and share in that vision.

Example: Glasgow 2020

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Storytelling engages youth. Storytelling can be easily integrated with school curriculum
and gives visibility to youth voices. It connects youth with the broader community and
multi-generational activities and discussions.

Example:  Biddeford, Maine  and Departures by KCET and L.A. community

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Storytelling is action. Through the process of telling our stories and listening to
others’ stories, we have an impact on our surroundings, we take a stand, we matter, we
participate in our community. Our stories become a part of the living community archive.

Example: Starksboro, Vermont (Orton Art & Soul Project)

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Storytelling distributes and values local knowledge. Through our stories we come to

understand the gifts and expertise held by the community.  Stories invite us to become apprentices

to one another. 

Example: East Somerville, MA Storymapping Project

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Storytelling helps us to share our community with the world. By sharing our stories beyond our

community, we invite newcomers and visitors, and we mentor other communities as we

invite them to mentor us.

Example:  Orton's Community Almanac

(Adapted and expanded from Orton's upcoming Storytelling Discussion Paper)