The Young Appalachian Story Summit is free for Young Adult future leaders to engage. (Photo from 2018 Summit
JONESBOROUGH, TN (Aug. 1, 2021) – The 2021 Young Appalachian Story Summit (YASS), will be from 9 am to 4:30 pm., Saturday, August 14, at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee. It’s all free of charge thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
YASS focuses on how young adults (ages 18-25) living in the Appalachian region can use storytelling as a leadership tool to help create Appalachia’s future. The immediate target area is Central Appalachia (e.g. Northeast Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and Northwest North Carolina), the Summit is open to all those who live and work within any of the 13 Appalachian states.
The theme of the day-long workshop-intensive 2021 Summit is “Crossroads” aimed to empower historically marginalized youth of Appalachia, to combine their voices and the power of storytelling to cultivate unity amidst global unease.
Participants will hear from diverse voices within Appalachia with results of how storytelling can promote action in their own communities, and join a collaborative network of like-minded young Appalachians for support beyond the event.
The theme of Crossroads addresses the intersection of who we are and how we can engage our voices in a broader community. Through workshops, networking, panel discussions, and story circles, participants will collaboratively explore their own strengths at each of these “crossroads” and to develop concrete ways to apply their strengths as tools in life, work and their communities.
More information, including free event registration here. The Young Appalachian Story Summit is a grant-funded initiative, there is no registration fee.
The Young Appalachian Story Summit is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant supported the launch of a five-year endowment-building project to culminate in an International Year of the Story during the 50th anniversary of the National Storytelling Festival.
Finding Your Workshops (10 – 11am)
1A– Finding Your Flavor with Jose Castillo: In this hands-on workshop you will find your unique flavor and learn how to craft an honest, compelling story that will help you communicate your vision with the world, with host and entrepreneur Jose Castillo.
1B- Finding Your Story with Kiran Singh Sirah: Work on crafting your unique story to build connections with those around you and envision a better world with President of the International Storytelling Center and peacebuilder, Kiran Singh Sirah.
1C- Finding Your Hustle with Katelyn Yarborough: Learn about stepping into your vision and creating opportunities with Jonesborough’s Eureka Inn Keeper and operator of Side Hustle Custom Cookies, Katelyn Yarborough.
Your Voice & More Workshops (11:15-12:15pm)
2A– Your Voice & Civic Engagement with Jenny Brock: Learn how to make sense of what’s going on and use your creative voice to educate, motivate and influence others with former Mayor and City Commissioner of Johnson City, TN, Jenny Brock.
2B-Your Voice & Online Presence with Samara Bolling: Learn to harness the power of social media storytelling to optimize your personal brand and advance your cause with Samara Bolling, Ntara’s Director of Marketing.
2C- Your Voice & The Fuller Narrative with Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin: This workshop will provide insight on how to find and use your voice to speak up on issues that matter to you in work environments with sociologist and Black in Appalachia Podcast Co-host, Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin.
ABOUT: The International Storytelling Center is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and a premier educational, arts and cultural institution dedicated to enriching lives and building a better world through the power of storytelling. Our work falls broadly into three categories: performance, preservation, and practice.Our vision is a better life, a better world, through the power of storytelling.
ISC is also home to the world-renowned National Storytelling Festival and Storytelling Live! and teller-in-residence series. It provides story-based leadership and civic engagement training for young adults in Appalachia. To learn more about the International Storytelling Center and upcoming Young Appalachian Story Summit programming, please visit www.StorytellingCenter.net.