Instructor: Jill Howe

CEUS: 2

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.  ~ Brene Brown, from Daring Greatly

There are few things that people fear more than revealing their vulnerabilities, yet vulnerability is the gateway to deeper connection and wholehearted living. Storytelling is most successful when storytellers can share the full truth of the most meaningful moments of their lives bravely with others. Learning how to do this skillfully can alter every aspect of a person’s life in profound and far-reaching ways. This lecture will combine vulnerability, storytelling, performance, and craft. Participants will learn about the art, science, and psychology of vulnerability as it relates to the art of storytelling. We will learn what elements good stories have and how to mine our lives for resonant tales and, finally, how to craft them for the page or the dinner table. Storytelling can be transformational on a soul level. Give your stories that chance to take root and flourish.

About the Instructor:
Jill Howe is the producer of Story Sessions, a showcase at City Winery featuring true stories and live music. She has facilitated monthly storytelling groups for the last eight years, teaches Story Sessions cabin writing retreats, and presented a Tedx Talk focusing on vulnerability through storytelling. She has shared her stories at City Winery, Second City, Schubas, the 1871 Lab at the Merchandise Mart, Lincoln Hall, Stage 773, Park West, Wilmette Theatre, Skokie Theater, Uncommon Ground, The Gorton Center, and many more. She’s been featured on NPR for Vocalo Radio, Tedx Naperville, the national Mortified podcast, the Chicagoist, The Reader, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Now, Ignite Chicago, Fillet of Solo, Tellin’ Tales Festival, Pygmallion Festival in Champaign/Urbana, Thread Literary Magazine, BP Hope Magazine, Women for Wellness podcast, and The Bughouse Debates at Newberry Library. With a Masters in Teaching, Jill has been a CPS high school English teacher and is now is an educational specialist in Glencoe, focusing on writing. Jill is also a resident storyteller at the Field Museum and loves a good animal story.