Name
Stories That Hold Us Together: Cultivating Civic Action Through Community and Storytelling (Online)
Date
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time
1:00 PM - 1:50 PM (EDT)
Description

In moments of division, storytelling becomes a civic act. What happens when 11th graders from a Catholic Independent School commit to a year-long service project with kindergarteners in a District of Columbia Public School? This session explores the transformative potential of storytelling through a unique cross-age collaboration and invites educators to imagine similar partnerships in their own contexts. Participants will examine how listening, writing, bookmaking, and “stuff-making” nurture identity, agency, and civic voice in early childhood settings, while also fostering empathy, leadership, and reflection in adolescent learners. Through documentation and shared inquiry, participants will analyze the impact of this partnership and the role of the arts as a powerful vehicle for connection and expression. Together, we will consider how storytelling can bridge differences, build community, and serve as a vital practice in our collective pursuit of a more perfect union.

Georgina Ardalan Jaime Chao Mignano
Session Type
50-minute online session (Tues., July 14 only)
Session Track
Leveraging the Arts as Civic Voice
Grades
PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Subject Areas
English/Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts
Audience
PreK and Elementary School Teachers, Middle and High School Teachers, Media Specialists and Librarians, Museum Educators and Staff