2 storytelling workshops at the
National conference of the Alliance for Community Media
50th Anniversary, Madison WI, 23-25 June 2026

Session 1: Creating Stories
with Story Circle
Tuesday 23 June, 2:00-3:30

coming soon
This workshop is an interactive introduction to the power of Story Circles. In session 1, we’ll walk through the Story Circle process and create personal stories. We’ll note resources to help launch story circles and digital storytelling in your local communities.
As a starting point for personal reflection:
Focus on a moment or time that’s significant to you, when . . .
–You were first drawn to access/ community media,
or
–You recognized the power of access/ community media;
or
–You decided to follow a path in access/ community media
Our focus is on harnessing personal storytelling to celebrate the ACM’s 50th anniversary in 2026.
Whether you’re new to access or been involved for years, your story/our stories contribute/s to the rich global history of community media.
Between session 1 (Tuesday 6/23) and session 2 (Wednesday 6/24), you can take the time to refine your story and choose the way you’d like to share it:
- In-person reading;
- Script + photo (text + 1 image, maybe of self);
- Recorded narration + photo (your recorded voice + 1 image, maybe of self);
- Recorded narration + 1-5 images (video/ digital story);
- see video examples: personal digital stories
- typically: less than 3 min, 300 words max, 1-10 images
- more info in “resources & handouts”
- Comic book/ graphic novel using Comic Life by www.Plasq.com
- see comic book examples: personal stories
- more info in “resources & handouts”
- see comic book examples: personal stories
Facilitators:
- John Higgins, Media Professor (retired), University of San Francisco USA www.MediaProf.org
- Deb Vinsel
More about the Story Circle and Digital Storytelling
Session 2: Sharing Stories
Wednesday 24 June, 1:30-3:00

coming soon
This session continues an interactive introduction to the power of storytelling and the Story Circle process. In session 2, we’ll share our personal stories based on session 1 activities
Our focus is on harnessing personal storytelling to celebrate the ACM’s 50th anniversary in 2026.
Whether you’re new to access or been involved for years, your story/our stories contribute/s to the rich global history of community media.
Facilitators:
- John Higgins, Media Professor (retired), University of San Francisco USA www.MediaProf.org
- Deb Vinsel
More about the Story Circle and Digital Storytelling