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 ~ Tues 23 June 2:00-3:30
Session 2: Sharing Stories ~ Wed 24 June 1:30-3:00
Facilitator Bios
A suggestion: Bring to the session 1 workshop an artifact, or 1 – 3 photos that says something to you about your experience with community media. We’ll help you build your story from there.
If you can’t make the workshop, the ‘Details & Resources’ button below links to info on how to create your story.
‘What’s Our Story?’
was a community screening of digital storytelling
at the Cyprus Community Media Centre, December 2010
Session 1: Creating Stories
with Story Circle
Tuesday 23 June, 2:00-3:30
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.
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.
As a story starting point:
Focus on a moment or time that’s significant to you (an ‘ah-ha’ or ‘lightning bolt’ moment), when…
–You were first drawn to (‘magnetized’ to) access/ community media,
or
–You were struck by the power of access/ community media;
or
–You decided to follow a path in access/ community media
Additional information is available in Workshop Details & Resources. Also included: steps to create your story if you’re not able to attend session 1, or to get started before the workshop.
Between session 1 (Tuesday 6/23) and session 2 (Wednesday 6/24), you can take the time to refine your story. And, if you choose to share with the ACM, record yourself reading/telling your story – with tech assistance provided by SPEAK MPLS.
Facilitators:
John Higgins, Media Prof (retired), University of San Francisco USA www.MediaProf.org
Deborah Vinsel, Community Media Maven, Olympia WA
Saniah Bates, Multimedia Journalist, SPEAK MPLS
Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Public Policy Director, CCTV Center for Media & Democracy
Florence DelSanto, New England Sales Mgr, Telvue Corporation
Story Tech Assistance:
The excellent folks at SPEAK MPLS
More about the Story Circle, Digital Storytelling, & Reflection
Session 2: Sharing Stories
Wednesday 24 June, 1:30-3:00
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.
Additional information is available in Workshop Details & Resources.
Also included: steps to create your story if you’re not able to attend session 1.
Facilitators:
John Higgins, Media Prof (retired), University of San Francisco USA www.MediaProf.org
Deborah Vinsel, Community Media Maven, Olympia WA
Saniah Bates, Multimedia Journalist, SPEAK MPLS
Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Public Policy Director, CCTV Center for Media & Democracy
Story Tech Assistance:
The excellent folks at SPEAK MPLS
More about the Story Circle, Digital Storytelling, & Reflection
Bios
John Higgins has been engaged with community radio and television/video since 1974 in U.S. and international organizations practicing, managing, promoting, and studying community-based media. He was faculty director of university student-operated cable channels serving communities in Ohio and California, and served on governing boards for local cable and access organizations, including as chair of the Ohio NFLCP chapter and board president of the San Francisco Community Television Corporation, overseeing the city’s access channel and facilities. He was on the editorial board of the Community Media Review 2000-2005. He holds a doctorate in communication from Ohio State University, focused on access and community producers.
In 2004, John first experienced digital storytelling as pioneered by the StoryCenter.org (formerly the Center for Digital Storytelling, Berkeley CA); since then, he has facilitated story circles in a variety of cultural contexts. As a 2010 Fulbright Scholar in Cyprus, John utilized community media, digital storytelling, and oral history as methods of peace and community-building between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. He continued storytelling projects in Cyprus with civil society and government organizations, both local and international, until 2016.
John is now a retired associate and adjunct professor of Media Studies with the University of San Francisco. From 2016 to 2020 he served as president of the 650 member USF Part-Time Faculty Association, Local 6590, American Federation of Teachers.
His long-standing interests in storytelling are reflected in community media as well as puppets; John is the creator and director of Night Vision Puppets, performing internationally utilizing a one-man “walking stage” from 1974 to 2010. John continues to work with the puppets via video, and with digital storytelling. He is an avid gardener, e-bicyclist, and hiker, and occasional guitarist.
Higgins’ complete bio, projects, and workshop resources can be found at MediaProf.org
Deborah Vinsel began her career in community media in 1983 as the Producer/Trainer for Waycross Community Television in Forest Park, OH. She moved to the West Coast after her marriage to Lex Vinsel in 1986 and worked as a vocational educator / public access manager in Buena Park. In 1990, Deborah accepted the position as Executive Director / CEO at Thurston Community Media in Olympia WA and led the organization until her retirement in 2025.
Deborah has served in leadership with the Alliance for Community Media at the regional and national level. She was Secretary for the Central States Region for one year, Chairperson of the Western Region for 2 years, and served on the Northwest Region Board for 10 years, 4 of them as the Chairperson. As the regional chair in the West and Northwest, she served on the National Board of Directors for 5 years and was the chair of the conference planning committee. In 2005, Deborah was co-chair of the local planning committee for the national conference held in Tacoma. Deborah also coordinated the Hometown Video Awards for 8 years and the Best of the Northwest Video Awards for 7 years. In 1999, Deborah was honored by the Alliance with the Buske Leadership Award.
In 2008, at the request of the National Board of Directors, Vinsel stepped into the role of interim Executive Director for the Alliance national organization, splitting her time between Washington state and Washington D.C. managing both the Alliance and TCMedia.
Deborah has also served on the board of directors for The Washington Center for the Performing Arts and was on the founding board of trustees for Leadership Thurston County.
She was recognized as a 2005 Woman of Distinction by the Pacific Peaks Girl Scout Council, and was identified as one of the 2024 Exceptional Women by the Thurston County Chapter of Zonta.
Saniah Bates is the Multimedia Journalist at SPEAK MPLS, a public access TV station and member-powered media center. She recently graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
In 2020, Saniah began her journalism career at Good Morning America 3, where she interviewed authors Jessica Jung and Nic Stone after joining the GMA 3 Reading Squad. Shortly after graduating from high school in 2022, Saniah became involved with SPEAK MPLS through their RYSE MPLS (Representing Youth Stories and Experience) Journalism/Filmmaking Summer Camp. After the camp, Saniah returned to SPEAK MPLS as a Youth Mentor in 2023, soon becoming a Program Assistant in 2024. Each summer, Saniah dedicated her time to engaging with youth, teaching them about the numerous aspects of journalism. From news gathering to framing a shot, Saniah found a deeper love for not only the art of journalism, but the impact of sharing and amplifying knowledge.
During her collegiate career, she reported for the Minnesota Daily as a City Desk and Podcast Reporter. She later joined the Student U Program with the Big Ten Network where she served as a Production Assistant focusing on sideline reporting, camera operation and replay. Toward the end of her collegiate career, she reported for Radio K’s Real College Podcast.
In May of 2025, Saniah joined the SPEAK MPLS team full time. Since beginning her professional career, Saniah has worked to be a voice for the voiceless, produce meaningful work and connect with her community in new, authentic and impactful ways.
Lauren-Glenn Davitian is Public Policy Director for CCTV Center for Media + Democracy in Burlington Vermont. She’s been working in public access TV and community media since 1984.
Florence DelSanto is the New England Sales Manager at TelVue Corporation, a 100% employee-owned broadcast technology company serving community media organizations, PEG access stations, schools, and municipal channels.
She began her career at CNN and went on to produce international coverage for NBC News across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Her documentary work earned a National Emmy Award and a George Foster Peabody Award.
Passionate about the power of local storytelling, Florence decided to bring her experience home, spending 17 years as Executive Director of LexMedia in Lexington, Massachusetts, where she oversaw three cable channels: public, government, and education. She produced the local news program LexLocal, and led coverage of landmark community events including Lexington’s 250th anniversary celebration.
A seasoned storyteller and community media advocate, Florence brings to her work a deep understanding of the people and organizations that local broadcasting serves across New England.