ODE’s Storytelling Program: Our Accomplishments for the Past Year!
The ODE storytelling program hosts a space in which people share their stories of recovery and wellness to make a meaningful impact on themselves and others. Participants engage in workshops that guide them in creating and sharing their stories in different forms. Beginning simply with a story circle or a framing question, participants continue developing their narrative as a digital story or a Photovoice project. Photovoice and Digital Storytelling are workshops in which participants share their stories of wellness and recovery. As final projects, Photovoice participants produce a single-page layout of a photo and short written piece and Digital Storytelling participants produce a 3 minute video.
This past year, we accomplished a lot and we are so excited to share:
- Developed framework, evaluation materials, facilitation guide, Pop-Up Photovoice approach
- Supported and facilitated a total of four Photovoice programs and one Digital Storytelling program
- Conducted a total of twelve presentations, panels, or gallery showings of Photovoices and Digital Stories
In FY 16-17, ODE Storytelling developed and published a storytelling framework that defines ODE’s approach and goals, 3 tenets of powerful storytelling, and theory behind the program. Once published, parts of the storytelling framework were adapted by the Lived Experience Academy. Still in development, evaluation tools were created and tested for accuracy. ODE Storytelling developed and published a facilitator packet, which includes all materials needed to facilitate a Photovoice program, alongside a curriculum and facilitation guide. Also developed, Pop-Up Photovoice booth empowered community members to create Photovoices in 5 minutes— Clients left feeling healed, and the stories were shown within BHRS and on Health System social media websites. ODE storytelling supported and facilitated a total of four Photovoice programs and one Digital Storytelling program. Presenting final projects at community events, such as the AACI hosted health fair, families and clients left having learned about mental health and inspired to have more conversations about mental health and substance abuse. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) students reported feeling more competent to work with their clients after relating lessons learned from MHFA to the Photovoice projects shown during their lunch break. Lastly, ODE Storytelling captured stories of youth at Youth Services Center (juvenile hall) and shared them with staff to improve services.
Read more about our accomplishments in fiscal year 16-17 in our ODE Storytelling Report.
Contact Siavash Zohoori for any inquiries: (650)372-3214 or szohoori@smcgov.org