Project Summary

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Children at the Well can serve as a model for storytellers and teachers who wish to engage youth and their families in the process of bringing about peace and understanding between any diverse groups within their community. See http://www.interfaithstory.org/children-at-the-well-kit.shtml

About me

My daughter Adah, now 15, was for several years the only young person in the Interfaith Story Circle. She loved the storytelling, but was lonely being the only kid. I knew that Gert Johnson, the founder of the Circle, tried over the years to include students in their meetings with some limited success. I saw the need to try something new, and so I committed myself to helping to design a program to bring in the youth. I have a background in education research and writing and editing. My BA was in Comparative Religion and I have an MA in Reading. Gert and I recently traveled to the National Storytelling Network's annual conference to report on our program. We were met with interest and enthusiasm! Gert Johnson (BA in Sociology, MA in Theology) is a retired high school religious studies teacher. In addition to being the founder/coordinator of the Interfaith Story Circle, she is chair of the National Storytelling Network's Interfaith Discussion Group (interfaithstory.org), For the past 7 years she has been involved in story mentoring/coaching with youth. Our other two committee members are Mary Murphy and Marni Gillard; phenomenal youth storycoaches, and wonderful storytellers with a national following.