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About Story For All

There are many storytelling organizations, but Story For All is unique in harnessing the power of story to heal and to inspire action.

Storytelling is as old as humanity. Long before writing, humans shared and transmitted knowledge orally. Our brains are wired for storytelling – when we hear someone’s story, we feel the storyteller’s emotions; in our minds we can see, hear, taste and smell what they are describing, and their story literally becomes our own. In this way, storytelling has immense power to build connection, understanding, and empathy, as well as motivate people to take action. This power of story is what propels and guides our work at Story For All.

We believe that all people have valuable stories to tell. We believe all people should be empowered to tell their own stories in their own unique ways. And we believe the world will be a better, safer, healthier place when we all take the time to listen to each other’s stories – especially the stories of people who have been marginalized or whose voices are seldom heard.

In recognition of the power of story to address the rifts in our society, Story For All was founded in 2011 with a focus on amplifying stories of young people, communities of color, and the environment, as well as the organizations that support them. Through our projects, trainings, books and other tools, we use storytelling to engage communities, preserve culture, inform policy, and change narratives in communities across the USA. Formerly known as Story Bridges, Story For All is an educational nonprofit corporation with 510(c)(3) status.

Talk Story Radio Kaua`i

In 2023, we launched a new partnership with a local radio station to bring our special take on storytelling to the airwaves. The show, called Talk Story Radio Kaua’i, focuses on Hawaiian culture, traditions, good works, and the people behind it all. Learn more here.

Oakland Griots 2024

The griots are back! Ten years after the phenomenal success of the Griots of Oakland project, we are back in action, lifting up stories and wisdom about what it’s like to be a young black man in Oakland. Our goal is to provide African American young men with the skills and opportunity to share their voices and let us know about their experiences, successes, challenges, and dreams. Click here to learn more about the project.

R.O.O.T.S. of Sunflower County

The Reclaiming Our Origins Through Story project addresses negative perceptions and narratives about young men and boys of color. This oral history journey by 19 young men from Sunflower County who set out to change the negative perceptions about young black men in their community. Learn more about their story here.

Latest Projects

Land Stories: Farming and Kaua`i Culture

Storytelling for Professional Development

Youth/Police connection and collaboration

The Shine

REACH Ashland Youth Center Oral History Project

Testimonials

I feel hope. I have never seen someone who looks like me represented in this way.
Young African American man who attended the Griots event
I felt that I have had a distorted view about African Americans. I was very impressed with the young men who possess hope and think positively about their identity and community. I had assumed that African Americans were depressed, hated each other, and had no hope. I have now changed my point of view and expect the bright future.
Graduate student from Korea
The Griots exhibit has importantly contributed to a shift of focus in our work in public education, from a laser focus on new standards to a laser focus on insuring that new standards are applied to assure that each and every student achieve their potential. Most importantly, the students we have chronically and persistently failed in public education have been raised up through your important collaborative work.
Louise Music, Executive Director/Department of Integrated Learning, Alameda County Office of Education
The Urban Agriculture Oral History Project is a relevant and timely effort in this era of rapid urban, environmental, and social change. Story For All is the first to tell the story of urban ag in our communities from the inside out, bringing otherwise unheard voices to the forefront of this movement.
Architectural Historian/Preservation Planner and project volunteer
This project and others like it are an opportunity for us all… We learn from one another. We come to understand and love one another. We begin to overcome prejudice and callousness, and we become fuller human beings.
Jean Quan, Mayor of Oakland
We are so grateful and honored that our son has been part of this project. It has brought out all of his best qualities and changed how he sees himself and his opportunities in life.
Parent of AAOHP participant
This project has totally transformed my life, in every way. I now have a career path and a portfolio for my college applications. I’m not as shy as I was, and I can speak in front of a group – even a group of adults!
Ramiro-Youth Interviewer
This course supports our company’s culture and helps us all be more influential and connect with others.
Training participant, Senior VP of HR
The video and timeline that you created for us really help to tell our story. I use it all the time in my PR work.
REACH Ashland Youth Center PR team
Story for All is skillfully supporting us to document and share the story of building school health services in Alameda County in a way that is accessible and engaging to our partners. Their experience managing collaborative projects, capturing content, and creating engaging ways to share it is providing critical support to the project.
Policy and Planning Coordinator, Center for Healthy Schools and Communities
The SHINE forces me to confront my own truth, beauty and prejudices as a Black man regarding boys and men of color. Out of this confrontation and the multisensory immersion it offers, I then can love and be loved in a different way, and this way then drives the policy, programs, practice and people transformation, which must occur forthwith.
David Patrick Bickham, Foundation and Evaluation Consultant