Storytelling and film are an indispensable part of our lives that have a reflective and cathartic effect on their audiences. They have the power to strengthen our ability to empathize and understand the trauma of experiencing violence. First-person true stories can transform the ways in which we engage diverse communities across generations in ongoing healthy dialogues about the harmful narratives and dangerous ideologies we’ve been told about those affected by gender violence. In this interactive workshop drawn from examples and resources, participants will learn how to implement and adapt these creative, accessible, and culturally inclusive prevention tools in our communities to talk about the intergenerational cycle of abuse and oppression among marginalized groups. The workshop will also explore ethical considerations and strategies to overcome possible challenges to using storytelling and film in prevention programs.

Objectives:

• Explain how storytelling and film can be instrumental in having challenging discussions about intergenerational cycles of violence to prevent future violence.
• Identify trauma-informed strategies for implementing and adapting storytelling tools to engage communities in shifting narratives about gendered violence
• List strategies to overcome barriers and identify ethical considerations in utilizing storytelling as a prevention mechanism.