Dawn J. Fraser

Storytelling Workshops

Whether you are interested in improving your communication skills, engaging with employees, or widening your perspective on people from different backgrounds, Dawn’s storytelling workshops can help you reach your personal and professional goals.  

The telling of stories enables us to recognize the experiences which have shaped our lives, communicate our values, and create opportunity for engaging in meaningful dialogue. In these workshops, participants will explore the meaning and significance of their personal experiences to craft stories intended for community building, advocacy and leadership development.

Storytelling FOR Advocacy, leadership development and CoMMUNITY Building

Responding to social, cultural and political challenges requires leaders to draw on sources of inspiration and empowerment in a manner that moves us to action. Storytelling has the ability to integrate complex ideas into rich narratives that can have a long lasting effect. Designed for organizers, activists and others who are interested in policy, leadership, and coalition building, this program shows how personal stories can be presented to live audiences and the media in a way that informs people about social/ political issues and move them to action.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Create a compelling public narrative that demonstrates a campaign goal, outlines a strategy, and inspires others to act

2. Describe a purpose for motivating others and define the values of a community that might join you in action.

3. Understand the elements of stories, including plot, characters, and moral in a manner that challenges hidden assumptions and creates alternative visions for the future.

4. Learn how public narratives can be used for effective, meaningful, and culturally competent communication.

Typical Formats: 

1) Speech / Presentation: 45- 60 minutes

This option is ideal for organizations that want an introduction to the fundamentals of storytelling for leadership, and have a limited time frame for coaching. Can be structured as a keynote or interactive workshop for both small and larger groups.

2) Interactive Workshop: 2 - 3 hours (half day) or 4- 7 hours (full day)

This option is common for many organizations that want to be able to delve into the fundamentals of storytelling for leadership, while allowing participant the opportunity to present their stories to the colleagues and receive professional communications coaching. Training may also focus on issues such as the use of figures and data to compliment stories, or storytelling as is relates to media, marketing or innovation strategies. Usually works best for groups of 20 or less.

3) Presentation & Workshop: 3 - 4 hours / 1 or 2 days

This training is typically delivered over the course of one or two days and allows for participants to learn the technical aspects of storytelling, receive group and individual coaching and enhance skills related to giving active/ participatory feedback. Training may also focus on issues such as the use of figures and data to compliment stories, or storytelling as is relates to media, marketing or innovation strategies.