Storytelling is the oldest artform known to humanity. It is the heart of who we are as humans, and it connects us and gives meaning to the events in our lives. In these 90-minute workshops, we will come together to discover and reflect on stories in our lives in a fun, compassionate, and safe space. A workshop facilitator from
Capital Storytelling will lead individual reflective activities to help you discover your own unique stories and to see meaning in those stories. You will then be invited to share stories in a small group if you choose. These workshops are a fun way to learn about storytelling, build speaking and narrative skills, and connect with others in your community. No previous experience is necessary, come as you are!
Immigrant Stories with William Tran
Saturday, November 4 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. at
Valley Hi-North Laguna Library
The immigrant experience is unique, beautiful, and diverse with its share of joy and challenges. This 90-minute workshop is intended for those who identify as immigrants with the intention of creating a space where we can come together, reflect on our experiences, and share our stories.
Mischief, Magic, and Memory: Developing stories from our childhood with John Aubert
Thursday, November 9 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at
Rancho Cordova Library
Storytelling is the oldest artform known to humanity. It is the heart of who we are as humans, and it connects us and gives meaning to the events in our lives. In this 90-minute workshop, we will come together to discover and reflect on stories in our lives—specifically stories from our childhood, from the magical to the mischievous— in a fun, compassionate, and safe space.
Discovering Stories from Winters Past with Jane Gorsi and Jean Green
Saturday, November 18 from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at
Elk Grove Library
Winter is a time of change. We say goodbye to the old year and bring in the new. The season may evoke a sense of joy as holidays roll in or memories of being with family and loved ones. “Winter” may evoke feelings of loss or entering a new chapter of life.
Stories about Self Discovery with William Tran
Saturday, December 2 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. at
Fair Oaks Library
There are moments in our lives that are pivotal, when we learn something new about who we are. It may be a moment of character-testing, or a moment when you made a difficult decision, or a moment when you were surprised by your own resilience. Whatever it is, that moment can be one of self-discovery and there is a story behind it. In this 90-minute workshop, storyteller and workshop facilitator William Tran will lead you on a journey to uncovering those moments of self-discovery in your own life and help you turn them into meaningful stories to share.
Feeling Seen with Abby Rotstein
Friday, December 8 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. at
North Natomas Library
Storytelling is a way to connect with others and understand the events in our lives. It can also be cathartic and a source of creativity and inspiration for us. In this 90-minute workshop, Storyteller and workshop facilitator Abby Rotstein will share the joys and power of storytelling and take you on a journey to uncovering moments from your own life that are story-worthy—specifically stories about feeling a sense of belonging and feeling seen.
Discovering Stories from Winters Past with Jane Gorsi and Jean Green
Saturday, December 9 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. at
Belle Cooledge Library
Winter is a time of change. We say goodbye to the old year and bring in the new. The season may evoke a sense of joy as holidays roll in or memories of being with family and loved ones. “Winter” may evoke feelings of loss or entering a new chapter of life. In this 90-minute workshop, we will come together to discover and reflect on “Stories from Winters Past”—both literally and metaphorically.
New Beginnings with Tammy Spence
Saturday, December 9 from 1- 2:30 p.m. at
Sylvan Oaks Library
Many of us consider the New Year to be an opportunity for a fresh start – a new beginning. As we enter the new year, we will come together to reflect on moments in our lives that signified new beginnings. These can be moments when we set a goal, made a difficult decision, experienced a loss, or experienced a big change and chapter in our lives. Whatever it is, there is a story behind it.
Stories about Connection and Community with William Tran
Saturday, December 16 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. at
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
Stories connect us to one another and help us build community. Storytelling can also be a creative outlet that inspires us to reimage, reinvent, and see the world from a new perspective. In this 90-min session, storyteller and workshop facilitator William Tran will share the power of storytelling and will then lead you on a journey to discovering moments in your life in which you have felt a sense of connection to those around you.
Meet Your Workshop Facilitators
William Tran is an educator who is passionate about creating learning spaces where people can utilize their lived experiences to understand themselves, others, and the world around them. As a lifelong learner, William is deeply interested in infusing universal human traits such as laughter, play, and music in the spaces that he facilitates. He believes that learning can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and community building. In his free time, William enjoys reading, rooting for the Golden State Warriors, as well as taking nature walks with his adventurous daughter, who at the moment has a deep admiration for dirt and rocks (she is 2 years old!). William is a part of the 2023 Story Ambassador cohort at Capital Storytelling— a competitive fellowship program that trains leaders to use storytelling to transform communities and lives.
John Aubert is a Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences at American River College. After realizing that his family and friends were finally getting tired of hearing his stories, he was ecstatic to discover that he could tell them to strangers. He has taken the stage at numerous Moth Story Slams and has been a featured storyteller for Capital Storytelling, Story Collider, RISK!, Armchair Anonymous, Six Feet Apart Productions, and Artists Standing Strong Together. John was a Story Ambassador at Capital Storytelling in 2022 and he now is a beloved storytelling coach and workshop instructor. He currently hosts Capital Storytelling’s “
Do Tell”, a monthly open mic for true, personal stories held at
LogOff Brewing in Rancho Cordova.
Jane Gorsi grew up in rural small towns in Indiana and Northern California, and spent 44 years in the Bay Area, but she credits her Irish roots with her love of storytelling. A legal secretary by trade and profession, she is now retired and has relocated to Sacramento where she lives close to her family, enjoys the beautiful seasons, and is still amazed to find parking everywhere she goes. Jane is a seasoned storyteller and she was a Capital Storytelling Story Ambassador in 2022. She leads workshops for Capital Storytelling and has facilitated story workshops for the City of Sacramento and told stories on regional and national stages.
Jean Green grew up in the deep south of the U.S. and ended up in California raising her family and working for the state for over 30 years. She grew up listening to her family tell stories and credits them with her love of narrative. She is “that kind of storyteller” that feels like home and makes you cry and laugh in the same breath. She has shared stories at storytelling festivals across the region as well as on national stages. She was a Story Ambassador for Capital Storytelling in 2022 and now is now a beloved storytelling instructor, teaching advanced classes at Capital Storytelling.
Abby Rotstein is a writer, speaker, and storyteller. Using both humor and hope, her goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. She started at Capital Storytelling in 2020 as a student in a class and ended up sticking around, sharing stories whenever she could and bringing storytelling to the community. Abby was selected to participate in the 2022 Story Ambassador cohort at Capital Storytelling—a competitive fellowship program that trains leaders to use storytelling to transform communities and lives. She teaches storytelling with a deeply held mission to create belonging and a sense of “being seen” through personal narrative.
Dr. Tamara Elena Spence “Tammy” is a proud Puerto Rican, Irish, and Pennsylvania Dutch neuroscientist who grew up celebrating her unique multi-cultural background. She has fond memories of both helping her mother make bacalaitos on the sunny patio and playing with cloth dolls while visiting Amish Country in Pennsylvania with her father to sample scrapple, apple butter, and pretzels. She is a storyteller, educator, and social change maker who has performed on stage for Capital Storytelling and Story Collider. She believes that sharing stories fosters empathy and compassion and can help build genuine connections within and between communities.