For the first time, the Student Leadership Symposium, a program sponsored by the , will be on UofL’s campus. The annual event brings together 75 students from across ACC universities to work together for three days on local issues that advance students’ capacity for global leadership. Student leaders learn through educational sessions, keynote addresses and immersive experiences.

Faculty, staff and students in identified the theme of “Reaching Social Change through Storytelling” for the symposium and developed programming to support it.

“Everyone has a story and it’s so important to listen to one another in order to better understand and even more important to give agency to others that might not have the opportunity or privilege to speak up for themselves,” said Kathy Meyer, assistant director, Student Leadership.  

The event will kick off at the Muhammad Ali Center on Feb. 28 and will feature special guest Graham Shelby, storyteller and speech writer for Metro Mayor Greg Fischer. Additional speakers include Jessica Bellamy, founder of a grassroots-led organization training community members in research and data storytelling; , local writer, activist and spoken word artist; and Darcy Thompson and Joe Manning of the .

Elayne Harrington, a UofL freshman from Independence, Kentucky, said the topic was a huge draw for her and one of the reasons she applied to participate in the symposium.

“Learning how to share stories is especially important in the world right now, as that is a way for people to understand everyone’s different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives in a way that brings people together,” she said.

A highlight of the program will be a special storytelling event on Saturday evening, where 10 students will be chosen to share their personal narratives in front of their peers.

They’ll also do a service project for CASA, court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children. The students will stuff toy mascots from each ACC university, writing a note with each one that says it was made especially by a student who cares.

“Hopefully it will inspire them to know they have special support from students all over the country,” said Harrington, who is currently interning at CASA.

Harrington, who is a psychology and communications major, said that being involved in things like the symposium is exactly what she hoped for in a college experience.

“I always wanted to go to school in a city that has a warm feeling and values diversity,” she said. “UofL allows you to be whoever you are. You don’t have to change. UofL will accept you. I’ve really gotten involved in a lot and met a lot of passionate individuals.”

The project, called “,” will offer playwriting workshops to residents of the West End as a way to explore critical issues, stimulate discussion and expose others to a more nuanced view of the community.

“We want people to experience the strength and beauty of the community as well as the challenges and struggles,” said Nefertiti Burton, chair of the UofL Theatre Arts Department.

The project was one of nine arts-based projects funded this year by the Jennifer Lawrence Arts Fund and has through February to match the $10,000 grant.  

Playwright and poet will guide as many as 20 community members aged 16 and older through a series of 10 weekly workshop sessions. The sessions are designed to help residents voice their experiences living in a neighborhood that is “struggling to overcome the images of violence, poverty and apathy that have defined it in local and regional media for decades.”

Participants will hone skills in writing, performance and production. Burton said the plan is to create 10-minute plays and stage them at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage and possibly throughout the state.

“We wanted people to have the opportunity to get their stories collected and shared in such a way that they are circulated beyond West Louisville into the broader community,” Burton said.

Burton will act as the artistic director and grad students from Theatre Arts may be tapped to help as well.

Burton said people have already expressed interest in participating.

“People often ask for our help as a department, and we’ve staged workshops before. But this is our first time doing an ongoing effort,” she said.

to make a donation to the Arts Match Fund to support the project.

Named after Louisville’s first settlement, the Corn Island Storytelling Festival was a nationally-known autumn fixture that drew thousands of fans for three decades before ending its run in 2007. This will be the sixth year that UofL and the Corn Island organizers have partnered on the event. Blackacre joined the event last year.

Additional sponsors include Louisville Metro Government and Kentucky Homefront.

Storytellers and musicians for the weekend include:

• The Juggerloos, a local jug band that uses a mix of early jazz and ragtime tunes mixed with a few modern covers.
• Leigh Ann Yost, storyteller and songwriter in Louisville.
• Graham Shelby, writer and professional storyteller. He’s performed in hundreds of venues including Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Texas Storytelling Festival and the Moth Mainstage in New York City.
• Roberta Simpson Brown, “The Queen of Cold-Blooded Tales,” a paranormal investigator and author of more than a dozen books and tapes of ghost stories.

Details for each day of the festival are below:

Friday, Oct. 21

Storytelling begins at 7:30 p.m. with a mix of family-friendly stories and spooky tales in the George J. Howe Red Barn, Belknap Campus. Col. Bob Thompson, storyteller and writer for the Kentucky Homefront radio program, will be the master of ceremonies.

Organizers will also host a series of storytelling and music workshops during the afternoon on Oct. 21. Workshops will be held in the Swain Student Activities Center, rooms 312 and 314. Paid parking is available in the Floyd Street Parking Garage. 

1-2 p.m.: (Choose 1)

Leigh Ann Yost: “Stories are songs, songs are stories.” An hour into the heart of the stories behind the songs of one of Louisvilles best performers.

Juggerloos Jug Band: “A short history of Jug Band music,” in Louisville and the nation, from its origins on the riverboats of the 19th century to its modern day practitioners.

2:15-3:15 p.m. (Choose 1)

John Gage: “Hope and health through stories and music.” A lifetime of wisdom, spirit and song from one of Louisville’s most beloved performers and teachers of all time.

Roberta Brown: “The Queen of Cold Blooded Tales,” a prolific, nationally-known author and storyteller shares the method behind her obvious madness.

All Friday events are free but registration is required and , as space is limited.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Storytelling will be held at Blackacre State Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead, 3200 Tucker Station Rd. Kids activities including face painting will begin at 6 p.m. and storytelling begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s events are $7 for adults and $3 for children and tickets may be purchased onsite.

For more information on this event, contact Bob Thompson, 502-553-2406.