For Young Activists (18 to 30 year olds)

STORIES SHAPE THE WAY WE UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND US. Not only our own personal stories but also the stories of the dominant culture — the stori es told by the politicians, the media and the history books. But there are other stories too — the stories of frontline communities, engaged youth and visionaries working for a better world. Which stories will shape the future? How do we transform the stories that justify racism, greed, environmental destruction and war? How to spread the stories that suppor t work for a just and ecologically sane world?

These are some of the questions we'll be exploring in this day long intensive workshop wi th trainers from the smartMeme Strategy and Training Project's STORY program (Strategy Training and Organizing Resources JENNIFER ESPERANZA for Youth). STORY works with youth activists to apply a narrative analysis of power and to design story based strategies for change. We will use these innovative frame works to examine the stories that shape popular culture and explore how we can change the story to create a more just future.

Through an interactive, multimedia training format, young bioneers will get a chance to hone their media lit eracy skills, consider new strategy concepts and learn how to integrate effective storytelling into grassroots campaigns. We will examine onthe ground victories and explore strate gies for reclaiming popular culture with our generations' stories of hope and change. Join us to become a more effective storyteller, strategist and change agent. Bioneers 2005 attendees in conversation. The workshop will be led by trainers from the smartMeme/STORY program: Doyle Canning, Katie Joaquin and Patrick Reinsborough. For more infor mation about their program, go to www.smartmeme.com/STORY.

Lunch will be provided for all participants.