February 6, 2021
10:00am PST / 1:00pm EST
- Session 1: Stories of Mindfulness (10:00 AM – 10:55 AM)
Learn to be fully engaged in the present moment, discover self-awareness, and find a way to make a difference in how you treat others. Hear stories from Jenifer Strauss, La’Ron Williams, and Adam Mellema that reflect on abiding peace, accepting peace, and how we bring peace to our communities. - Session 2: Stories of Compassion (11:00 AM – 11:55 AM)
Love allows us to act with compassion and kindness, to live with gratitude, and to take care of ourselves by practicing self-love. Adam Mellema, Mama Edie, and Tim Cusack share stories about demonstrating kindness, making your dreams come true, and stories that happen after the story. - Session 3: Stories of Empathy (12:00 PM – 12:55 PM)
We are all unique individuals, constantly learning, making mistakes and choices that can show others we are willing to listen, be kind, have compassion, and develop relationships. La’Ron Williams, Donna Marie Todd, and Jenifer Strauss share stories that explain how empathy can be a gift, how the people that aren’t “like us” are often the very people we need at desperate times, and what it looks like to walk with someone during a hard season. - Session 4: Stories of Action (1:00 PM – 1:55 PM)
Every movement and moment of change starts with purpose, with intention, and with one. Hear a new altered version of The Little Red Hen from La’Ron Williams, a story of rejection and acceptance from Donna Marie Todd, and an unexpected lesson from Williams. - Session 5: Stories of Reflection (2:00 PM – 2:55 PM)
Discover ways to be still (body), be quiet (mind), and be slow (breath), to help us settle down and reflect on our lives and world. As the Festival comes to an end, sit back and enjoy stories from Mama Edie, and Adam Mellema, and lullabies from Gemini.
The Author
Susan Verde
Storytellers
Noa Baum
Tim Cusack
Mama Edie
Gemini
Adam Mellema
Jenifer Strauss
Donna Marie Todd
La’Ron Williams
Free
All performances are free!
Author Susan Verde and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds have created a series of picture books that fit this theme perfectly. The latest, I Am One: A Book of Action, focuses on how each of us can act purposefully to change the world. I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness, encourages us to be fully engaged in the present moment and to make a difference in how we treat others. I Am Love: A Book of Compassion defines love as showing kindness, living with gratitude, and taking care of our minds and bodies. I Am Human: A Book of Empathy explains that we are all unique individuals, constantly learning and making choices that show others compassion. I Am Yoga helps us discover and reflect on our lives and world.
Each book will be the kickoff point for a series of stories provided by tellers from around the world. This all-digital program will be recorded and posted to the event website throughout the day on Feb 6. Storytellers include: Donna Marie Todd, Adam Mellema, Noa Baum, and Jenifer Straus, Tim Cusack, La’Ron Williams, Mama Edie Armstrong, and Gemini. Tune in for five storytelling sessions, a total of 15 stories, music, pre-festival stories, and character-building blogs.
