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Summer 2005
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In November of 2004, the Public Voice Project (PVP) at the City Mission Society in Boston sponsored a Public Speaking/ Story Telling Workshop, bringing together seven formerly incarcerated men to meet with psychologist and storytelling coach Lani Peterson and public speaking coach Carla Kimball. Over the course of four evenings, we worked with the recently released prisoners to help them tell their stories in public forums to raise awareness and concern about current issues related to incarceration, rehabilitation and re-entry.

Our hope was that the process might be equally helpful to the ex-offenders as the content could be to the public forums. Through re-visiting and telling the stories of their journeys through the penal system and after, they could impact policy reform while gaining increased self-awareness, confidence, and ability to positively present themselves to prospective employers, landlords, and future colleagues.

Since their various release dates (from one to six months) these men had been gathering regularly at the City Mission Society to discuss and support each other through the re-entry process. The range of their incarcerations was broad, from two to forty years. Their specific offenses were never discussed. They were EX-offenders. They were eager now to focus on the future. Our job was to support them in re-visiting the incidents of their past that they might integrate them into stories containing strong, meaningful and positive messages for others to hear and learn from.

We approached the work from two perspectives: presence and storytelling. Before we began to work on their stories, Carla introduced the participants to the notion of presence. Our first task was to identify speakers that the participants felt had a great deal of presence. The men cited powerful speakers ranging from Maya Angelou to Martin Luther King. We then asked for them to name the qualities of presence evident in these speakers. Some of their comments included: “quiet strength”, “calm confidence”, “connected mind and heart”, “compassionate”, “subtle softness with power”.

Now that we had an idea of what we meant by presence, we began to explore the experience of presence including the importance of staying present in the moment, feeling grounded and confident physically, making connections with the audience through eye contact (a difficult challenge for any one who has been incarcerated), and breathing to stay calm and relaxed.

During this work with presence, perhaps the most poignant aspect was that each participant received only positive feedback from the other participants that reflected their essential human goodness. Coming from such recent experiences of shame and humiliation, this type of feedback helped to rebuild a sense of human dignity and self-respect in each participant.

These exercises in presence became a staple part of every session and served as the backdrop for telling their stories. Lani then began to guide the participants in identifying and crafting their stories. Over the four sessions each participant repeatedly stood before the group to share new versions of his story. With each telling, they challenged themselves to reach deeper levels of vulnerability, struggling through issues of shame, humility, anger and grief to uncover the meanings within their experience and the most important messages they wanted to convey.

This was very hard work and emotionally challenging for everyone. Nevertheless, all seven men showed up every week and with an amazing degree of courage brought themselves fully, completely, and authentically into the experience.

By the final evening, the men felt confident to bring their telling to the public domain, encouraged to think that their stories might make a difference in others’ lives while continuing to heal their own. In one of the participant’s own words: “That’s why I’m alive today. Because there is no such thing as a hopeless human being. We must never give up hope on anyone, no matter how far off track they might have gone. That’s my message now. And I have even greater hope now that I have a chance to tell YOU my story.”

In April of 2005, the City Mission Society’s Public Voice Project launched a second Public Speaking/ Story Telling Workshop for formerly incarcerated women, as well as female family members of incarcerated (mothers, siblings, lovers). The combination of presence and story telling served to create a strong bond of common experience amongst these women that filled our time together with grace and grit – with tears, anger, laughter and a quiet caring and compassion.

Since November, these men who now call themselves “The Magnificent Seven” and women who call themselves “The Phenomenal Women”, have spoken to over 2,400 people: lawyers at Harvard Law School, high school and college students, church groups and social justice groups. As one audience member said: “Their sharing really puts a name, a face, and a story to the reports that I read about in the newspaper.”

Speaking to the power of the stories told by these men and women, Dr. Marrey Embers, Director of the Public Voice Project at City Mission Society said: “Their stories also connect people, in a very deep way, to see that we all basically want the same thing...to be loved, to be safe, to find a way to contribute and be productive, and to be part of a community.”

©Lani Peterson and Carla Kimball 2005

*****

Carla and Lani offer a presence and storytelling workshop to the public entitled Presence and Influence: The development and deliver of story for inspiration and impact. Please visit our website (www.storypresence.com) for our schedule and information on this workshop.

Lani Peterson, M.A., Psy.D., is a psychologist, public speaker, storyteller and coach. She has extensive experience working with individuals, groups and organizations on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and public speaking and storytelling skills.

With a background in literature and theatre arts, Lani brings alive thought-provoking stories, lectures and workshops. Blending story, history and psychology into her presentations, Lani guides listeners to see themselves and their world from new and stronger perspectives. When drawing out the stories of others, Lani leads participants on a journey of self-discovery that inspires personal growth and understanding, while empowering them to maximize the impact of their message and delivery.

Lani’s first CD of original stories entitled “Stories from Within” was awarded an honor for best new adult story by Storytelling World Magazine for 2004. You can learn more about her many offerings at www.Leadershipstories.com.

Carla Kimball, M.A., M.B.A., is owner and President of RiverWays Enterprises and a Public Speaking Coach with a private practice in Boston and Watertown. RiverWays Enterprises has evolved over the past 12 years as a manifestation of Carla Kimball's vision of our full potential as effective, interactive, and expressive human beings. With her wide-ranging credentials, Carla has found that the Speaking Circles® technology in particular offers an especially simple yet elegant approach to a very practical realization of authentic presence in business.

Drawing upon her extensive public speaking experience, her stress management background and her training as a Speaking Circle facilitator (certified by Lee Glickstein of Speaking Circles International), Carla has blended together a unique set of communication principles that approach the public speaking experience from inside out.

In addition to helping people prepare for specific presentations, Carla offers small group coaching, seminars, workshops and ongoing groups.

For information about her public speaking programs and to subscribe to her newsletters visit www.riverways.com.

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Public Voice Project: A public speaking/storytelling program for men and women recently released from prison By Lani Peterson, Psy.D. and Carla Kimball, M.A., M.B.A. Summer 2005 (More News) In November of 2004, the Public Voice Project (PVP) at the City Mission Society in Boston sponsored a Public Speaking/ Story Telling Workshop, bringing together seven formerly incarcerated men to meet with psychologist and storytelling coach Lani Peterson and public speaking coach Carla Kimball. Over the course of four evenings, we worked with the recently released prisoners to help them tell their stories in public forums to raise awareness and concern about current issues related to incarceration, rehabilitation and re-entry. Our hope was that the process might be equally helpful to the ex-offenders as the content could be to the public forums. Through re-visiting and telling the stories of their journeys through the penal system and after, they could impact policy reform while gaining increased self-awareness, confidence, and ability to positively present themselves to prospective employers, landlords, and future colleagues. Since their various release dates (from one to six months) these men had been gathering regularly at the City Mission Society to discuss and support each other through the re-entry process. The range of their incarcerations was broad, from two to forty years. Their specific offenses were never discussed. They were EX-offenders. They were eager now to focus on the future. Our job was to support them in re-visiting the incidents of their past that they might integrate them into stories containing strong, meaningful and positive messages for others to hear and learn from. We approached the work from two perspectives: presence and storytelling. Before we began to work on their stories, Carla introduced the participants to the notion of presence. Our first task was to identify speakers that the participants felt had a great deal of presence. The men cited powerful speakers ranging from Maya Angelou to Martin Luther King. We then asked for them to name the qualities of presence evident in these speakers. Some of their comments included: “quiet strength”, “calm confidence”, “connected mind and heart”, “compassionate”, “subtle softness with power”. Now that we had an idea of what we meant by presence, we began to explore the experience of presence including the importance of staying present in the moment, feeling grounded and confident physically, making connections with the audience through eye contact (a difficult challenge for any one who has been incarcerated), and breathing to stay calm and relaxed. During this work with presence, perhaps the most poignant aspect was that each participant received only positive feedback from the other participants that reflected their essential human goodness. Coming from such recent experiences of shame and humiliation, this type of feedback helped to rebuild a sense of human dignity and self-respect in each participant. These exercises in presence became a staple part of every session and served as the backdrop for telling their stories. Lani then began to guide the participants in identifying and crafting their stories. Over the four sessions each participant repeatedly stood before the group to share new versions of his story. With each telling, they challenged themselves to reach deeper levels of vulnerability, struggling through issues of shame, humility, anger and grief to uncover the meanings within their experience and the most important messages they wanted to convey. This was very hard work and emotionally challenging for everyone. Nevertheless, all seven men showed up every week and with an amazing degree of courage brought themselves fully, completely, and authentically into the experience. By the final evening, the men felt confident to bring their telling to the public domain, encouraged to think that their stories might make a difference in others’ lives while continuing to heal their own. In one of the participant’s own words: “That’s why I’m alive today. Because there is no such thing as a hopeless human being. We must never give up hope on anyone, no matter how far off track they might have gone. That’s my message now. And I have even greater hope now that I have a chance to tell YOU my story.” In April of 2005, the City Mission Society’s Public Voice Project launched a second Public Speaking/ Story Telling Workshop for formerly incarcerated women, as well as female family members of incarcerated (mothers, siblings, lovers). The combination of presence and story telling served to create a strong bond of common experience amongst these women that filled our time together with grace and grit – with tears, anger, laughter and a quiet caring and compassion. Since November, these men who now call themselves “The Magnificent Seven” and women who call themselves “The Phenomenal Women”, have spoken to over 2,400 people: lawyers at Harvard Law School, high school and college students, church groups and social justice groups. As one audience member said: “Their sharing really puts a name, a face, and a story to the reports that I read about in the newspaper.” Speaking to the power of the stories told by these men and women, Dr. Marrey Embers, Director of the Public Voice Project at City Mission Society said: “Their stories also connect people, in a very deep way, to see that we all basically want the same thing...to be loved, to be safe, to find a way to contribute and be productive, and to be part of a community.” ©Lani Peterson and Carla Kimball 2005 *** Carla and Lani offer a presence and storytelling workshop to the public entitled Presence and Influence: The development and deliver of story for inspiration and impact. Please visit our website (www.storypresence.com) for our schedule and information on this workshop. Lani Peterson, M.A., Psy.D., is a psychologist, public speaker, storyteller and coach. She has extensive experience working with individuals, groups and organizations on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and public speaking and storytelling skills. With a background in literature and theatre arts, Lani brings alive thought-provoking stories, lectures and workshops. Blending story, history and psychology into her presentations, Lani guides listeners to see themselves and their world from new and stronger perspectives. When drawing out the stories of others, Lani leads participants on a journey of self-discovery that inspires personal growth and understanding, while empowering them to maximize the impact of their message and delivery. Lani’s first CD of original stories entitled “Stories from Within” was awarded an honor for best new adult story by Storytelling World Magazine for 2004. You can learn more about her many offerings at www.Leadershipstories.com. Carla Kimball, M.A., M.B.A., is owner and President of RiverWays Enterprises and a Public Speaking Coach with a private practice in Boston and Watertown. RiverWays Enterprises has evolved over the past 12 years as a manifestation of Carla Kimball's vision of our full potential as effective, interactive, and expressive human beings. With her wide-ranging credentials, Carla has found that the Speaking Circles*® technology in particular offers an especially simple yet elegant approach to a very practical realization of authentic presence in business. Drawing upon her extensive public speaking experience, her stress management background and her training as a Speaking Circle* facilitator (certified by Lee Glickstein of Speaking Circles International), Carla has blended together a unique set of communication principles that approach the public speaking experience from inside out. In addition to helping people prepare for specific presentations, Carla offers small group coaching, seminars, workshops and ongoing groups. For information about her public speaking programs and to subscribe to her newsletters visit www.riverways.com. More News [home] [programs] [products] [about us] [contact us]
RiverWays Enterprises Carla Kimball, M.A., M.B.A. P.O. Box 79081 Belmont, MA 02479-0081	Phone: 617-489-1154 Fax: 617-484-6257 Email: ckimball@riverways.com
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Public Voice Project: A public speaking/storytelling program for men and women recently released from prison By Lani Peterson, Psy.D. and Carla Kimball, M.A., M.B.A.

Public Voice Project: A public speaking/storytelling program for men and women recently released from prison
By Lani Peterson, Psy.D. and Carla Kimball, M.A., M.B.A.