Common Language Digital Storytelling

12/06/2024

Kickstarter Update with Mike Lang! 🎉

Thanks to your incredible support, the Common Language Story Slam is officially funded! Mark your calendars for March 1, 2025, and join us in Calgary or online as we celebrate the power of digital storytelling.

Experience moving stories from individuals whose lives have been transformed by twelve Canadian charities. Tickets are available now on Kickstarter—don’t forget to grab some for your friends and family!

Stay tuned for updates on the venue and other details. We can’t wait to share this unforgettable event with you!

11/28/2024

We Did It! 🎉 Thanks to YOUR incredible generosity and support, our Kickstarter campaign is officially 100% FUNDED! 🙌💫

This means 12 Canadian charities will now have the opportunity to co-create Digital Storytelling short films with our Facilitators, creating powerful tools to inspire supporters, raise funds, recruit volunteers, and so much more. Together, we’re amplifying their voices and making an impact! 💕📽️

Save the date: Join us on March 1st, 2025 in Calgary, or online, for Story Slam, a special film screening and panel discussion event. Come celebrate these incredible stories and the changemakers behind them! 🎬✨

Thank you for believing in this vision and helping us to make it a reality. We can’t wait to share these stories with you. Stay tuned for updates!

11/26/2024

If you've been thinking about supporting our Kickstarter, now is the time!

If we don't reach our fundraising goal of $15,200 in the next 4 days we won't be able to help 12 Canadian Charities create films.

Take advantage of our Early Bird pricing, Story Slam event tickets will go up on December 1st:
✅ $10: Watch Live Online.
✅ $25: Attend a Single 2-hour Film Screening in Calgary on March 1, 2025.
✅ $50: Attend a full day Film Screening in Calgary on March 1, 2025.
✅ $100+ VIP Experiences & Sponsorship opportunities!

Please help make Story Slam 2025 happen! Donate whatever you can and share our Kickstarter link today! 👇

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/commonlanguagedst/common-language-story-slam-2025

11/26/2024

Just 5 days left! The final countdown for our Kickstarter campaign is here! ⏰

It's all or nothing—help us bring our project to life by funding the remaining amount before November 30th! 🎬🍿❤️

Watch this update with Common Language DST Founder, Mike Lang and then head over to our Kickstarter page... 🫶

11/25/2024

Meet the final four Common Language Facilitators participating in the 2025 Story Slam project! Each Facilitator will be paired with a Canadian charity to co-create their digital storytelling film for the Story Slam event.

📌 Kristina McGuire, Airdrie, AB - Selected Charity: Heart Beats Children's Society
📌 Jennifer Siran: Kleefeld, MB - Selected Charity: Safe Families Canada - Steinbach
📌 Marlo Cottrell: Edmonton, Alberta - Selected Charity: United Voices of HIV Alberta
📌 Jenni Haggie, Beamsville, ON

We can't do it without you! Our Kickstarter fundraising campaign is all or nothing! Our deadline is Nov 30th. Add your support today.

11/24/2024

There's only 6 days left to fund our Kickstarter! It's all or nothing... Thanks to the 61 generous people who have backed our project:

✅ Our project is 77% funded!
⚠️ We still need to raise $3,527

Charity Update! If we reach our goal of $15,200 by Nov 30th, 12 Canadian Charities will co-create Digital Storytelling short films with our Facilitators, including:

📌 Greg's Wings Projects Ltd.
📌 Bow Valley Connections Centre
📌 SIDS Calgary Society
📌 Canadian Cancer Society
📌 MAID Family Support Society
📌 Heart Beats Children's Society
📌 Safe Families Canada - Steinbach
📌 United Voices of HIV Alberta

Every little bit helps. 🫶 Early Bird pricing, Story Slam event tickets will go up on December 1st:
🎬 $10: Watch Live Online.
🍿- $25: Attend a Single 2-hour Film Screening in Calgary on March 1, 2025.
🎬 $50: Attend a full-day Film Screening in Calgary on March 1, 2025.
🍿 $100+ VIP Experiences & Sponsorship opportunities!

Please share our Kickstarter! Forward this campaign link with your friends, family, colleagues, charities, businesses, and anyone moved by digital storytelling. Thank you!

Support 12 incredible Canadian Charities and help make our Digital Storytelling film festival and panel discussion event in Calgary a reality! Donate today: 👇
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/commonlanguagedst/common-language-story-slam-2025/

11/23/2024

What if sharing your story could help heal trauma? Listen to this podcast for an insightful conversation with Joy Pavelich from the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families.

Joy takes us through her transformative journey from the Canadian Mental Health Association to her current role, emphasizing her master's research on storytelling as a pathway out of trauma.

We discuss the incredible impact of digital storytelling workshops designed for veterans, highlighting the meticulous process of recruiting storytellers and ensuring their mental well-being.

Listen to the Co-Create podcast by Kristy Wolfe Stories, 'Empowering Veterans with Digital Storytelling' 👇
https://shows.acast.com/co-created/episodes/66d218b1c5079dde6154c93b

11/22/2024

Watch this Kickstarter update with Common Language DST Founder Michael Lang, PhD, to discover which Canadian celebrity will be participating in the Story Slam 2025 event on March 1st, 2025.

Comment below if you'll be attending! 👇

11/21/2024

Delve into the transformative power of digital storytelling within the nonprofit sector. Listen to a podcast with Common Language Facilitator, Heather Knox.

The episode opens with Heather sharing her passion for storytelling and its potential to revolutionize nonprofit advocacy. As she recounts her experiences, it becomes evident that stories are more than just a medium for communication—they are powerful tools that can mobilize support, engage donors, and foster a sense of community.

Read the blog, listen to the podcast, and/or watch the video: 👇

In this compelling episode of Leading Through Stories, we delve into the transformative power of digital storytelling within the nonprofit sector. Our guest, Heather Knox, a Common Language Digital Storytelling trained facilitator, takes us on an incredible journey from her early days co-founding Pr

11/18/2024

If our Kickstarter Project is successful, twelve of our trained Facilitators will each work with one Canadian charity to co-create their digital storytelling film.

These twelve short films, along with discussions featuring the storytellers and facilitators, will be showcased at our Story Slam event scheduled for March 1, 2025.

📍 Melody Williamson, Calgary, AB.
📍 Lisa Joworski, London, ON.
📍 Heather Knox, Vancouver, BC.
📍 Maureen Leier, Vancouver, BC.

Stay tuned to meet the final four Facilitators participating in this project!

11/15/2024

Do you believe in the power of storytelling? ✨ Here's your chance to make an impact! We're helping 12 amazing Canadian charities create storytelling videos that will inspire supporters, raise funds, recruit volunteers, and so much more.

Kickstarter Update! 💥 We're halfway through our Kickstarter Fundraiser and have reached 58% of our goal—raising $8,833 thanks to 26 incredible backers! 🙌

But we still need your help to raise the final 42%!

Support Story Slam 2025 and help us empower 12 charities to share their stories:

1️⃣ Share our Kickstarter link with a fellow storytelling enthusiast
2️⃣ Grab a ticket to attend Story Slam 2025 (in-person or online)
3️⃣ Donate to our Kickstarter project—every contribution counts!

Your support helps us create a day of storytelling and connection that uplifts the storytellers and the causes they represent. 💖

Share the link, buy tickets, or donate today, find the link in the comments below... 👇

11/14/2024

Digital Storytelling: A Powerful Tool for Non-Profits & Charities 🎥 Digital Stories are short storytelling films that bring organizations to life. Digital storytelling is more than just a communication tool—it's a bridge that fosters emotional connections and motivates action.

These films inspire donors, volunteers, and supporters. When an organization’s story is conveyed visually, it becomes easier for supporters to grasp and advocate for the mission.

Rocky Mountain Adaptive (RMA) was seeking a powerful tool in stakeholder communications and advocacy. They wanted to add a dimension to their marketing and communications strategies that allowed them to connect with their stakeholders in a deeper, more meaningful way. They worked with Common Language Facilitator, Kristy Wolfe to co-create their origin story film, 'Participate, Learn, Excel: The Origin Story of Rocky Mountain Adaptive'. 🫶

“The main objective was to create a story that educated people on why our charity was founded. The process of creating the story was more personal with Kristy’s empathy, professionalism, and awesomeness. The whole project was a positive experience on many levels and far exceeded expectations.” Jamie McCulloch, Founder of RMA

Learn how RMA's digital story became an impactful visual asset for the organization. Read the blog and watch their story: 👇

Read a digital storytelling case study with Rocky Mountain Adaptive & digital story, 'Participate. Learn. Excel. The Origin Story of RMA.'