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E² – Entertainment & Education : At Home Entertainment Magazine ~ Edition 2

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We invited you to join us as we launch into new opportunities and connect with creatives, educators, and natural and cultural history interpreters from around the world!

Photographed by Manyu Varma, via UnSplash.

3,2,1 … Blast Off! The StoryToGo Classroom Soft Launches

Phew!  It’s been a busy Spring and Summer for us, as we’ve been building the new StoryToGo Classroom and developing and teaching some initial courses there.

We’d love to invite you to come check it out. Just click on the button below.

Visit the New StoryToGo Classroom Site

As those of you that are regular readers here are aware, StoryToGo is a community site developed by Lori Yearwood, Kevin Ribble, and myself (Erica Hargreave) to explore contemporary storytelling, education, and culture with colleagues from across Canada and around the World.

While we are just getting started, stay tuned on the site for:

  • Contemporary Storytelling Courses (spanning the arts)
  • Marketing and Branding Courses
  • Technology Courses
  • Youth Camps, Classes, and Virtual Field Trips
  • A Culture Hub (with courses that allow you to virtually travel and learn about different cultures around the world)
  • A Health and Wellness Centre (with classes and courses in yoga, mindfulness, office exercises, and nature escapes)
  • A Teacher Hub (with resources for educators)

If you are interested in creating and building courses with us, please reach out. We’d love to chat.  Aside from creatives in a variety of disciplines, we’d also love to involve some of the tourism, parks, and arts organizations that we’ve worked with over the years in developing classes and courses for the Culture Hub and Health and Wellness Centre.

The Courses on the site are a mix of Open, Free, Paid, and Private Group Courses. Below we share a few of the initial courses that are available there now.

Some of the Initial Camps and Courses in the StoryToGo Classroom

As we soft launch the new StoryToGo Classroom site, we invite you to checkout our initial classes, camps and courses!

Open Courses:

Free Classes:

Online Summer Camps:

Online Music Lessons:

Photo by Fitsum Admasu, via UnSplash.

Upcoming Online Camps and Courses at BCIT

We are rather delighted to be developing and delivering BCIT’s first ever online summer camp! 

The camp, Animated Stories, will be offered twice this summer:

  • July 27 – 31 for 8 – 13 year olds
  • August 10 – 14 for 13 – 17 year olds

Also this coming Autumn, we will be offering both of our post-secondary accredited, online courses through BCIT’s Broadcast Media and Communications Part Time Studies Program.

We hope to see you in class!

In other exciting news, we have just signed a contract with Tom Skerritt’s new channel, EVRGRN, to stream and distribute the full documentary version of Naturally Ours : Salt Spring Island.  This means new channels and air dates to catch the documentary, starting with STIRR for those of you in the United States!

And don’t forget, you can still watch the full documentary on Fearless, and the web series on Seeka TV and Stareable!

Stories That Matter to Us

The last few months have held many things that impact our team of storytellers deeply and personally.  We’ve done a little writing on that.

Black Lives Matter

Mindfulness

Meditating

Healthy & Fun

Eating Well

Connecting from Afar

Torre Unconf 

Recently Lori and I had fun participating in an Unconference that Torre hosted.  This was a great way to connect with new colleagues around the world and discuss ideas. 

Future StoryToGo Unconf

As such we are exploring the idea of hosting a StoryToGo Unconference this coming winter as a way of bringing people together around the world in the creative arts, tourism, education, technology, and health and wellness.  If this is something that you’d enjoy developing with us, please drop us a line.

Stress Free Summer Festival

Speaking of connecting from afar, our friends at Master Peace are hosting a week of interesting and free talks until Friday July 17th, with their Stress Free Summer Festival for those of you interested in partaking.

Stay safe and well, and find things to keep you laughing and dreaming.

With healthy wishes from Erica, Lori, Kevin, Anne, Alex and the rest of our Ahimsa Media, StoryToGo and Roamancing team.

The Power of the Protest – Positive Changes Coming from the June 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests

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One of our Roamancing writer’s recently did the research and wrote a letter to a loved one about Systemic Racism, Police Brutality, and positive change coming from the Black Lives Matter Protests and Marches to explain to them why the current Black Lives Matter protests and marches are needed. As we feel this is an important issue and think she did an excellent job of both researching and addressing the problem, we are sharing her letter in 3-parts, here, on Being Emme, and on Roamancing. Her research is focused on the United States, but as is evident in the news in recent weeks, this is very much an issue that needs addressing here at home in Canada too. You can read the first part of her letter by clicking here and the second part of her letter here.

We chose StoryToGo to share the final part of Alex’s letter, as it shows the powerful and positive impact that one form of storytelling can have – that of the protest. These are also stories that we wish to share further, and by sharing them in 3-parts that span 3-different sites with 3-different communities of readers, we hope that Alex’s research and words will resonate further.

June 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dear …

I took your advice and have been doing a lot of research and reading on the subject and I wanted to share with you what I’ve found.

It’s okay if we don’t see everything the same way – I’ll always listen and think about what you have to say and hope you’ll do the same for me! Because what’s the point of having a brain if I don’t use it for critical thinking? You taught me that. 

Anyways love you lots and hope you’ll read with an open mind.

Alex Charters

Below is a continuation of Alex’s letter that began with the sobering facts on police brutality and a brief history of systemic racism.

A poignant question at the Black Lives Matter March in Phoenix, Arizona (June 2020).

I understand a lot of what you said on Sunday and agree that Canada is not America. We have our own problems that we need to face but I think supporting the Civil Rights Movement in America is very important right now. (And added by the editor similar issues do exist in Canada, particular towards our Indigenous people.)

The international support and media attention have forced America to take action and start making real change.

Alex Charters

Positive Changes Coming From the Black Lives Matter Protests:

Re: George Floyd

Photo care of Lorie Shaull

Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter of George Floyd. This is almost unheard of with 99% of officers getting no charges in the shooting of suspects. 

Re: Breonna Taylor

The ‘no-knock” warrants that allow police officers to enter homes without providing any notice will now be regulated. 

Re: Michael Brown

Ferguson (where Michael Brown was murdered) just elected its first black mayor and she is also the first female mayor.

Other Positive Moves

Black Lives Matter Protests in Phoenix, Arizona – June 2020
  • In California, prosecutors are lobbying the state bar to ban district attorneys from accepting money from police unions.
  • In Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that he will “seek to identify $100 million to $150 million in cuts from the LAPD,” and that the funds will funnel into different areas such as jobs, health care and education.
  • In New Jersey law enforcement will be adding mental health professionals, as well as other reforms.
  • In San Diego police end the use of carotid restraint.
  • In Colorado a bill was introduced to address abusive law enforcement.
  • Unanimous passing of mandatory police education and bias training passed through Michigan’s Senate.
  • Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to require police officers to intervene anytime they see unauthorized use of force by another officer and to ban police chokeholds altogether. 
  • In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to redirect some of the New York Police Department budget toward youth and social services. De Blasio also committed to repealing Section 50-A, which prevents the public from accessing disciplinary records of police officers.
  • The US Marine Corps released guidance on the removal of public displays of the Confederate battle flag. 

I think the problems black Americans are facing are very real and these protests are an extension of the Civil Rights movement from the 1960’s. These movements are pivotal in making change.

Alex Charters

For a first hand account from the Black Lives Matter protests and marches in the United States, read Lori’s experiences partaking in the marches in Arizona, as an interracial family.

References

A Children’s Yoga Adventure Story Created in Elementari

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Lori Yearwood created the most beautiful, calming, and relaxing animated adventure story today using Elementari – a platform designed to allow children, youth, teachers, schools, and adults to create interactive, animated stories. Lori’s story is crafted to give kids at home a relaxing yoga experience that takes them on a virtual adventure to a day at the seashore.

A Children’s Yoga Adventure Story to the Seashore

Watch, read, listen, and enjoy!

As you watch, read, listen, and enjoy the story above, wait for the flashing white arrow. Click on it to turn the pages. If it does not appear, then click the left arrow on your keyboard to flip the page. Also, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for things to click on within the story iteself.

Elementari

We were fortunate enough to ‘virtually meet’ and learn about Elementari from one of the founders, Nicole Kang. Nicole kindly participated in our new vlogcasting series on Sustainable Funding Solutions for Media, Educators, and Technologists. You can watch the premiere episode of the vlogcast featuring Nicole and Elementari, below.

Elementari is currently helping teachers and parents, who are looking for ways to keep kids learning during the COVID-19 school closures, by giving them free premium access to their interactive storytelling platform to help kids learn how to read, write, and code.

Request Free Premium Access

Lori Yearwood as Phoenix Rising

Aside from being one of the Founders of StoryToGo, Lori Yearwood is a children’s book author and has a newer not-so-secret identity as a yoga and exercise instructor. You can follow along with her yogi adventure at PhoenixMoments on Instagram.

E² – Entertainment & Education : At Home Entertainment Magazine ~ Edition 1

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Escape into a world of stories, calming moments, and cultural adventures, all from comfort of your living rooms and kitchens.

Phew!  What a couple of weeks it has been as we all settle into self-isolation.  To give those who wish it an escape to the land of the nerdy, Lori and I are focusing on sharing fun, calming, and educational distractions.  Some of these are things we are creating, and some are things that we find that other creative individuals and educators have crafted. 

E² – Entertainment & Education Newsletter : An At Home Entertainment Magazine

Over the coming weeks, we will regularly share a new E² – Entertainment & Education Newsletter with fun, calming, and educational things we find or create.

Sign Up for the Newsletter

You can also tune in throughout the week, as we share positive, calming, and uplifting content to the following Facebook pages and groups:

  • StoryToGo – live virtual concerts, poetry, bedtime stories, storytelling tools, music, and anything that is arts and storytelling related
  • Watch and Learn – educational videos
  • Roamancing and Women Who Love to Travel – anything related to learning about a culture or that take people on virtual adventures
  • Ahimsa Media – a mix of educational tools, remote work tools, and just plain light-hearted moments in Lori’s and my workday

We invite you to join us in these spaces and to share posts of your own. 

A Virtual Children’s Yoga Adventure Story to the Seashore

On the note of calming, Lori created a beautiful and relaxing children’s story using Elementari this past week. The story takes children on a virtual yoga adventure to the seashore.  While this is the perfect activity read to enjoy with your kids, my Mom and I enjoy it too and have read it several times.

To begin the story below, hit the play button on the image that follows. As you watch, read, listen, and enjoy the story, wait for the flashing white arrow. Click on it to turn the pages. If it does not appear, then click the left arrow on your keyboard to flip the page. Also, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for things to click on within the story itself.

As I mentioned in last week’s email, Elementari is at present offering teachers and parents free premium access to their interactive storytelling platform.  It is a great tool for teaching reading, writing and coding to kids and is an awesome creative outlet for people of any age.  Have you always wanted to create a children’s book?  Now is your chance!

Teachers and parents that wish to request premium access, can do so via this link.  There is also an open educational teacher’s guide to Elementari, that is a work-in-progress.

Finding Your Undiscovered Potential

Lori also wrote this great article on The Apple: A Lesson in Finding Your Undiscovered Potential, this past week.

This article very much echoes our approach to this time of at-home-adventures, by taking on new challenges and trying new things.  In my neck of the woods, I am finally teaching myself to play the Nuu-Chah-Nulth drum that I was given by the Tseshaht First Nation. I am proud to have thus far attracted an audience of Ella (my cat), Linus (my Mom’s dog), and Hugo (the cat that lives next door). Ella and Linus have also both expressed interest in being part of the band.

Meanwhile, not having any human yoga students to teach at present, Lori has taken to teaching yoga to her dog, Mango.

Naturally Salt Spring on Seeka TV

Finally we are thrilled to share that Season 1 of Naturally Ours, Naturally Salt Spring just launched for free on Seeka TV!  If you are like us, escapes into nature are what you need at the moment, so we hope this virtual one to visit the people and parks of Salt Spring Island helps.

Tune in on Seeka TV

LIVE From Your Living Room

We have been so impressed by all the live concerts and sharing of storytelling resources for free that has been going on this past week or so, as we all work to #FlattenTheCurve.

Below is just a tease of what’s online, waiting for you to discover:

School at Home

It has been heartwarming to see all the resources that people and organizations are providing for parents and teachers, as students move to schooling from home for the time being. 

Toronto Zoo

Aside from Elementari, we have listed other free resources that we’ve found for parents and teachers to aid in students learning from home:

Courses for Teachers

Below are a few free courses for teachers and other adult learners that colleagues at BCIT and UBC have sent us this week:

If you know of an artist, artistic community, educator, or educational community that are sharing things to help entertain and educate us as we self-isolate, please let us know about it, and we will share what they are up to in one of our upcoming E² Newsletters.

Online Exercise Classes

As parks, gyms, and exercise studios close for the present, we have to thank organizations that are offering free at-home exercise solutions.

Two such organizations that we’ve found this past week, include:

  • Down Dog Yoga App – which is free for everyone until May 1st, and to school and health care communities until July 1st with your school or health care email. I initiated BCITs free access this past weekend, so those of you in the BCIT Community can sign up with your my.bcit.ca email.
  • YMCA 360 – The YMCA are offering their On-Demand Exercise Videos for all ages for a limited time.

Virtual Travels

While sadly, we are not able to travel and explore distant lands at present, there are ways for the time being that we can learn about cultures around the world from our own living rooms, while we #FlattenTheCurve by staying at home. Below are just a few virtual travels that we’ve recently enjoyed:

Stay safe and well, and reach out if you need help.

With healthy wishes from Erica, Lori, Ella, Mango, and the rest of our Ahimsa Media, StoryToGo and Roamancing team.

Launching a new YouTube Channel on the Art and Business of Storytelling!

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We are most excited to share more of the thought provoking material we have been building up through our storytelling adventures, via the new StoryToGo YouTube channel that we have just launched! This is for all Storyworld creators, whether you work in traditional, digital media, marketing, or education, and whether you are an at the forefront or a behind the scenes person. Or perhaps you are even someone who would just like to grab a story to go! Take a look at our teaser video of what’s to come, hosted by our very own Erica Hargreave.

Ringing in 2020 with Storytelling and Digital Media Courses at BCIT

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As we ring in a new year, it had me reflecting on what is important to me, and this old proverb …

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Photographed by Cristian Palmer, care of Unsplash.

There is no greater gift that you can give yourself or another than learning a skill that helps pursue one’s passions. This is the reason why sharing knowledge is an important part of what we aim to do here with StoryToGo.

The Importance of Sharing Knowledge For Us

When I started speaking in 2008 about bridging the worlds of media, interactive and cross-platform storytelling, and digital media, it occurred to me that while inspiring people through my talks was great and all, to truly help people to take action, they needed a course giving them guidance and support while they build and craft their storyworlds.

Interactive Storytelling
Erica Hargreave and Caitlin Burns on a Panel on Convergent Storytelling.
Photographer: Liz Kearsley

A year later, after pitching the local post secondary schools, my first post-secondary school courses launched at BCIT and Capilano University. Since then my team and I have also built courses and workshops and taught community, undergraduate and graduate courses at Ryerson University, Humber College, and NVIT. In addition, we’ve helped build new programs and revise old programs. It has both been an honour to teach and share with others, and fulfills a passion of ours. We love teaching.

Creating Our Courses Online

In 2011, after speaking in Egypt, we recognized that to truly make a difference to people that could most benefit from our courses, we needed them to be available online.

Erica Hargreave speaking on ‘Real Time’ Storytelling at the UNWTO Conference on Working with Media in Challenging Times in Marsa Alam, Egypt.

Thanks to BCIT and our colleague Kevin Ribble, they were by 2013. This has also allowed Lori Yearwood to help build and teach those courses with me.

2020 Courses at BCIT

I am happy to share that as we move into 2020, we now have 2 online post-secondary credited courses and 2 intensive community courses offered through BCIT’s Broadcast Media and Communications Part Time Studies. All of our courses are project based, in which our students come out of them having built or built upon projects of their own that they are crafting for their future endeavours.

For those of you who are looking to give yourself and someone in your life the gift of learning this year, these are a few of the courses that we will be teaching in 2020:

Photographed by Ian Schneider, care of Unsplash.

More Coming on StoryToGo

Also keep your eyes peeled here as we will be launching the StoryToGo Classroom site later this year with mini online courses, and tailored online and blended courses for organizations from us and our rich group of storytelling friends and colleagues.

If you have a course that you would love to see offered through StoryToGo, please let us know in the comments, and if you wish us to tailor create a course for your organization, please send us an email.

Photographed by by Danielle Macinnes, care of Unsplash.

Raising a glass of whatever your preferred beverage to a happy and rewarding new year and new decade, rich in learning!