Join Asian Girls Ignite's Middle School Cohort The Art of Being & Belonging: Creative Storytelling Series 📖.
This transformative cohort series invites AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth from grades 6 - 8 to explore the power of storytelling. Participants must be available and committed to attending every session in the cohort to fully benefit from the experience.
In Cohort Session 4:
Participants will celebrate their growth and self-expression by sharing their stories in a supportive community setting. This final session is a culmination of the series, where students will experience the power of storytelling, surrounded by the encouragement of peers, friends, and family in a creative showcase.
Cost:
We offer a sliding scale for this program to increase access and foster community support. You may choose to pay:
Tier 1: $40
Tier 2: $80
Tier 3: $160
If finances are a concern, please feel welcome to pay at a lower tier, allowing the community to support and uplift you. Paying in the middle covers the essential costs to sustain our programming. If you're able to pay more, your contribution will help uplift others and allow us to continue creating inclusive and empowering spaces for all. We trust that you will choose the tier that feels right for your family’s situation.
What to Expect from This Cohort Series:
Through Katerina’s expert guidance, students will workshop a personal narrative, engage in individual reflection, and offer peer feedback
The first three sessions will focus on identity exploration, writing practice, and discussion.
The series will culminate in a Story Slam, where students will creatively perform their stories, celebrating their growth and self-expression in an empowering space.
What You Will Learn:
Public speaking and narrative writing
Collaborative workshopping and feedback skills
Identity-building and cultivating self-confidence
Creative expression through storytelling
Empathizing with your own and others' lived experiences
Discover storytelling as a tool for healing, transformation, and liberation
About Each Cohort Session:
Session 1 on October 6, 2024 (in-person)
Identity & Expression - self-reflection, trust building exercises, identity mapping, observing powerful examples of personal narratives, and drafting an outline. Learn more about session 1 here.Session 2 on October 9, 2024 (virtual)
Crafting My Narrative - reflecting on their outline and practicing free writing and/or planning a visual component to accompany their final performance. Learn more about session 2 here.Session 3 on October 16, 2024 (virtual)
Refine & Practice - workshopping their drafts with peers in small groups, structured discussion and collaboration, learning tips for public speaking, improv-exercises. Learn more about session 3 here.Session 4 on October 20, 2024 (in-person)
Story Slam - A showcase where students will perform their stories, inviting friends and family to join in celebrating their growth and creative expression. Learn more about session 4 here.
Katerina shares “My personal hope is that students will want to continue sharing their experiences through writing, storytelling or other forms of art—this is a practice of personal healing, transformation, and liberation that will continue to serve them for the rest of their lives. I also hope the students gain confidence to stay true to themselves, speak up for themselves, and share their own experiences & perspectives boldly—this is such an important skill for creating change in this world, and is especially important for Asian girls & non-binary youth in particular.”
About Katerina Jeng
Katerina Jeng (they/she) is a neurodivergent queer Filipina-Taiwanese-American. Born in the bustling city of New York, New York, they grew up soaking in the suburban vibes of Long Island. Navigating their AAPI identity in an area with few others like them was a journey. Katerina spent their early years trying to blend in, downplaying their heritage to fit in with their predominantly white peers. It wasn't until after college that they embraced their Asian American identity, embarking on a quest to understand what it truly means.
Now, Katerina is passionate about sharing the richness of this identity and fostering pride within our community. As a storyteller for AGI, they are thrilled to connect with Asian girls, offering them the representation and guidance I wished for in my youth. Through their art and writing, including their upcoming poetry book "Gospel of a Whole Sun," Katerina explores themes of creativity, identity, and liberation. Additionally, they coach and facilitate workshops on these topics, aiming to empower others to discover their unique paths.
Celebrating their AAPI identity involves living authentically and boldly, while also creating new traditions and celebrations rooted in Katerina’s heritage. Maya Angelou's words, "At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel," resonate deeply with them. It reminds them that impacting others positively is the true measure of success in their journey.