The Healing Heart - Story Telling to Build Strong and Healthy Communities

The Healing Heart provides powerful examples of the use of stories and storytelling in encouraging resiliency, empathy, respect, and healing. These engaging books contain stories, and narratives about the use of the stories in activities with different populations (children, teens, those with disabilities, seniors, inmates, etc.) or which address specific social or community problems (addictions, poverty, violence, racism, environmental degradation, homelessness, abuse). The books are a collective effort containing the expertise of over 60 storytellers and health professionals who illustrate the power of story in moving others to commitment and action, in building self-esteem and mutual respect. Included are folk tales, personal stories, articles, exercises, games, songs, and quotations, together with resource lists of stories, books and community agencies focused on similar themes. Essays include information on why storytelling works, approaches for sharing stories in various settings, how to encourage others to tell stories (involving the audience and creating a safe environment for others to storytell), and how to process the story through song, art, games, improvisational story plays, community projects, and discussion. 'The Healing Heart - Communities' focuses on community-building, with sections on youth, violence prevention, poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and addiction, racism, elders, culture, environmental protection, homelessness, and community development.