"Spoken Stories Creating Community." FGCU Storytelling presents oral storytelling events as a performance art, community art, healing art. Produced by Dr. Joel Ying and Prof. Lori Cornelius for the Dept of Language and Literature and the Dept of Integrated Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Sponsored by Seidler Foundation, Wasmer Art Gallery, Florida Storytelling Association.
Description
Do you want to learn more about the healing art of oral storytelling?
FGCU Storytelling "Spoken Stories Creating Community" presents our 2nd summer conference of workshops, performances, coaching, and networking. Curiosity is the birthplace of compassion. Stories stimulate empathy. Are you curious?
Theme - Storytelling as Healing: Curiosity and Compassion
Featured Storytellers - Kim Weitkamp and Susan O'Halloran
Host - Dr. Joel Ying, MD
Schedule
Fri Jun 5
LOCATION: Auditorium, Academic Building 9 (The Water School), FGCU
7pm - 8:30pm Tell and Talk Performance: "Storytelling as Healing: Curiosity and Compassion"
with Kim Weitkamp and Susan O'Halloran
Sat Jun 6
LOCATION: Community Room, Room 138, Academic Building 9 (The Water School), FGCU
9am – 10am Panel Discussion: "Curiosity, Compassion, Storytelling and Artificial Intelligence"
Moderator Dr. Joel Ying, Panel: Kim Weitkamp, Susan O'Halloran, Lori Cornelius
10:30am – 12pm WORKSHOP: "Telling Stories that Build Compassion" facilitated by Kim Weitkamp. Storytelling doesn’t just express curiosity and compassion, it actively builds them, and that’s what we’ll practice. First, we’ll learn how to shift our questions from judgment to curiosity. Second, we’ll practice stepping inside a story, seeing, hearing, and feeling it from another perspective. And third, we’ll explore how to reflect a story back with care, using language that honors the person rather than reduces them.
12pm – 2pm LUNCH BREAK
2pm – 3:30pm WORKSHOP: "Stories for Change: Creating Curiosity and Compassion" facilitated by Susan O'Halloran. Understand how to create engaging stories with deeper purpose. Sue O’Halloran will demonstrate how she approaches her stories of social justice. These principles will apply to any cause that calls to you, whether you are an active advocate or just beginning to take on stories with purpose that move your audience to possibly take action.
4pm – 5pm Story Coaching – Learn from the coaching process with Featured Storytellers. Sign up at the event for story coaching by our professional storytellers with a 5 - 7 minute story or excerpt.
5pm – 7pm DINNER BREAK
LOCATION: Auditorium, Room 106, Academic Building 9 (The Water School), FGCU
7pm – 8:30pm Performance by Kim Weitkamp
Sun Jun 7
LOCATION: Community Room, Room 138, Academic Building 9 (The Water School), FGCU
10am – 12:00pm Storytelling Circle - Join us to listen and/or bring your own story to add to the circle.
Featured Storytellers
Kim Weitkamp performs full time at festivals and theaters around the country, has written an award-winning folk operetta and has been a guest editor and contributor for various publications. She was awarded a grant from Ohio Arts Council for her work as an artist mentor, was nominated for the Blue Ridge Excellence for the Arts award and awarded the prestigious Leadership in Communication Award by Toastmasters in Washington, D.C. Add to that over 9 awards for her spoken word albums. Beyond the stage, Kim founded the VOICES PROJECT, helping individuals who have lived through profound experiences and hardships shape their stories with intention to foster awareness, connection, and meaningful change. kimweitkamp.com
Sue O’Halloran is the author of several books and the producer/director of the first online story festival in 2012, which reached 52 countries and whose website received over half a million visitors each year. The Chicago Reader says O’Halloran “has mastered the Irish art of telling stories that are funny and heart-wrenching at the same time.” Sue has been a featured teller at the National Storytelling and Timpanogos Festivals as well as a keynote speaker and community-building facilitator at the National Storytelling Network conferences. She lives in Lady Lake, Florida. susanohalloran.com
Host: Dr. Joel Ying, MD - Physician, Educator, Storyteller - JoelYing.com
Sponsors
This event is FREE and open to the public by a generous donation from our sponsors. Seating is limited. Register Today!
Seidler Foundation
Florida Storytelling Association (FSA) - flstory.com
FGCU Storytelling / FGCU Creative Writing Program, Dept of Lang & Lit, College of Arts & Sciences
Joy Health & Wellness, LLC - Dr. Joel Ying, MD
Date & Time
Jun 5, 2026 6:00 PM - Jun 7, 2026 12:00 PM
Venue Details
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
10501 FGCU Boulevard SouthFort Myers, Florida 33965
