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Story of Impact: Teaching Trust: How Storytelling Builds Connection in Divided Times
The Idaho Humanities Council Summer Institute is an annual, prestigious fellowship that brings together K–12 public school educators from across the country for a week of transformative learning. Over the past 2 years, Narrative 4 has proudly collaborated with the Institute to introduce the power of the Story Exchange, empowering educators to build trust, connection, and collaboration.
This year marked an inspiring milestone with the Pacific Northwest’s first-ever filmed Story Exchange, facilitated by the N4 Boise Team——Lead Trainer Sharon, Trainer Jane, and Community Facilitators Neva, Tessy, and Jess —as part of an upcoming Idaho Public Television documentary series led by Bill Manny, following his award-winning Idaho Listens. The Story Exchange served as the Institute’s kickoff event, setting the stage for a week of innovation and graduate-level humanities instruction while fostering meaningful relationships among participants.
In a state as politically and culturally divided as Idaho, where education remains underfunded and undervalued, these connections are vital. For educators often feeling isolated in their roles, the Story Exchange provided a safe space to share experiences, address challenges, and unite around a shared mission of student success. Teachers left the Institute not just as colleagues but as allies, inspired to lead with compassion and understanding in their classrooms and communities.
This partnership has been championed by Johanna Bringhurst, whose unwavering belief in the power of storytelling has brought N4 to the Institute year after year. Johanna understands that for educators to create dynamic and inclusive learning environments, they must first feel supported and connected. The results of this year’s exchange were immediate: participants who began the week as strangers quickly became collaborators, united in their commitment to educational equity and innovation.
The ripple effects of this work are profound. One participant, inspired by the experience, brought the Story Exchange to his classroom, later organizing a virtual exchange with N4 students in Israel. This allowed his students to connect across cultural and geographical divides, fostering empathy and understanding in ways that transcended borders.
This partnership demonstrates the extraordinary impact of investing in educators. By equipping teachers with tools to foster trust, connection, and empathy, Narrative 4 and the Idaho Humanities Council are helping educators transform classrooms and communities, inspiring the next generation of changemakers.
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