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4th</title></head><body>
<div><font face="Techno" size="+1" color="#000000">You're
invited!<br>
<br>
Community Dialogue with John O'Neal and Junebug Productions<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Techno" color="#000000">Sunday, December 4th,
12:00pm - 4:00pm<br>
Center for Contemplative Mind in Society<br>
199 Main St., Northampton<br>
(up the street from Haymarket Café and diagonal from City Hall)<br>
<br>
John O'Neal, founder of The Free Southern Theater and a dedicated
organizer through the Civil Rights Movement to the present day, will
be sharing an approach to the use of story called Story Circles. John
O'Neal is the artistic Director of Junebug Productions, based in New
Orleans. Story Circles is the foundation of Junebug's artistic and
activist work, often dealing with issues of systematic racism.<br>
<br>
<u>About Story Circles<br>
<br>
</u></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="-3"
color="#000000"><i>"When we tell stories, we are sharing with each
other how we put things together.<br>
When we share stories, we share parts of ourselvesŠ<br>
The use of a circle where everyone can see each other is critical, as
it implies an equal, active and democratic role for each participant."
- John O'Neal<br>
<br>
</i></font><font face="Techno" color="#000000">Story Circles use the
age-old tradition of story telling as a way to bring people together
and to build relationships among themŠ<br>
<br>
The story circle serves as an integral tool for building and
encouraging communication and knowledge. The premise behind the
process is that by allowing people to hear each other's viewpoints
or experiences in the form of, they gain a much fuller understanding
of alternative ideas and experiences without unnecessary
confrontation, and without feeling that their own ideas are being
threatened or rejectedŠ<br>
<br>
In story telling (and story circles), listening is always more
important than talking. If you're thinking about your story while
someone is telling theirs, you won't hear what they say. If you
trust the circle, when it comes your turn to tell, a story will be
thereŠ<br>
<br>
Organizers and artists alike have testified that the use of Story
Circles allows participants to speak freely about feelings, connect
with social issues on a very intimate, visceral level, gain respect
and empathy for each other, and form lasting bonds.<br>
<br>
<font size="-1"><b> For more information, call Rose at 413
582-0071, X 14. Sponsored by New World Theater</b></font></font></div>
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