Radical Empathy Through Sharing Stories with Narrative 4's Lee Keylock

Show notes

In this episode, Julia talks to Lee Keylock of Narrative 4 and they covered:

• Storytelling around controversial topics build community through revealing nuance
• How exactly Narrative 4’s Story Exchange works through experiencing radical empathy in circle
• That empathy starts with the courage and generosity to try to listen
• Hearing your story told by someone else lets you see it in a new light
• Facilitation is key to handle the emotional space and a co-facilitator helps keep the flow going
• That there is nothing soft about the skill of facilitation and it improves through practice
• Working with and learning from local leaders who already have people’s trust.

BIO: Lee Keylock is Director of Global Programs at Narrative 4 and oversees the coordination and administration of all aspects of N4’s ongoing programmatic development. Originally from Britain, Lee immigrated to the United States in 1989 and taught English at Newtown High School in Connecticut for thirteen years. He has served as an adjunct professor teaching Creative Writing and Composition at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, where he also earned his MFA in Creative Writing. He has played a major role in the global expansion of the organisation, overseeing some incredible projects; from bringing together Israelis and Palestinians to share stories, to using the Story Exchange to address issues around gun violence/ownership, to orchestrating immersive field exchanges between US high schools. He is currently running N4's civic engagement arm.

Some links about our work for people:

1) A quick video illustrating the power of the N4 story exchange (3 mins) 2) New York Times article where we brought together two socio-economically diverse schools: "A Tale of Two Schools." (5 min read) 3) The Field Exchange Program Video (4 mins) 4) N4 and Civic Engagement (7 mins) 5) NY Magazine covered our work with bringing together people on the diverse issue of guns in America. (10 min read). The accompanying award winning documentary (20 mins) 6) CBS news reporting on our Police and Youth story exchange initiative (3 mins) 7) Website: https://narrative4.com/

You can pre-order our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Holding-Practical-Facilitating-Talking/dp/1805013157/) For a signed copy from Independent Book Store West End Lane Books purchase the book here https://www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/circle-holding-by-julia-davis-and-tessa-venuti-sanderson

To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings: https://www.circleholding.org Circle Holding Fundamentals - introductory 3 hour workshop https://www.circleholding.org/circle-fundamentals Circle Holding Facilitator Training - 3 month training https://www.circleholding.org/circle-holders-journey Circle Holding Book Club - a fun way to work through the exercises https://www.circleholding.org/book-club Yoga Nidra & Circle Holding https://www.circleholding.org/yoga-nidra-circle-holding Circle Holding Self Study Programme https://www.circleholding.org/self-study Circle Holding Non-Residential Retreat - London https://www.circleholding.org/weekend-retreat Circle Holding Residential Retreat https://www.circleholding.org/autumn-residential Free Events and mini trainings - meet Julia & Tessa and get a taste of circle holding https://www.circleholding.org/free-resources We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at info@circleholding.org

Music credit: Fabio Venuti