STORIES THAT HEAL is an intergenerational participatory music and community health project focused on mental health and community wellbeing through lifting local stories and community-sourced musical expressions. First developed in 2022 Stories That Heal continues in 2024.

Many people are struggling through hard times right now.  Stories That Heal believes that we are truly stronger together and cultivates respectful and caring spaces of exchange where people can feel less isolated, share stories, and create and witness each other’s creative contributions. Through this co-creative process collective healing happens and capacities are built on the ground that support wellbeing for current and future generations.

ABOUT STORIES THAT HEAL

Located in Benzie County, Michigan, the project has been shaped and led by healing-centered artistic director/composer Molly Sturges with creative facilitator/songwriter Tim Jones and others. Stories That Heal includes community dialogues, creative workshops and story-gathering.  A community concert and interactive community dialogue was first presented at The Garden Theater on May 15th, 2022. A podcast series about the project was also produced by Interlochen Public Radio and public intergenerational creative workshops were held around Benzie throughout April(see below).  

Now an ongoing project in development, STH was initially a community partners project of the Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network with Interlochen Public Radio, Grow Benzie, The Garden Theater, and featured local (and regional) storytellers, musicians, and community members of all ages.

Stories That Heal was originally funded by Arts Midwest, Michigan Arts & Culture Council (MACC) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

SOME COMMUNITY EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS THAT HAPPENED SPRING 2022

Stories That Heal Pop-Up Choir-Singers of all-ages and experience were invited to join a pop-up choir for Stories That Heal. No formal training was required and all skill levels were welcome! 

Open-Call for Stories That Heal: Anyone willing to share a story was invited to submit a story to Stories That Heal. We invited people to share stories about a hard time faced and how it impacted them.

Let’s Make A Power Song Workshop for All-Ages: Young & old (and all caregivers and parents) were invited to come together to create a power song to help us get through hard times.


Creating A Healing Story Together: A Storytelling Workshop for All-Ages. Through sharing ideas and experiences we created a story together.

 Stories That Heal Listening & Support Circle: Through sharing our stories in safe circle we can lessen some of the  shame and isolation that often goes with mental and physical pain that many of us are facing during these challenging times.

Stories That Heal Artist Talk with Molly Sturges

Concert & Community Dialogue