top of page
First, there was bookmaking...
How It All Began...
Jonell Joshua's community storytelling workshops evolved from multiple events she refers to as a domino effect. One speaking engagement and event led to the next after she released her illustrated memoir... but she gives true honor to the intention she set while writing and crafting her memoir.
The goal was to explore different methods of storytelling within bookmaking and create something she hadn't seen in the memoir space, her story and her family's journey, together. With that in mind, along with the intention to help young readers (and adults!) see themselves in her story, her memoir blossomed into a community project, she has now coined as "Craft Your Story!"
Learn more about the workshop's evolution below!
First, there was bookmaking...
It all started at Pratt Institute, when Jonell
was invited to speak at the Bookmaking: A Process Approach Professional Development Workshop for NYCDOE teachers. There, she shared her own bookmaking process...
Teachers would then bring lessons from this workshop to their classrooms to support their students enter into the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition.
A lightbulb moment!
When Jonell realized the impact of sharing her story and bookmaking process with teachers, she pitched and facilitated a "Mindmapping Through Memory" workshop at the NYCDOE Fall 2024 Citywide District Leadership Conference.
​With great reception from teachers and parent leaders, Jonell realized she was onto something, so she went back to the drawing board to refine the workshop...
You never know who's watching!
​​​​Then, Jonell joined Jennifer Buehler with authors Huda Fahmy and Sarah Meyer for the NCTE Conference's hybrid panel-workshop, "Writing Memoir with YA Authors: Raise Your Voice, Claim Your Story."
The hybrid workshop component sparked when Jennifer saw Jonell's post on social media about the NYCDOE workshop she facilitated!​
And with a little bit of tweaking...
Jonell has worked with the public, K-12 students; teachers and parent leaders for professional development; and college level students.
Each workshop is carefully crafted for participants to explore storytelling for social change; mental health; identity, family and community relationships; and environmental storytelling, while also implementing the intrinsic values of love, healing, and gratitude – themes used to develop Jonell’s memoir.
Let's Work Together!
Contact
If you are interested in bringing my workshop to your organization, Let's connect!
bottom of page