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ELDER STORY CIRCLES: THE POWER OF THE GROUP POEM Why group poems? What is offered through collaboration? Where do we begin? In this workshop we will explore the power of the group poem as a tool in working with elders to activate personal narrative, engaged listening and valued community. We will create multiple group poems attending to various themes, purposes and moments, and we will consider how we use our tools and pedagogy as teaching artists and facilitators. Throughout the workshop we look to illuminate these questions: How do we engage? How do we elicit and affirm participation in group exchange (aka conversation)? What is the power of listening? What are we listening for? Who is the leader? ABOUT MARSHA: Marsha Gildin is a passionate teaching artist who uses her enthusiasm and keen listening to connect individuals, generations, cultures, and communities through personal story, performance and celebration. She has worked with students of all ages and different abilities through drama, puppetry, movement, writing, storytelling, American Sign Language and song. She finds meaning and joy in facilitating and harvesting stories. "When people give voice and value to their life experiences and connect in community, we empower one another." Marsha has worked extensively with Elders Share the Arts (ESTA) in New York City directing intergenerational living history theatre projects. She conducts Story Circles of wide thematic variety with robust, well and frail elders, as well as with elders on the memory loss spectrum. Using the tools of evocation, association and improvisation to spark personal story, Marsha has worked extensively in the field of creativity, aging and reminiscence. Currently, through Teachers & Writers Collaborative, Marsha runs Story Circles with elders in senior centers and remote programming platforms.