YOUNG GRIOTS
The Young Griots program teaches the fundamentals of creative thinking and refines the skills inherent to storytelling — be it writing or visual arts. Ongoing workshops are developed for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who have an interest in learning and applying these tools in their current academic practices and beyond, as storytelling is a key asset in any career path.
Young Griots Mind, Body, Spirit Approach
The Mind, Body, Spirit approach is a proven and successful model that blends mindfulness, nature, and the classroom with powerful, engaging, and
experiential activities.
To prepare Young Griots to absorb and retain the lessons and skills of storytelling, we need to first reduce their stress and anxiety, and “quiet the noise.” Most individuals don’t focus on any one thing for more than seven seconds. This racing mind leads to mental fatigue, which results in being unproductive. Learning to concentrate, through meditation, supports control of the native mind resulting in extreme focus, productivity, and opens the student to greater creativity. In this mind space, Young Griots will be guided through the fundamentals of storytelling, given the tools inherent in compelling storytelling, and encouraged and guided to unleash their unlimited potential. Young Griots express their storytelling through various forms, including creative writing, 2- and 3-dimensional art, photography, printmaking, and a host of other mediums.
“The belly craves food, she thinks, the tongue craves water, the heart craves love, and the mind craves stories.”
— excerpt The Thousand Autumns of Jacob DeZoet
GRIOT PUBLISHING
We seek out fully-developed voices and cultivate emerging voices who yearn to share their stories. Through aggressive marketing and distribution, we provide exposure for these works to broad, mainstream audiences.
We understand that storytelling is not and should not be based on the color, race, or ethnicity of the storyteller or the topic being shared. What speaks to the heart and mind supersedes all. Storytellers have the unique ability to entertain, influence, and connect people like no other. It is through storytellers that we can build bonds and bridge the gaps among humanity.
Griot Publishing’s approach is unique in that we serve the “whole storyteller,” by providing them with the tools necessary to nurture their creativity and provide for sustainable business success. Through our small business education program, we engage experts across disciplines to unfold topics essential for the long-term success of those in the creative industry. These workshops include, understanding contracts and IP rights, taxation of independent contractors or small businesses, marketing and social media strategies and planning, media training, and public speaking. Through these workshops we provide a solid foundation which will serve them as they build their careers.