Talks and Workshops

TALKS

Storyteller in Residence for Appalachia Funders Network. Stories from the Front Porch. Led a series of civic imagining sessions, plenary and community conversations for 150 funders/practitioners, thought leaders, artists changemakers from across Appalachia and beyond. April/May 2025. Program Spotlight.
Panel Discussant. The Power of Dialogue to Build Community, Foster Connection and Build Resilient Communities. Part of International Development Week hosted by Atlantic Council for International Cooperation in Partnership with Canada. February 2025.
Cultural Advisor. Walking Together, funded by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. A national philanthropy initiative supporting community arts and cultural vitality investments in communities of color, accessible across all 56 U.S. states and jurisdictions. Ongoing, 2024/2025.
Task Force Strategy Advisor. Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund of East Tennessee Foundation; Building trust-based strategies to distribute $6 million to aid long term disaster recovery for communities in Appalachia impacted by Hurricane Helene. Ongoing, 2024/2025.
Keynote. Storytelling & Vocation; King Institute for Faith and Culture, a network for vocation in undergraduate education; a program supported by NetVUE and the Lilly Foundation. November 2024.
Plenary and Creative Leadership Thinker. Storytelling, human rights & global peacebuilding initiative in collaboration with Kahanee in Winnipeg, Canada. Ongoing through 2025.
Keynote. Storytelling; A Gift of Hope; Goucher College Master of Arts in Cultural Sustainability. October 2024.
Co-Designer and Facilitator. Community, Foodways, Gender Justice and Storytelling Convening; a Mellon-funded program hosted by the University of North Carolina’s Department of Women and Gender Studies at the Sonja Hanyes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. September 2024.
Keynote. Storytelling for Shifting Power, Advocacy and Change; for the Council for Exceptional Children and the Council of Administrators of Special Education; Alexandria, VA and US House and Senate in Washington D.C. August 2024.
Keynote. Stories for Hope & Change; Tennessee Valley Authority’s Office of the General Council. August 2024.
·Lead Facilitator for National Dialogues, “Telling Stories That Matter: In Times of Crisis.” Led, planned and designed dialogue workshops and community participation sessions for public folklorists, artists, and activists for the American Folklore Society and Living Traditions Network. May 2024.
Provided Narrative Specialism for the Co-Creation of a Disinformation in the City Response Playbook with University of Melbourne. February – May 2024.
Commencement Speech Keynote with Mary V Jordan Multicultural Center commencement speech keynote. May 2024.
Advisory Grants Reviewer with Folk and Traditional Arts, “In These Mountains” infrastructure grants & programs with South Arts and Mid Atlantic Arts. Nov 2023, and February 2024.
An advisor for Walking Together, a new national initiative focusing on folklife in communities of color to bolster support for emerging traditional artists/practitioners of color and cultural organizations/collectives that are led by and accountable to communities of color. Ongoing.
Lead Thinker and Program Design for Storytelling, Human Rights & Global Peacebuilding initiative (Canada). Ongoing.
Keynote Speaker for Rotary International’s Arch Klump Society. Major fundraiser for the five global peace centers, Chapel Hill/Duke, Makerere University, Uganda, Turkey, Middle East and North Africa. April 2024.
Presented Plenary and Design for Three Day Storytelling Community Building Retreat for artists and community members, with the RiffRaff Arts Collective’s “We Need to Talk!” initiative. Funded by an Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts; Princeton, WV: March 2024.
Keynote Speaker on the theme of Storytelling to Build a Culture of Belonging, for the 39th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, on the theme of Storytelling to build a culture of belonging. Hawai’i. Pacific Rim and panel participant for Conversations on Storytelling: Speaking and Listening to our Indigenous and Ancestral Voices at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Ancestral and Indigenous Storytelling. February 2024.
Led, Designed and Moderated, “How Do We Break Through the Silence & Act for Peace & Justice: Israel/Palestine Crisis.” A peace activist healing and story testimonial session that explored cultivating stories of power and resilience, as a tool for building relationships, how to work through difficult conversations, build empathy and cross-cultural understanding. Participants included Palestinian and Israeli, Muslim and Jewish peace activists. January 2024.
·Keynote Speaker and Workshop Facilitator for AUCD Conference. Presented two plenaries, two storytelling workshops and thematic design thinking, for the Association for University Center on Disability (AUCD) for the 2023 conference on the theme Emerging Leaders Shape the Future Through the Power of Storytelling. November 2023.
Narrative Thought Leader, Emcee and Storyteller-in-Residence for Appalachian Big Ideas Festival, in Hazard, Kentucky. An Appalachian-centered convening focused on disrupting the narrative, advancing social justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and building inclusive dialogues. October 2023. Write-up by Tasha Sams: Program Spotlight
Led Storytelling for Community Power Workshops at World Culture Festival, West Virginia, September 2023.
Provided Consultation on The Potential of Storytelling in Conflict Engagement and Building Relationships for The Center on Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE). A subsidiary partner of the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. Participants include conflict specialists, attorneys, mediators, parent centers, special education needs representatives and advocates for special educational needs, mediation and early dispute resolution. September 2023.
Workshop Facilitator for Waymakers Collective. An Appalachian Futurism project rooted in equitable justice, creative cooperation, and sustainable stewardship. August 2024.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Creative Encounters; Living Religions, Delivered daily storytelling conversations, presentations and facilitation of main stage narrative session panels, as part of a Storytelling as a Sacred Gift- theme. The National Mall, and Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. July 29 and July 9, 2023. Humanity Stories
Led Storytelling training in Evanston, Illinois that took place at Rotary International Headquarters’ One Rotary Center. This was part of Rotary leadership Global Support Seminar to train and introduce regional leaders from 19 different countries on storytelling as a community building practice. February 2023.
Hosted a “Changing the Narrative” roundtable discussion at International Storytelling Center with The Emancipator’s Co-Editors. The Emancipators project is part of The Boston Globe and Boston University Center for Antiracist Research led by anti-racist activist scholar Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.
Participated in a special convening of storytelling and music with world-class cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Kiran led a thinking exercise and workshop focusing on the interplay between culture and the environment, music and stories, and how they can foster peace and understanding, building out connections between and among one another and the land upon which we live and work. Kiran participated as a thinking partner in partnership with The Office performing arts and film, the National Park Service, the Cherokee Museum, Tremont, Black in Appalachia, and other participants.; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; 2022
New Pluralists Collaborative Conflict Transformation and Healing Focus Group. Kiran was invited to participate in this focus group, aimed at developing a focal area strategy for future New Pluralists grant-making. Other change leaders included those associated with projects such as, On Being Project, One America Movement, Braver Angels, Common Ground USA, Mediators beyond Borders International, Faith Matters Network. New Pluralists plan to distribute $100 million dollars over 10 years. 2022.
Presented the closing plenary for the Main Street America annual conference, Main Street Now, focused on storytelling as a community building and preservation tool; Richmond, VA; 2022
Delivered a keynote speech and a one-hour workshop for approximately 600 Rotary leaders including Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta at the Big West Zone Institute; Tucson, AZ: 2021
Presented a keynote for World Artists Experience's “Culture Is People: Storytelling into the Future" conference; virtual: 2021
“Storytelling: A Radical Gift of Hope/Storytelling: Un regalo radical de esperanza,” a talk for the Bank of the Republic of Columbia’s “Peace Speaks Up” initiative; virtual: 2021
Presented a closing keynote for the Maker City Summit; Knoxville, TN: 2021
Presented a plenary talk and Q&A for artists with the RiffRaff Arts Collective’s “We Need to Talk!” initiative, funded by an Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts; Princeton, WV: 2021
“Rethinking the Narrative,” a plenary talk for the League of American Orchestras annual conference; virtual: 2021
Participated in “How Do We Talk to Each Other? Storytelling for Racial Justice,” a panel discussion for the final Freedom Stories presentation; virtual: 2021
“The Transformative Power of Storytelling,” an open keynote for the National Museum of African American Music’s Rivers of Rhythm Institute for Social Education conference; Nashville, TN: 2021
Presented a keynote for the Greely Rotary District Conference; virtual: 2021
“Your Story, Your Values, Your Impact,” a keynote for the Future Assistant conference held across western Europe; virtual: 2021
Delivered a plenary talk for the annual Rural Assembly Everywhere conference presented by the Center for Rural Strategies; virtual: 2021
“The Power of Storytelling,” a keynote for Rotary E-club of World Peace; virtual: 2021
Opening remarks and welcome for the ISC’s Freedom Stories initiative; virtual: 2020
“Storytelling and Peace,” +Peace Coalition Launch and United Nation’s International Day of Peace plenary lecture; New York, NY: 2019
“Home,” Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Homecomin’ keynote address at the invitation of Dolly Parton; Pigeon Forge, TN: 2019
Storytelling and peace lecture series for the annual Rotary International Conference and Peace Symposium; Hamburg, Germany: 2019
Presented at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival 50th Anniversary; Washington DC: 2017
“Storytelling: The Power of Peace,” US Department of Defense opening keynote and workshop for Collaborative and Adaptive Security Initiative (CASI;) Arlington, VA: 2017
“Storytelling: A Peaceful Power,” TEDx talk; Nashville, TN: 2016
“The Transformative Power of Storytelling: A Social Force for Social Change,” Botkin Lecture Series, 40th Anniversary of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress; Washington, DC: 2016
“Narratives of Hope,” paper at the Society for Anthropology North American conference; Durham, NC: 2013
“Beyond the Comfort Zone: Challenging Conventional Narratives of Peace,” a speech for the Rotary Spring Conference: 2013
“Poetry for Social Change,” lecture at the Peace to Peace Conference; Greenwood, SC: 2012
“Social Justice Folklore,” an address at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage; Washington DC: 2013
Keynote address to international delegation at United Nations; New York, NY: 2012
“Ethnography at Street Level,” paper delivered at the American Folklore Society conference; New Orleans, LA: 2012
“The Engaged Museum,” speech at UNESCO British Council Managing World Heritage Sites conference; Edinburgh, Scotland: 2008
“Challenging Sectarianism,” lecture at the Gallery of Modern Art Lecture Series; Glasgow, Scotland: 2007
Keynote speaker at Conference on World Religions: 2007
“Engaging with Communities and New Arrivals,” keynote at Northern Ireland Museums Conference; Belfast, Northern Ireland: 2005

WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS/CONSULTATIONS

Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Creative Encounters; Living Religions, ten daily “kitchen table” storytelling circle conversations, presentations and facilitation of main stage narrative session panels, as part of a Storytelling as a Sacred Gift- theme. The National Mall, July 29 and July 9, 2023.
Led Storytelling training in Evanston, Illinois that took place at Rotary International Headquarters’ One Rotary Center. This was part of Rotary leadership Global Support Seminar to train and introduce regional leaders from 19 different countries on storytelling as a community building practice. February 2023.
Hosted a “Changing the Narrative” roundtable discussion at International Storytelling Center with The Emancipator’s Co-Editors. The Emancipators project is part of The Boston Globe and Boston University Center for Antiracist Research led by anti-racist activist scholar Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.
Participated in a special convening of storytelling and music with world-class cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Kiran led a thinking exercise and workshop focusing on the interplay between culture and the environment, music and stories, and how they can foster peace and understanding, building out connections between and among one another and the land upon which we live and work. Kiran participated as a thinking partner in partnership with The Office performing arts and film, the National Park Service, the Cherokee Museum, Tremont, Black in Appalachia, and other participants.; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; 2022
New Pluralists Collaborative Conflict Transformation and Healing Focus Group. Kiran was invited to participate in this focus group, aimed at developing a focal area strategy for future New Pluralists grant-making. Other change leaders included those associated with projects such as, On Being Project, One America Movement, Braver Angels, Common Ground USA, Mediators beyond Borders International, Faith Matters Network. New Pluralists plan to distribute $100 million dollars over 10 years. 2022.
Presented a workshop entitled “Strengthening Voices” as a follow-up to the keynote at the Big West Institute; Zoom; 2022
Delivered a keynote speech and a one-hour workshop for approximately 600 Rotary leaders including Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta at the Big West Zone Institute; Tucson, AZ: 2021
Delivered an applied storytelling presentation for the “fine arts and PE” section of Niswonger Regional Learning Day, a professional development summit for regional K-12 teachers across disciplines sponsored by the Niswonger Foundation; Greeneville, TN: 2021
“Finding Your Story,” a workshop for young adults presented as part of the Young Appalachian Story Summit; Jonesborough, TN: 2021
Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico—Zoom. A two-part training for colleagues at the Bureau of Land Management and their invitees from other state and federal agencies working in New Mexico. The focus was on how to more ethically and holistically gather and tell the stories of “The Land of Enchantment” including BIPOC stories of the land. This follows a training we did in the fall of 2020 with practitioners from the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Forestry Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service on how to understand storytelling as a community building tool to support telling the story of nationally designated “wilderness” locations, participants attended from all four US times zones.
July 15: RiffRaff Arts Collective—Princeton, West Virginia. An informal, community conversation/consultation, with Q&A/talkback for artists to kick off the “We Need to Talk!” initiative, a project funded by an NEA Our Town grant looking to use the arts for community diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“commUNITY,” a community-building talk/workshop joint event presented in partnership with Stuart Rotary of Stuart, Virginia: 2021
Presentation to the National Council of Tradition Arts on the impact of the Freedom Stories initiative; virtual, 2021
Presentation to Biden-Harris Arts and Humanities Transition Team on the importance of the arts and humanities in rural regions such as Central Appalachia; virtual: 2020
“Telling Stories that Matter” workshop; a training for members of the interpretive staff at the Bureau of Land Management, the National Parks Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forestry Service; virtual: 2020
Artists at Work advocacy training; a workshop for members of the AAW team, a WPA-inspired pandemic-response project funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation; virtual: 2020
“Stories as Medicine” pilots; a series of resiliency-trainings designed for healthcare workers, developed in direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic; Johnson City, TN and Ballarat, Australia: 2020
Training and consulting for the Uganda Storytelling Initiative; Tororo, Uganda: ongoing
Story Circle Leader, House Foreign Relations Committee; eventually helping lead to the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2019; Washington, DC: 2016
“Telling Stories that Matter,” a collaborative series of workshops for community building and healing following the shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church; Charleston, SC: Feb. 2016
Community Partners Action Summit participant at the invitation of the White House; Washington, DC: 2015
Participated in various talks and projects across Colombia focused on social responsibilities, human rights education, and peace promotion with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); Bogotá, Ibague, and Cartagena, Colombia: 2009
Human rights-centered program and workshop for World Refugee Day; Glasgow, Scotland: 2008
Panel speaker on “museums of the future” at the “Moving on Up” development session; UK Museums Association: 2008
Glasgow representative in sister-city project “Societies in Crisis” sponsored by the European Commission aimed at better structuring and enriching educational approaches to youth initiatives across Europe and the Mediterranean; Marseilles, France: 2007
“Faith to Faith: F2F,” adult social justice learning program aimed at allowing visitors to discuss and debate issues relating to religion in Scotland and the world; Glasgow, Scotland: 2007
Invited to chair session at the UK Museums Association conference: 2004
“Sense over Sectarianism,” a 16 panel exhibition produced by working with two schools and using artworks produced by students; Glasgow, Scotland: 2004

PUBLICATIONS & CONTRIBUTIONS

Contributed Forward for Speak Peace: Words of Wisdom, Work, and Wonder by Lyn Ford and Sherry Norfolk in response to the killing of Alton Sterling; 2019
“Storytelling and Community in Jonesborough, Tennessee,” Main Street America article for The National Trust for Historic Preservation; 2016
“Telling Stories that Matter,” a toolkit for exploring one’s potential as a storyteller, used in communities and schools across the US and 18 countries; 2013 (rev. 2016)
“Challenging Stigmas, Celebrating Disability,” Deaf Blind International; 2010
“Towards Understanding Slavery,” an article for Glasgow Museums exhibitions commemorating the bicentennial of Scotland’s abolition of the slave trade; 2007
“St Mungo Museum: Thick-skinned but Full of Faith!” an article for SHCG News, the Social History. Curators Group biannual newsletter; 2003

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Nominated for the National NEA Martin Luther King Jr. Human and Civil Rights award. 2023.
United Way unsung heroes’ award. 2022.
Purdue Peacebuilding Big Idea Challenge winner; Purdue University, 2019
“Champion for Peace” Rotary International and the United Nations, 2016
Received “exceptional ability” Greencard by US Government, for specialist and unique contributions to benefit the citizens of the United States.
Paul Harris Fellow Award; Rotary International, 2011
Invited to serve as an advisory member to UK National Commission for UNESCO Scotland and invited to meet with UNESCO Director General, 2011
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Scotland recommendation for “Bigot Busters,” 2007
Invited to present exemplar project at the First Minister’s Summit on Sectarianism, 2006
Enterprise for Scotland award for “Sense over Sectarianism,” 2005
Invited to chair session on “Diversify” at the UK Museums Association Conference, 2004

Talks and Workshops

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