Britney Breidenstein, Input Fort Wayne's On the Ground Southeast Project Editor, emceed the event. By Sierah Barnhart
Kara Hackett of Input Fort Wayne, left, and Réna Bradley of Bridge of Grace, center, talk with guests. By Sierah Barnhart
Attendees mingle before the Story Slam begins. By Sierah Barnhart
Réna Bradley of Bridge of Grace opened the evening with brief introduction. By Sierah Barnhart
Réna Bradley of Bridge of Grace opened the evening with brief introduction. By Sierah Barnhart
Britney Breidenstein, Input Fort Wayne's On the Ground Southeast Project Editor, emceed the event. By Sierah Barnhart
Attendees from Southeast and across the city came out to hear Southeast storytellers. By Sierah Barnhart
Storytellers of all ages shared personal experiences and reflections on the theme "Revealed." By Sierah Barnhart
Xaviana shares a story at the first OTG Southeast event. By Sierah Barnhart
County Council, at-large, hopeful Melissa Fisher shared a story at the first OTG Southeast event. By Sierah Barnhart
The winning storyteller was Tamara. By Sierah Barnhart
The winning storyteller was Tamara. By Sierah Barnhart
Attendees wore masks to socially distance at the first OTG Southeast event. By Sierah Barnhart
Each speaker got a $25 gift card and the winner was awarded an additional $50. By Sierah Barnhart
Réna Bradley of Bridge of Grace opened the evening with brief introduction. By Sierah Barnhart
Attendees listen to Southeast storytellers. By Sierah Barnhart
On Thursday, Aug. 6., Input Fort Wayne's On the Ground Southeast program partnered with Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center to host
a Story Slam in the Mount Vernon Park neighborhood. The event took place in one of Bridge of Grace's revitalized community parklets, complete with a stage, music, and socially distant snacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bridge of Grace's Rena Bradley kicked off the evening with a brief introduction to her team's asset-based, community-driven work in the Mount Vernon Park neighborhood. Then
Input's On the Ground Project Editor, Britney Breidenstein, took over and served as the emcee for the night. Three storytellers shared their reflections on the theme "Revealed," telling neighbors what has been revealed to them during this time and what they would like to reveal to their community.
The evening culminated in a feedback session, which will shape Input Fort Wayne's next community event in Southeast Fort Wayne on Thursday, Sept. 3. Stay tuned for details on Input's website and Facebook page.
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Kara Hackett is a Fort Wayne native fascinated by what's next for northeast Indiana how it relates to other up-and-coming places around the world. After working briefly in New York City and Indianapolis, she moved back to her hometown where she has discovered interesting people, projects, and innovations shaping the future of this place—and has been writing about them ever since.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @karahackett.