Safe Space for Storytellers Sharing Pain

Imagine Saturday Night Live combined with Alcoholics Anonymous. This is what a Narratives event is like. Narratives of Pain is a safe space for storytellers and community engagement, including a session where anyone has the opportunity to share his or her feelings in front of an audience. The stories range from song, to spoken word, to physical artwork. 

We need to continue hosting spaces for these events to ensure these stories can be shared. Through this storytelling and community atmosphere, we create an environment of healing and recovery. To date, we have had five Narratives showcases, spanning four southeast Michigan cities. We even held a Narratives showcase at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) this past January. 

We are storytellers who come together to share that which pains us in beautiful and creative ways.

The Beginning of Healing for Unheard Communities - Unapologetic, Safe, and Raw

We launched our first Narratives of Pain showcase in March 2015. A few month’s prior, Hammad Ali and Zain Shamoon found themselves in a coffee shop discussing the need for experiential methods of healing by way of expressive entertainment, especially for people and communities whose voices go unheard too often. 

By contrast, the two decided that these voices need to be elevated and shouted from the rooftops. To invite people to express themselves in this way meant we needed to be critical about how we could create a safe environment to do so. So, we worked to create a new platform that was unapologetic, safe, and organic. 

Our shows are first and foremost a space to tell and witness raw stories. The synergy with mental health meant that the team would utilize the 7th Muslim Mental Health Conference in Dearborn, MI to hold our first showcase. Sometimes it’s difficult to talk about these challenges and it can be difficult for others to understand them.

This was the birth of Narratives of Pain. It. Was. Awesome.

Everyone struggles with something and each personal hurdle is unique and important. 

Sometimes it’s difficult to talk about these challenges and it can be difficult for others to understand them. Sometimes it just doesn’t feel safe. 

Narratives of Pain offers a different approach to helping us heal and understand our hurt. Let’s do it through art, music, speech, and poetry. Let’s tell each other our stories. Let’s sing out our pain, and let others be witnesses.

 As a non-profit organization, our focus is on creating a community-driven atmosphere where all can share their feelings with comfort and communion. 

Most importantly, we are a family where a helping hand will always be found for consolation, encouragement, and love. 

When someone gains the courage to reclaim their story, there is to be no interruption, trivializing, or gossip during their experience. 

Narratives of Pain’s staff includes mental health professionals, with a background in safety and confidentialality protocol to ensure that emotional safety is protected as best as possible. 

We pride ourselves in creating a safe and judgement free environment where all people can find their healing through storytelling.

Discussing personal struggles, mental health, and pain can be an experience of healing for everyone. Keeping these things inside can lead to emotional exhaustion. On the contrary, having a safe space to explore and share these experiences can make a huge difference for survivors and the community at large. Having the space to be able to share deeply personal and difficult experiences, topics, and ideas will make a tremendous impact on the lives of the people in your community and in communities everywhere. 

Narratives of Pain creates a space where we can impact the lives of people all around us.

We are dreamers. 

How you can help keep our Storytellers Emotionally Safe

We need to be able to provide spaces for these events and we need to have the proper equipment and event staffing to ensure these events run smoothly. Our first and foremost concern is for the emotional safety of our storytellers - everyone sharing their stories must feel safe. 

In addition to venues, we need proper sound equipment to make sure our storytellers' voices will be heard. With your support we can raise our goal of $6000 for the coming year. 

A break down of our budget:

Venue Costs: ($450-700) x 6 Events per year

Logistics (Event staff, equipment, government fees, etc.): ($300) x 6 Events per year

Advertising: ($150) x 6 Events per year

Help Us Heal

1 - Donate! Give whatever you can, any amount helps!

2 - Share our campaign with your friends and family if you believe in our message.

Together we can reach our goal - we can make a difference.