Team-Building Event: One Story Closer
Team-building doesn’t have to mean awkward icebreakers or surface-level workshops. At (M)othershift, we design experiences that foster genuine connection, trust, and emotional intelligence—through storytelling, reflection, and creative collaboration.
Story-sharing in particular is one of the most powerful tools for building trust, deepening inclusion, and fostering meaningful connection within teams and communities. (M)othershift Story Circles are lightly facilitated gatherings where participants share personal experiences in a supportive, low-pressure space—no performance, no icebreakers, just real stories that help bridge gaps and build empathy.
These sessions are perfect for organizations looking to:
Strengthen team cohesion and psychological safety
Support inclusion and belonging initiatives in authentic ways
Offer reflective, human-centered professional development
Foster community connection across lines of difference
Whether you’re welcoming new team members, navigating a period of change, or simply want to create more human space in your workplace, Story Circles offer a simple but transformative experience.
Sample Team-Building Event Description
One Story Closer: Sharing Stories to Build Trust & Strengthen Community
In a time when division often feels like the norm, One Story Closer offers a simple but powerful alternative: sharing personal stories in a safe, guided setting to foster empathy, build trust, and strengthen the threads that connect us. This event brings people together across lines of difference—age, background, beliefs, or lived experience—to remind us that we often have more in common than we think.
Participants engage in small, facilitated conversations using thoughtfully crafted question prompts that invite connection, reflection, and community-building. There’s no pressure to perform—just an open invitation to listen, share, and become one story closer to someone you might not otherwise know.
Why Story Sharing?
We live in communities that are increasingly polarized, where perceived differences often outweigh shared experiences. But stories cut through those divides. They humanize us. They create common ground. And they offer a starting point for meaningful community cohesion.
What to Expect:
Guided Conversations: Small-group discussions led by trained facilitators using a proven framework for inclusive, generative storytelling.
Safe, Inclusive Space: A welcoming environment grounded in curiosity, mutual respect, and trust—no debates, just shared humanity.
Simple, Powerful Format: Whether you’re outgoing or quiet, a first-time participant or repeat guest, you’ll find a structure that meets you where you are.
Locally Rooted, Broadly Impactful: Events are grounded in the real stories and voices of your community.
This program is inspired by the StoryBox model created by Shift Collective, and uses materials from the StoryBox kit—a story-sharing tool developed through two years of community research, co-design, and prototyping. The StoryBox initiative was supported in part by the Knight Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Proven Impact:
Now running in 44 communities across 9 states
557 participants (ages 12–80+) took part in 79 pilot events
Successfully hosted by public libraries, nonprofits, workplaces, and community organizations
Who Should Attend:
Community members seeking deeper connection across lines of difference
Teams and organizations focused on inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety
Anyone craving a hopeful, human-centered way to foster empathy and trust
Join us for a powerful hour of story-sharing—one that doesn’t just build bridges, but deepens the roots of community.