Join us in our journey to write a new story for Syracuse – together.
Syracuse, New York, is a city defined by extraordinary cultural diversity and a deep-seated spirit of endurance. With more than 150,000 residents representing many different heritage communities, Syracuse has weathered many storms. Yet rather than being defined by these challenges, the city has a rich tapestry of lived experiences that have endured decades of physical and structural change.
Jim Brulé founded the Transformational Storytelling Community to harness this diversity through one of humanity’s most enduring tools: storytelling. Our efforts begin by gathering stories within each heritage community to honor their journeys, validating their perseverance, and identifying the deep sources of inner and communal strength that have sustained them.
With guidance from community members who are first trained as facilitators, these stories are shared within and then across community lines to spark mutual recognition and build bridges of understanding. As neighbors hear one another’s histories – their triumphs, their wisdom, and their aspirations – new possibilities for collaboration begin to surface.
We foresee stories evolving into a collective narrative of resilience that guides Syracuse toward a thriving future. Tangible products of these efforts – audio and video recordings, artwork, murals, and other community-inspired items – will be distributed to public spaces for all of Syracuse to enjoy. Although implementation is still in its early stages, we have established a nonprofit foundation and recruited facilitators to launch pilot programs. By surfacing existing strengths and cultivating trust, we aim to help residents define measurable priorities for youth success, family well-being, and equitable access to healthcare, building a more unified and thriving Syracuse.