a harvest from 
Sharing our Stories of Building Capacity
 a CORE Community Gathering with Playback Milwaukee Theatre
held May 29, 2014
In case you missed it, or if you were there and want to savor it, here are some images and videos from this amazing event!

We shared good food, good company, a retrospective and update about CORE, and stories of times when we got – or gave – help to more effectively, sustainably, and joyfully manifest our visions for the world. 

Playback Milwaukee Theatre had us laughing and crying, bringing our stories to life on the spot in words, movement, music, and paintings. 
Post by Playback Milwaukee Theatre Company.
“I saw people listened to deeply and had their experiences played back to them. The gift was immense for the storytellers and witnesses.” 
CORE Community Gathering Participant
The CORE story was shared through several means during the evening. Rebecca Krantz, with help from Mary Sykes, depicted elements of CORE’s spiraling journey from her dining room table to now…and evoked CORE’s evolving path forward.  

Check out this CORE story told by Becca and re-enacted by Playback Milwaukee Theatre. 

Post by Playback Milwaukee Theatre Company.
"I was on my toes all the time. My heart was wide open. I felt at home."  CORE Community Gathering Participant
A special thanks to the following people who helped make the event possible!  

Volunteers: Elaine Glowacki, Kia Stearn, AB Orlik, Celeste Robins, Lois Rosko, Bruce Moffat, Ross Ament, Gail Nordheim, Jen Wilson, and Bert Stitt.

Financial sponsors: Betty and Corkey Custer and Mary Ellyn and Joe Sensenbrenner

Food donations: Teresa and Rashid of Bunky’s Restaurant and Anonymous

Location: United Way of Dane County Anderson Center, including Catina, Sean, and John who helped with scheduling and arranging the space

And, of course, the fabulous artists of Playback Milwaukee Theatre: James A. Murrell, Yvette D. Murrell, Bennie C. Higgins, Erin Moore, Tia Chianti Richardson, and Robert Glover!

In a written evaluation at the end of the evening together, participants shared insights they had gained from the evening’s experience on what it means to build our individual and collective capacity. We’re sharing a few of those nuggets of wisdom here:
  • Feeling heard = feeling valued/cared for = more effective capacity = more trust = willingness to take risks work & live fully
  • Building capacity is about building connection & opening hearts
  • Outer capacity building begins with inner capacity building
  • Relationships are major
  • Using the arts to create connection among people & share the value of our work
  • Building the capacity of organizations starts with developing its people.