South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute

09/07/2026

The Fall 2026 season of the Storytelling Institute's Tell Me Something Good concert series opened with amazing stories from four talented storytellers on Thursday September 3rd at the Studio Theater on 24th St. and Baseline. You can hear these stories again at the Grand Canyon National Park - South Rim. Save this link for schedules and information about other events: https://www.southmountaincc.edu/academics/storytelling/smcc-storytelling-residency-grand-canyon-national-park

08/26/2026

You’ve seen the Grand Canyon. But have you heard its stories?

The Canyon is more than spectacular views. It is a place of history, culture, adventure, mystery, and countless human stories.

Join us for Tell Me Something Good: Grand Canyon Stories and experience the Canyon through the voices and stories of storytellers.

🌄 Thursday, September 3 | 6:30–8:30 pm
📍 SMCC PAC725 • The Studio Theatre

07/28/2026

The Storytelling Institute's Tell Me Something Good storytelling series is back with Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 dates. Details of themes coming soon.

11/18/2025

‼️TWO WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY‼️

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Community Storytelling Fellow apply at this link: https://lnkd.in/gcYRSySb

Oral storytelling is an art that builds effective communication and leadership skills, trust, and community connections.
This opportunity is open to anyone within the Maricopa County area who want to develop and strengthen their storytelling skills.

The fellowship will include:
- Scholarship covering 6 credit hours for 2 storytelling courses - The Art of Storytelling and Using Storytelling in a Variety of Settings
- Mentorship from experienced faculty and community partners
- Opportunity to create and develop storytelling skills to build a repertoire of stories to use in your personal and professional life

Questions? Contact Melissa Soza Fees at [email protected]

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

11/13/2025

Update for the Community Storytelling Fellowship!

Dec. 1 is the new due date for applications to become a storytelling fellow at South Mountain Community College.

This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone that is interested in strengthening their storytelling skills. The fellowship will include:
- Scholarship covering 6 credit hours for 2 storytelling courses - The Art of Storytelling and Using Storytelling in a Variety of Settings
- Mentorship from experienced faculty and community partners
- Opportunity to create and develop storytelling skills to build a repertoire of stories to use in your personal and professional life

Oral storytelling is an art that builds effective communication and leadership skills, trust, and community connections.

This opportunity is open to anyone within the Maricopa County area. You don't have to be a student at SMCC, just a part of the community.

Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gcYRSySb

Questions? Contact Melissa Soza Fees at [email protected]

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

11/03/2025

What to be part of a rewarding, hands-on experience providing, storytelling training, mentorship and an opportunity to represent and serve your community through storytelling? Apply today!

08/13/2025

Friends - Have you been wanting to build your collection of personal stories? Now is the time! I'm teaching Creating and Telling Personal Stories at SMCC this fall on Wednesday evenings, starting in two weeks. You can attend virtually or in person. Need more info? LMK!

07/18/2025

Friends! Check out Melissa Fees representing the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute at the National Storytelling Network conference!https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HZuAtPhwA/

Panelists discuss storytelling performance programs in higher education at ETSY, Kennesaw State, and South Mountain Community College

04/30/2025

Last Friday, the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute held its 2025 graduation. It was a wonderful night of stories and celebration. Congratulations to all the graduates for all their hard work and commitment to the art of storytelling.

High school students from the Arizona Agricultural and Equine Center (AAEC) and the Achieving a College Education program who take concurrent college courses also earned certificates from the Storytelling Institute.

Our hope is that all the graduates will go out into the community, share their stories, and help build empathy and understanding.

04/21/2025

The SMCC Storytelling Institute will be hosting our annual graduation celebration on Friday, April 25th. This year, two people will be completing their 30-credit academic certificate in storytelling. One of them, Bryce Barraza, has written some excellent posts for the Tell Me Something Good blog over the years as he has become a storyteller. Check out this one with his recommendations for including the senses to spark imagination!

"Let's Make Magic" by Bryce Barraza

"Let’s make magic! …by using imagination! Yes, your imagination! You know, the willy-wonka-style contraption making inventions in your head. There is logic to what I’m proposing. I swear. Just follow the trail of everlasting gobstoppers.

Elizabeth Ellis explains that, as storytellers, “When we help others use their imagination, they make an image, and something magic happens.” (E. Ellis) That magic refers to the ability of story to transcend time and space. When a story is well crafted and told, the events of that story are happening in present-time, in the imagination of the audience and storyteller –regardless of when and where the story takes place."

Read the full blog at:

Let’s make magic! …by using imagination! Yes, your imagination! You know, the willy-wonka-style contraption making inventions in your head. There is logic to what I’m proposing. I swear. Just follow the trail of everlasting gobstoppers. Elizabeth Ellis explains that, as storytellers, “When w...