A Story-Sharing Program Builds Connection Across Cortez

Despite Cortez’s rich history and diverse community, residents have limited opportunities to share experiences with one another, creating social isolation and division that has deepened in recent years. When a Cortez native studying applied theatre at the University of Colorado saw how story-sharing could bridge these divides, she partnered with a local artist to bring the concept home. LOR’s funding helped launch a story-sharing program where community members tell their personal stories, which are then performed by trained actors and transformed into artistic works by local writers and videographers. The multi-event series will bring together diverse residents—from farmers and ranchers to artists and students—to listen to and honor each other’s experiences, fostering dialogue and connection across the community.

This project is fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation.