This story was written by Liz, a LAM Member
On August 12th, 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a public speaking workshop facilitated by Jill Davis. As a fellow facilitator, I found many aspects of the workshop to be very useful in my daily life at the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW). For example, Ms. Davis informed us that perfectionism is not the goal. The goal is learning how to use our own experiences to impact people. Ms. Davis shared her experiences as a workshop leader and facilitator – some of which were not that successful, but proved to be important learning opportunities for her, and other experiences where she excelled. This was reassuring because, as a peer mentor, I often share how I developed boundaries for myself and others with courage and repetition.
We also discussed the concept of storytelling and ways for each of us to use our experiences to impact people here at ORW and beyond. Ms. Davis stated that “facts don’t change minds; stories do!” Being authentic and narrating connections with stories captivates the audience and encourages them to reflect on difficult topics.
During the workshop Ms. Davis shared a video of Roxanne Gay discussing her memoir, Hunger, and her personal vulnerabilities and struggles. Ms. Gay reminded LAM members that we all have a voice and that we must learn how to use it. We must speak or write with a purpose! Members of LAM Collective have been using our voices to inspire others, raise awareness, and engage in change in our communities.
For me, the most impactful words that Jill Davis shared with us were “negative thoughts are learned stories.” Since then, I often tell myself that the negative thoughts are someone else's story; not mine! I cannot wait until Ms. Davis visits us again to share her knowledge, energy, and passion!
