Everyone has a story.
Storytelling is instinctive—humans are hardwired to make meaning from their lived experience—and ancient. We started telling each other stories around the fire tens of thousands of years ago.
Story Connection honors this by creating a supportive, inclusive space where people can find their voice, share and hear stories, and experience the joy of creative community.
Founded in 2023, Story Connection began with a grant from the Orange County Arts Commission and today includes free story jams, classes in Carrboro and Durham, a podcast, and of course performances where real humans enjoy meaningful connection without screens or sound effects.
Support Story Connection
If you believe in the power of story, in the importance of being seen and heard, in empathy and curiosity, join us for the joy of story.
And if you are able to support this mission financially, we’d be grateful. Your donations go directly to helping more voices be heard.
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Julia F. Green
Julia F. Green has been telling stories all her life. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University and an MFA in fiction writing from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Through her business, Writing is Joy LLC, she leads writing workshops and an annual retreat, helps people overcome creative blocks and hone their craft, and fosters creative community and inclusive spaces where people can share their stories on the page and out loud and feel safe and seen.
She founded Story Connection in 2023 and has told stories on stage, at every party she’s ever been invited to, and to her cats.
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Hope Wilder
Hope Wilder tells riveting personal narratives and teaches the craft of personal storytelling in Durham, North Carolina. Her prior work was in education and nonprofits. She is the author of a book about shared decision-making with children, Let’s Decide Together. She won a Monti Story Slam and participated in the 2025 Monti Grand Slam. She will be a featured storyteller at the 2026 Women’s Storytelling Festival. She lives with her husband and two cats, and her other loves are playing cello, and river walks.