Working with Communities through Collective Narrative Practices (with David Denborough)

Today I am honored to share my conversation with world-renowned Narrative Practitioner, teacher, and writer David Denborough. We discuss David's experience working in prisons, contributing to social actions, deconstructing masculinity, and his use of songs and folk culture to honor people's stories.

• Introduction (0:00)
• Developing a Passion for Narrative Practices (5:55)
• Rewriting Storylines of Identity in Prisons (11:56)
• Collective Narrative Practices & Folk Culture (26:50)
• "A Song of Survival" + Working at the Dulwich Centre (45:50)
• What Keeps David Going (53:30)

David Denborough works as a community worker, teacher and writer/editor for Dulwich Centre. He is particularly interested in cross-cultural partnerships which limit the chances of psychological colonization and create possibilities for cross-cultural inventions, such as the Team of Life Narrative Approach and Tree of Life (with Ncazelo Ncube-Mlilo). These collective narrative methodologies seek to assist people to address the effects of traumatic experiences without having to speak directly about them. David is also vitally interested in how collective narrative practices can spark and/or sustain social movementand in projects that respond to racism and seek to strengthen social cohesion/inclusion.  Recent teaching/community assignments have included Brazil, Palestine, Singapore, Austria, Brazil, Hong Kong, Kurdistan (Iraq), India, Canada, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and a number of Aboriginal Australian communities. David is also a coordinator of the Master of Narrative Therapy and Community Work with the University of Melbourne where he is also involved in supporting/supervising graduate researchers. His songs in response to current social issues have received airplay throughout Australia and Canada. His books/publications include: Retelling the Stories of Our Lives Everyday Narrative Therapy to Draw Inspiration and Transform Experience and Collective Narrative Practice: Responding to Individuals, Groups and Communities Who Have Experienced Trauma. To learn more about David and his work, please visit The Dulwich Centre website. 

All Things Narrative cultivates personal development through storytelling. Become more purpose-driven by learning how to better understand and communicate your life story. Offerings include: The ‘Live A Meaningful Story’ Coaching Program, workshops for organizations, storytelling classes, the All Things Narrative Podcast, 1-on-1 Narrative Coaching, speaking engagements, and facilitating storytelling events. Led by award-winning Narrative Practitioner Derrick Hatch, we will be your guide towards telling and living a meaningful story. Learn more at allthingsnarrative.com and schedule a FREE consultation to see how we can support you!

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