Thursday   

The portrayal in the media and entertainment industries of how people respond during fire and other emergencies is typically not accurate. In this course, we will discuss the difference between how people actually respond compared to the ways that they are portrayed as responding. In addition to covering how people respond during fire and other emergencies, participants in the course will be introduced to how the building codes address human behavior and how this has changed over time. In addition, we will cover how information can be delivered that will result in better and safer responses for a variety of different types of events including large crowds, community-level, and building-level events.

We all carry stories—moments that shaped us, surprised us, or stayed with us long after they passed. This four-week course invites participants to revisit those moments and gently shape them into short, meaningful monologues. Through guided prompts, brief mentor texts inspired by The Moth, and time to write and reflect, participants will explore how memory becomes story—how a single moment can hold humor, insight, and connection. The course grows out of recent community storytelling workshops, including work with an international group of adults in Mazatlán, Mexico, where storytelling became a way to build community across difference. No prior writing or performance experience is needed. Sharing is always optional. Together, we will write, remember, and listen—honoring the stories we carry and the lives behind them. The course will conclude with an optional, informal gathering for those who wish to share their work.