The Heard Museum opened its doors for Arizona State University’s Changemaker Central’s semesterly event Ignite, where individuals share their ideas and passions through five-minute rapid-fire storytelling.
“We believe that the Heard Museum’s vision aligns with that of Ignite in allowing stories that aren’t told in the mainstream to come to light and be celebrated in a way that sparks community dialogue and conversations,” Blythe Marks, the storytelling co-chair for Changemaker Central, said.
This year Ignite had 12 ASU students open about their life experiences with topics ranging from social media addictions to battling depression and suicide.
“The importance is realizing the things that are talked about tonight are a part of everyday life,” Joley Paige Hamilton, the speaker preparation coordinator for the event said.
Katie Hawkins, a sophomore majoring in digital culture, used the Ignite stage to open up about sexual assault through performance poetry.
“I felt safe opening up. Sharing my story on a platform like that is super powerful,” said Hawkins. “We all have our own struggles, but we can learn something from each other.”
Mariam Fayad used the stage to share her inspiring story of overcoming depression and suicidal thoughts.
Fayad was diagnosed with moderately severe depression, and after two years of working towards a better life was able to leave feeling like a new person.
“Being able to tell your story to an audience is completely empowering and therapeutic. You’re throwing it out in the open. People are listening and accepting it. In a sense you’re letting it leave your body into a safe space,” said Hamilton.
Josh Greene spoke on a lighter note, posing the question, “What is your passion?” after explaining how his passion for architecture allowed him to connect with members of the low-income areas in Chile.
The event continued with students sharing stories about self-identity, overcoming failure, almost winning the Tucson Battle of the Bands and the power of poetry.
Community members and ASU students were also invited on stage to participate in a parody form of rapid-fire narratives called Slideshow Karaoke.
Marks said the event worked to emphasize the role students play as community members with stories to tell.
“It allows them to work out those ideas in a multi-sensory way in which they are able to connect deeper with themselves and therefore tell stories that connect with audiences and can create solutions based on social justice, personal affinity for a subject and ability to craft a story,” Marks said.
Contact the Reporter Lerman.Montoya@asu.edu.
