Digital Storytelling Workshop

Woven Identities Digital Storytelling Workshop (2-Day Intensive)
📍 UIC Community Center, Midtown Manhattan
📅 April 24–25
🕛 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (both days)

About This Event

Join us for the Woven Identities Digital Storytelling Workshop, a two-day immersive experience designed for LGBTQ+, Two-Spirit, and gender-expansive Indigenous youth to explore storytelling through digital media.

This hands-on workshop blends technical skill-building with creative expression. Supporting participants in telling their stories through video, writing, and social media. Through guided mentorship from Indigenous artists, activists, and digital storytellers, participants will build both confidence and practical skills in content creation.

Radicle Roots advised this workshop. Urban Indigenous Collectives LGBTQ+ and 2-Spirit Youth Committee.

What You’ll Learn

Participants will gain foundational skills in:

• Video production (camera framing, lighting, sound, editing)
• Narrative and storytelling development
• Short-form and long-form media creation
• Social media strategy and digital storytelling

Youth will collaborate in small groups to create original content, with in-person support from facilitators throughout the process.

Workshop Experience and Requirements

• Must be 18-24
• LGBTQ+ and 2-Spirit Identifying
• Must attend both workshop days
• 👥 Limited to 12 participants for an intimate learning environment
• 🎥 Hands-on media-making and collaborative storytelling
• 🌱 Focus on identity, culture, healing, and self-expression
• 🍽️ Post-workshop dinner to build community and connections

The workshop schedule (12–6 PM) is designed to support accessibility for youth balancing school, work, or caregiving responsibilities.

Final Project: Youth-Led Campaign

Participants will co-create a multimedia campaign that uplifts the brilliance, resilience, and lived experiences of Indigenous LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit youth.

The campaign will:

• Normalize Indigenous mental health narratives
• Challenge stigma around queerness and identity
• Celebrate cultural pride, sovereignty, and self-determination

The final project will be shared across UIC digital platforms and community spaces, with a goal of reaching 100,000+ viewers.

Facilitators

Thomas Lopez Jr. (@landbackbaddie)
Author, activist, and founder of Indigiqueer Creative Alliance. Co-founder of the International Indigenous Youth Council and recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. Thomas will lead the Short Form Media curriculum and serve as the primary facilitator.

Paxti Martinez
Co-creator of When One World Ends, a video essay/sci-fi platform exploring climate change and Indigenous philosophy. Paxti will lead Long Form Media and guide the multimedia campaign development.

Kylie Van Arsdale
Artist, model, and storyteller whose work includes collaborations with major brands and music video appearances. Kylie will lead the Storytelling & Writing curriculum and provide one-on-one writing support.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is open to LGBTQ+, Two-Spirit, and gender-expansive Indigenous youth interested in storytelling, media-making, and creative expression. No prior experience is required.

Spots are limited—register early to secure your place.

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Host or Publisher Urban Indigenous Collective