Workshop Leader Training (2025)
Workshop Leader Training (2025)
Call for Workshop Leaders
If you’re interested in becoming a TMI Project True Storytelling Workshop Leader, please read all of the details about our upcoming training and apply below!
Our Mission
TMI Project is changing the world, one story at a time, by crafting and amplifying true stories that set us free. In our workshops, we guide people who don’t often have the chance to tell their stories and be heard. In our live performances and digital content, everyday unsung heroes do more than entertain. They boldly share their “TMI ” experiences to replace shame with freedom. As they step out of isolation, and into connection with those who listen, apathy turns to empathy and inspires people to take action.
About the Position
TMI Project true storytelling workshops are a cornerstone of our mission to change the world, one story at a time. This training is only for those who wish to work for TMI Project as an independent contractor on an as-needed basis. Applicants should have a strong interest in storytelling, performance, personal growth, and transformation, building community, and social justice.
A $500 stipend will be paid upon the completion of the training workshop.
Upon training completion, those interested in moving forward must complete ten hours of “student teaching” in which they will accompany an experienced TMI Project Workshop Leader in a workshop experience. If we decide to work together after student teaching, we will offer opportunities as they arise. Starting pay for Workshop Leaders is $50/hour. No applicant will be permitted to teach the TMI Project Methodology outside of TMI Project, and applicants must sign a non-compete to participate in the training.
Carefully review the below description and requirements. If you are able to commit to the training schedule outlined and think you’d be a good match, apply through the link below. As part of your application, you will be asked to submit a resume and well-crafted cover letter. The cover letter will also serve as a writing sample. All applicants should have a strong work ethic and be self-starters, organized and reliable.
Workshop Leader Responsibilities:
- Be an advocate and ambassador for TMI Project — be well-versed in our history, mission, vision, culture, and programming
- Have a strong passion and desire to make an impact in the movements for movements for Racial Justice, Gender Equity, LGBTQIA+ Rights, and Mental Health Awareness
- Work in partnership with other Workshop Leaders to customize curriculum for workshops
- Offer clear communication to all participants and internal team members
- Create a safe(r) space for participants for brave communication
- Guide participants through free-writing exercises
- Possess superb listening skills: the ability to listen for story development, ask probing questions, and offer compassionate feedback to help the storyteller develop the story they want to tell
- Edit free-writes into well-crafted monologues intended for the stage
- Conduct rehearsals in which participants develop and refine their performance
- Make announcements and facilitate Q&A sessions on stage at the performance
- Provide support for participants, tech crew, and volunteers at performances
- Facilitate a follow-up session to provide closure to what is always a deeply personal and transformational experience
- Gather feedback via a group discussion and participant survey to help inform future workshops
- Work closely with marketing team members to provide necessary information and materials for marketing purposes; operations team members on communications with all participants and internal team members; the Executive Director on program development
- Attend workshop leader meetings, quarterly check-ins, professional development sessions as well as complimentary external professional development workshops like Resmaa Manakem’s Somatic Abolitionism at Omega Institute and Navigating Conflict at Good Work Institute
Support Provided:
- Competitive and fair pay
- Room and board for program-related travel
- Connection and networking with professionals across various sectors, including education, social justice, mental health, and the arts
- Professional development workshops to enhance your skills and expand your knowledge in relevant areas and ongoing support, training, retreats, and resources to enhance your facilitation skills
Eligibility:
- Knowledge of the basics of storytelling, with the ability to identify and craft integral elements that create stories with a strong beginning, middle, and end
- Experience writing, editing, directing, teaching, and/or facilitating groups
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills
- The ability to stay calm, grounded, and neutral in the face of big emotions
- A strong self-motivated work ethic and ability to work well with firm deadlines
- Interest in and ability to collaborate with a diverse team
- Ability to multitask and prioritize in a dynamic work environment and work as a team member with minimal supervision.
- A strong passion and desire to make an impact in the movements for movements for Racial Justice, Gender Equity, LGBTQIA+ Rights, and Mental Health Awareness
- Proficient at navigating Google Drive/Docs, Slack, and Zoom a plus
- Fluency in English and Spanish, with the ability to translate or comfortably teach in either language a plus
Proposed Workshop Leader Training Schedule
Date | Session |
|---|---|
01/27 | Application Q&A Session (Sign up HERE) |
02/19 | Application Closes |
03/12-03-15 | Candidate Interviews |
04/07 | Orientation, Part 1: An Intro to TMI Project |
04/14 | Orientation, Part 2: An Intro to TMI Project |
04/21 | No workshop |
04/28 | Session 1: Intro to Free Writing/Setting up the Space |
05/05 | Session 2: Intro to Story Development/Characteristics of a TMI Project Story/Finding Your Voice/Humor as Resilience |
05/12 | Session 3: Story Development: The Mind Map & The Hot Spot |
05/19 | Session 4: Story Development: The Story Circle & What’s Missing? |
05/26 | No workshop – Memorial Day |
06/02 | Session 5: First Read-Thru |
06/09 | Session 6: No workshop – Editing |
06/16 | Session 7: No workshop – Editing |
06/23 | Session 8: First Read thru – edited stories |
06/30 | Session 9: Final Read Thru/Rehearsal |
07/07 | Week off for marketing |
Week of 07/14Exact date TBD | Performance!Location: TBD |
07/21 | Session 10: Creating a Container/Program “Graduation” |
TMI Project is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The diversity of our workforce is essential to accomplishing TMI Project’s mission as it is important to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Our workshop leaders, who reflect the populations we serve, actively engage in facilitating storytelling workshops, creating a space where everyone feels represented. This fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment among participants. With the knowledge that they are being represented by their leadership, participants feel encouraged and safe enough to share their complete, authentic stories, including the often hidden or sensitive aspects. This promotes trust and understanding among community members, breaks down barriers, reduces stigma, and ultimately allows TMI Project to more effectively advocate for social justice.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for training without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. TMI Project is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices and creating a culture of inclusion that values each individual and promotes collaboration and fairness.
About TMI Project
Our Mission
TMI Project is changing the world, one story at a time, by crafting and amplifying true stories that set us free. In our workshops, we guide people who don’t often have the chance to tell their stories and be heard. In our live performances and digital content, everyday unsung heroes do more than entertain. They boldly share their “TMI ” experiences to replace shame with freedom. As they step out of isolation, and into connection with those who listen, apathy turns to empathy and inspires people to take action.
Our Vision
TMI Project envisions a world where true storytelling is an agent of change; where, through the sharing of radically true, personal narratives, everyone—storytellers and listeners alike—can become empowered, release shame and stigma, and replace old understandings with new ones. We aspire to engender compassion, understanding, and public awareness. We aim to incite social, legal, and political change by providing participants the skills needed to be captivating storytellers and by amplifying the voices of populations whose stories often go unheard.
Our History
Since 2010, TMI Project has led nearly 150 true storytelling workshops and staged over 200 live storytelling performances by nearly 3,000 storytellers, which have been presented to audiences of over 250,000 people in schools, colleges, detention centers, mental health clinics, theaters, the United Nations, and online: on Youtube, in our award winning documentaries, and our award-winning podcast, The TMI Project Story Hour.