As we work towards opening the doors of the Courage Museum in 2026, we will be rolling out event engagement opportunities for various audiences. Our Courageous Conversations event series includes four event tracks:
- Storyteller Summit
- Parent Education
- Youth Engagement
- Professional Learning
Please continue to visit our Courageous Conversations Event page to see what we’ve been up to and the events we have in the works. We hope to see you there!
Past Events
Storyteller Summit 2025 – May 13, 2025
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, we hosted our third Storyteller Summit—an evening filled with connection, community, and profound inspiration. The room was alive with trust, vulnerability, and authenticity as high school and college students engaged deeply with adult participants, reminding us of the transformative power of storytelling to open hearts, foster empathy, and ignite meaningful dialogue.
We’re especially grateful to our courageous storytellers Aswad Thomas and Ramon Diaz, Jr., visionary filmmakers Yoruba Richen and Jon Shenk, stellar moderator, Sasha Khokha, and generous supporters Deborah Santana and Sharisse Kimbro.
Please click these links to see clips from Storyteller Summit 2025: Yoruba RichenAswad Thomas. Clips from Jon Shenk and Ramon Diaz Jr., as well as the full panels, coming soon!
An Evening With Jake Barton – April 8, 2025
We were honored to have Jake Barton at the museum to share powerful reflections on designing the museum’s immersive journey and what makes this space unlike anything he’s created before — rooted in courage, justice, and storytelling that transforms
Along with Jake, we had several high school students and educators who joined us to highlight their involvement in the design and prototyping of the accompanying education program, as well as their hopes for the museum’s programs and impact.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this unforgettable evening. For some Q&A clips with Jake, please click here. If you are interested in watching Jake’s full presentation, please email Brie Silva for a link to the video.
Oakland Unified School District Student Engagement – March 2025
We welcomed student leaders from across Oakland Unified School District for an inspiring day of connection and community building. Throughout the day, students and educators explored key themes and topics that will be centered in the museum and complementary education program. In addition, students engaged in design thinking processes to inform activities and experiences that will shape the museum’s visitor experience and youth leadership programs.
Lincoln High School Student Engagement – March 2025
Throughout the month of March we welcomed returning delegations of students from Lincoln High School, as they engaged in day-long programs centered on storytelling, systems, community-building, and action planning. Through a series of facilitated activities, students prototyped immersive learning experiences that are being considered for two of the museum’s anchor installations – the Rethink Gallery and Empathy Mirrors. Feedback and participation resulting from these programs provides critical insight that will further inform both the museum visitor experience as well as the accompanying education program.
Parent Education Workshop – October 17, 2024
This unique session offered separate experiences for teens and parents to meet with their peers, and together as a full group, as they explore and discuss several issues as identified by co-facilitator Shafia Zaloom, Health Educator at the Urban School and Courage Museum Content Advisor, and Bay Area High School Students.
Second Annual Night of Courage – Sept 25, 2024
More than 600 guests joined Night of Courage – an inspiring night that centered the experiences of survivors through storytelling and courageous conversations.
The highlight of the night was a discussion between award-winning coach of the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr, gun violence prevention advocate, Aalayah Eastmond, and filmmaker Bing Liu – speaking about the interconnected issues of guns and gender-based violence.
The evening also featured several remarkable individuals who have chosen to share their stories with the Courage Museum. Storytellers included Author/Activist, Chanel Miller, Special Assistant Attorney General of Rhode Island, Taylor Dumpson, National Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, Natasha Trethewey, Professor, Christine Blasey Ford, and Comedian/Podcaster/Writer, Chelsea Devantez.
We are deeply grateful to the outpour of support and heartfelt feedback from all who participated and attended. Learn more about our efforts and plans by watching this short clip from the event coverage.
For full event details: Click Here
Storytellers Summit – May 30, 2024
Our second ever Storyteller Summit, this afternoon program featured a series of participatory discussions with an inspiring group of individuals who have chosen to share their experiences with hate and violence, for the inaugural Empathy Mirror installation at the upcoming Courage Museum in San Francisco.
We are so deeply grateful and honored to partner with such thoughtful and committed Directors, Yoruba Richen, Bing Liu, and Bonni Cohen, and with inspiring storytellers, Vilma and Liz Kari and Taylor Dumpson. Special thanks as well to our moderator for the day, Sasha Khokha, host of The California Report, for her brilliant facilitation throughout, and to State Senator Scott Wiener, for helping us close the Summit with remarks that informed, educated, and motivated our audience to remain vigilant in our shared commitment to safety and justice for all. Finally, this Summit would not have happened without the unwavering support of Deborah Santana.
Check out the event recap here!
Parent Education Workshop – December 5, 2023
Co-facilitated by Shafia Zaloom, Health Educator at the Urban School and Courage Museum Content Advisor, and Bay Area High School Students, invited parents and caregivers of high school students to come and engage in conversations about real-life scenarios surrounding mental health, social media, substances, sexuality, and more that represent what teens are facing on a daily basis.
Storyteller Summit – October 24, 2023
On October 24th, we filled the Open Square at the Courage Museum with close to 100 lead supporters, allies, and collaborators for the first-ever Storyteller Summit. The half day program featured several of the Empathy Mirror storytellers in conversation with the directors who curated their films for the inaugural installation, offering a rare behind the scenes opportunity for attendees to learn more about the individual storytellers and the ways in which their individual experiences with hate, and violence will offer unique learning opportunities for museum visitors via the high school level learning activities and professional development for educators.
Three separate discussions throughout the afternoon created opportunities for self-reflection, group discussion, and interaction with the storytellers and directors. Roundtable discussions featured gun violence prevention advocate, Aalayah Eastmond, in conversation with director, Bing Liu; healthy relationship and youth advocates, Tana Greene and Angela Kim, in conversation with director Bonni Cohen; and transgender youth advocates David and Jess Fuller in conversation with child protection advocate, Luz Hernandez, director Bing Liu, and producer Justine Nagan.
The response to this first Storyteller Summit was extremely positive, and we may well host another in the spring of 2024. Stay tuned