For anyone with a do-good streak, having a real impact can often feel daunting. But sometimes, the best inspo comes simply from being surrounded by other like-minded altruists. And if you’re seeking community, come check out PWPvideo’s third-ever MISSION Story Slam: Saving Us From Ourselves, tonight at 6 pm.
This is the third slam for PWPvideo, the Philly-based filmmakers who focus on telling the stories of mission-driven organizations. Its first slam focused on stories in the nonprofit industry; the second highlighted stories about democracy.
Dave Winston, PWPvideo Producer, explains the backstory behind this year’s conservation-inspired theme. “People always imagine bird lovers when they think of environmentalists,” he says. “But we forget the self-serving aspect of saving the earth; it’s us who will be gone if we don’t do anything.”
Throughout the night, participants with a story to tell are invited to throw their names in a hat. Ten people will be selected to share their five-minute story. At the end of the night, a panel of judges will select a first place winner and donate $250 dollars to a nonprofit of the winner’s choosing. The audience will also get to pick an “Audience Favorite,” which comes with a $100 prize.
Winston says the people in the room invariably make the space comfortable and encouraging for those sharing. “This event has created a safe space where people can be emotional and vulnerable in a way they can’t [otherwise] be in public,” he says. In a time where it’s easy to feel discouraged and hopeless, this event is a way to reignite enthusiasm and see all the amazing things your neighbors are doing to combat [in this case] climate change. It’s a great way, he says, to take a step back, grab a drink, chat, and hear about what your peers are working on.
Whether you are there to tell a story or to listen, Winston promises you’ll share some laughs, and some tears.
“It’s addicting. You [just] want to keep hanging out with these people,” Winston says.
Could a fourth slam be on the horizon?
Tuesday, April 23, Tickets Here, 6 pm-10 pm, MISSION Story Slam: Saving Us from Ourselves, Upstairs @ Yard’s Brewing, 500 Garden St.