Facilitation in Action: DST Training Meets Advocacy
Digital storytelling is a powerful medium that allows individuals to narrate meaningful moments from their lives in a creative and impactful way. As we explored in our recent podcast episode, these short films combine voiceover narration, personal images, and video editing techniques to create emotionally resonant stories that can effect real change in communities and organizations.
The episode features Katlyn Lamont, a newly trained Common Language digital storytelling facilitator who works as a registered psychotherapist with a youth addictions agency. Her journey into digital storytelling began somewhat unexpectedly – she was offered a last-minute spot in a training workshop and found herself reconnecting with her high school media production skills. What's remarkable about Katlyn's experience is how quickly she discovered the transformative potential of this medium, both for herself and her community.
Katlyn's own digital story focused on the Lincoln and Welland Band, a military band with roots dating back to the War of 1812. The band had recently faced a significant challenge when they received a cease and desist order from the regiment they had been associated with for centuries, threatening their continued operation and identity. This came just as they were preparing for their annual trip to Bergen-op-Zoom in the Netherlands, where they honour the town's liberation by their regiment during World War II.
The power of Katlyn's four-minute digital story became evident when she screened it for her fellow band members, many of whom are combat veterans. What followed was a profound moment of connection – hardened military veterans moved to tears, expressing gratitude for how perfectly she had captured the spirit of their band in just a few minutes. As their band president told her: "What we've been trying to say to the community and to the regiment for months, you've just summed up in four minutes."
This illustrates one of the most valuable aspects of digital storytelling – its ability to distill complex emotions, histories, and arguments into accessible, emotionally engaging content. The story quickly spread beyond that initial screening, being shared on social media platforms, and eventually reaching local politicians and even the commanding officer who had issued the cease and desist order. This demonstrates how digital stories can function as powerful advocacy tools, potentially more effective than traditional methods of communication like letters or formal complaints.
Digital storytelling also creates unique opportunities for intergenerational connection. For Katlyn's project, she collected historical photos from veterans in the band, which allowed her to visually represent decades of service and tradition. The process itself became a way for younger members to connect with the rich history of their organization through the lived experiences of older members, creating a deeper sense of shared identity and purpose.
Episode 39 Key Messages
0:00 Capturing the Band's Spirit
4:31 Katlyn's Digital Story Journey
9:33 Screening the Story
15:06 Future Storytelling Projects
If you're interested in becoming a digital storytelling facilitator, don't pressure yourself about the technical aspects—the training is accessible and builds community connections.
The training process for becoming a digital storytelling facilitator is thorough and intentional. It involves creating your own story, learning the technical skills needed, understanding storyteller well-being and ethics, and then facilitating the story creation process for others. This comprehensive approach ensures that facilitators not only understand the technical aspects of digital storytelling, but also the profound emotional journey that many storytellers undertake.
One particularly valuable insight from Katlyn's experience is the recognition that sometimes the stories we initially plan to tell aren't the ones that ultimately emerge during the process. Both Katlyn and our podcast host, Kristy, described how they had prepared one story for their training, only to completely change direction at the last minute when a more resonant narrative emerged. This flexibility and openness to authentic storytelling is a key part of the digital storytelling philosophy.
About Our Guest
Katlyn Lamont joined the Lincoln & Welland Band in the summer of 2023 and, although she’s a relatively new member, brings decades of experience playing the trombone. Prior to joining the L&W Band, she performed with the 22 Wing Band in North Bay, Ontario, and the Beer League Band in Edmonton, Alberta. Katlyn has also played in various jazz and concert bands, but her time with the L&W Band marked her first experience with marching.
In her professional life, Katlyn works as an Addictions & Mental Health counsellor and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. She has also trained as a digital storyteller under Dr. Michael Lang, using her skills to advance addiction advocacy.
About Co-Created
Co-Created is a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of digital storytelling. On each episode, host Kristy Wolfe dives into conversations with the storytellers and facilitators who bring digital stories to life.
If this particular conversation resonated with you, tell a friend or a colleague about Co-Created or share one of the digital stories we were talking about. You can find the stories here.
Co-Created is presented by Common Language DST, digital storytelling facilitation training for health and wellness changemakers and is supported by the team at Snack Labs.
