TRANSFORMATIVE STORYTELLING: COMMUNITY, CREATIVITY, AND THE COMMON GOOD
We often say that the world isn't falling apart, but the story we're telling about it could use some help. Another way of saying that is that the primary crisis we face is a crisis of storytelling - about who we are, why we're here, what we're here for, and ultimately what life itself can be.
The Porch Gathering builds a better world through telling better stories. We gather as a diverse community to laugh, learn, sometimes cry, celebrate and learn around the “campfire experience” of transformative storytelling, and gain tools for constructive, respectful, and thoughtful conversation. We believe mutual recognition matters more than elevating one person over others, and that each human being has a unique creative contribution to make to a better world. Everyone is invited to bring what they have, and ask for what they need.
Our stories often hold us back. The Porch Gathering is a space where better stories come to life.
A NOTE ON THE TIMES AND PLACE IN WHICH WE LIVE
Clearly we're experiencing a time of upheaval and uncertainty, and some of us are feeling exhausted or hopeless. Dreams are deferred, fear rises, and a sense of "spiritual homelessness" is present.
This has happened before, and is often woven with a sense of profound compassion and yearning for a better world.
The wisest people know that the deepest truths are often the simplest.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
What we need to survive are food, water, air, and shelter.
These days, it seems that we need to co-create our own shelter. When the dominant cultural, political, and even religious narratives are variations on "us versus them", individualism, and ideological purity (of any kind), we may well feel that the dream of a safer and more compassionate world, in which everyone lives at peace with their own garden to tend and share is far off indeed.
But on a Porch, and at a Porch Gathering, the dominant narratives are suspended for a few days, and we get to experiment with the expansive, daring, imaginative, and open possibility that there really is a better world, waiting for us to live into it. There is no less wisdom or courage available today than there has ever been.
*
We wouldn't say that the storytelling crisis will be resolved simply by changing the story, but we've spent nearly a decade now with The Porch, and all the connected endeavors interlaced with the good folks in The Porch community, and we keep discovering that much unnecessary suffering results from bad stories. Better stories aren't merely the antidote to unnecessary suffering, but can release us into new ways of thinking, living, being.
It has been said the most important human need is the need for mutual recognition - not elevating one of us over another, but simply truly being seen, and seeing each other. We're here for a short time, although sometimes it seems awfully long. We can spend that time in panic or ignorance, by seeking to dominate others or serve the common good, by indulging in fantasies of retribution or transformation, withdrawing into isolation or nurturing a contemplative life, scapegoating others or taking our place in the ecosystem of interdependent responsibility, weaponizing victimhood or binding the wounds of the brokenhearted, accumulating more and more for ourselves alone, or learning to steward (and craft) beautiful things, and share them.
Porches are "in-between" spaces, the mid-point between home and the world. They're often sheltered, though not sealed. They're places for rich conversation, exploration, play, a shoulder to cry on, or even a nap can be found.
This is the shelter we need. The best way to respond to a bad thing is to do something better in its place.
The best way to respond to panic and ignorance, to the devalued bonds and faded hopes is to - radically, truly, beautifully, experimentally - live.
*
So at the Porch Gathering this March, we're opening a space for significant ideas of grounded hope, individual and communal purpose, provocative and meaningful storytelling, and - frankly - enjoying life together. We truly believe that we are here not just to save the world, but to be changed.
Our work is forged partly in real suffering, conflict, and trauma - as individuals and in the societies in which we were born and raised. But we also learned creativity, resilience, and the kind of deep love that goes beyond platitudes or feelings. What we seek to offer is not a panacea or quick fix, but deeply rooted in the history of transformative storytelling, authentic spirituality, and courageous creativity for the common good.
Our vision is that the Porch Gathering would be a place where a couple hundred people could come together to take life seriously without taking ourselves too seriously; meet brilliant people from all kinds of places; and better understand ourselves, our place in the world, what we can do for the good, and the ways in which we can authentically give ourselves a break.
The third Porch Gathering runs from Thursday evening March 13th through Saturday evening March 15th, 2025 (the program ends on Saturday night, with breakfast available on Sunday morning for those staying over) with a range of storytelling, music, breakout sessions, talks, movies, and opportunities for quiet or just connecting with friends old and new. We'll have a dozen or more speakers/musicians/facilitators distinguished in their fields, and lots of options for engaging a better story and way of being, including deepening a sense of community together, and practical tools for the journey of living with courage and creativity.
It's not a typical conference - more like an informal festival-meets-retreat, where conversations on the sidelines matter as much as anything that happens on a stage. The times are showing us that we need each other - and we need truer and more helpful stories to guide us beyond cultures of domination and polarization, hopelessness, and constant activity. The Porch Gathering is a place to find those stories, and to meet people who will share the journey.
ABOUT ASHEVILLE & WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Hurricane Helene has had an enormous impact on our city, region, and community. Many people in The Porch community have been directly affected, and been directly involved in supporting the thousands who have suffered as a result of the storm. We aim to make the Porch Gathering accessible to anyone who would benefit from it, regardless of ability to pay.
We are intentionally returning the Porch Gathering to the Asheville area, and responsibly engaging inviting folks back to a community in recovery.
In this moment of heightened cultural anxiety/tension/confusion, we believe a gathering of like spirited folk committed to transformative storytelling (a slow conversation about beautiful and difficult things) is important and necessary
So we want to support the place The Porch was born and is most closely associated with, in two ways:
1: Please support the Gathering by registering to attend, and if you can, please contribute to the scholarship fund so we can offer discounted or free registration to anyone from the local area who was directly affected by Helene.
2: If you are one of those directly affected, and it would affect your ability to pay for registration for the Porch Gathering (or if you are in any degree of unjust financial hardship), read further below.
We often say that the world isn't falling apart, but the story we're telling about it could use some help. Another way of saying that is that the primary crisis we face is a crisis of storytelling - about who we are, why we're here, what we're here for, and ultimately what life itself can be.
The Porch Gathering builds a better world through telling better stories. We gather as a diverse community to laugh, learn, sometimes cry, celebrate and learn around the “campfire experience” of transformative storytelling, and gain tools for constructive, respectful, and thoughtful conversation. We believe mutual recognition matters more than elevating one person over others, and that each human being has a unique creative contribution to make to a better world. Everyone is invited to bring what they have, and ask for what they need.
Our stories often hold us back. The Porch Gathering is a space where better stories come to life.
A NOTE ON THE TIMES AND PLACE IN WHICH WE LIVE
Clearly we're experiencing a time of upheaval and uncertainty, and some of us are feeling exhausted or hopeless. Dreams are deferred, fear rises, and a sense of "spiritual homelessness" is present.
This has happened before, and is often woven with a sense of profound compassion and yearning for a better world.
The wisest people know that the deepest truths are often the simplest.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
What we need to survive are food, water, air, and shelter.
These days, it seems that we need to co-create our own shelter. When the dominant cultural, political, and even religious narratives are variations on "us versus them", individualism, and ideological purity (of any kind), we may well feel that the dream of a safer and more compassionate world, in which everyone lives at peace with their own garden to tend and share is far off indeed.
But on a Porch, and at a Porch Gathering, the dominant narratives are suspended for a few days, and we get to experiment with the expansive, daring, imaginative, and open possibility that there really is a better world, waiting for us to live into it. There is no less wisdom or courage available today than there has ever been.
*
We wouldn't say that the storytelling crisis will be resolved simply by changing the story, but we've spent nearly a decade now with The Porch, and all the connected endeavors interlaced with the good folks in The Porch community, and we keep discovering that much unnecessary suffering results from bad stories. Better stories aren't merely the antidote to unnecessary suffering, but can release us into new ways of thinking, living, being.
It has been said the most important human need is the need for mutual recognition - not elevating one of us over another, but simply truly being seen, and seeing each other. We're here for a short time, although sometimes it seems awfully long. We can spend that time in panic or ignorance, by seeking to dominate others or serve the common good, by indulging in fantasies of retribution or transformation, withdrawing into isolation or nurturing a contemplative life, scapegoating others or taking our place in the ecosystem of interdependent responsibility, weaponizing victimhood or binding the wounds of the brokenhearted, accumulating more and more for ourselves alone, or learning to steward (and craft) beautiful things, and share them.
Porches are "in-between" spaces, the mid-point between home and the world. They're often sheltered, though not sealed. They're places for rich conversation, exploration, play, a shoulder to cry on, or even a nap can be found.
This is the shelter we need. The best way to respond to a bad thing is to do something better in its place.
The best way to respond to panic and ignorance, to the devalued bonds and faded hopes is to - radically, truly, beautifully, experimentally - live.
*
So at the Porch Gathering this March, we're opening a space for significant ideas of grounded hope, individual and communal purpose, provocative and meaningful storytelling, and - frankly - enjoying life together. We truly believe that we are here not just to save the world, but to be changed.
Our work is forged partly in real suffering, conflict, and trauma - as individuals and in the societies in which we were born and raised. But we also learned creativity, resilience, and the kind of deep love that goes beyond platitudes or feelings. What we seek to offer is not a panacea or quick fix, but deeply rooted in the history of transformative storytelling, authentic spirituality, and courageous creativity for the common good.
Our vision is that the Porch Gathering would be a place where a couple hundred people could come together to take life seriously without taking ourselves too seriously; meet brilliant people from all kinds of places; and better understand ourselves, our place in the world, what we can do for the good, and the ways in which we can authentically give ourselves a break.
The third Porch Gathering runs from Thursday evening March 13th through Saturday evening March 15th, 2025 (the program ends on Saturday night, with breakfast available on Sunday morning for those staying over) with a range of storytelling, music, breakout sessions, talks, movies, and opportunities for quiet or just connecting with friends old and new. We'll have a dozen or more speakers/musicians/facilitators distinguished in their fields, and lots of options for engaging a better story and way of being, including deepening a sense of community together, and practical tools for the journey of living with courage and creativity.
It's not a typical conference - more like an informal festival-meets-retreat, where conversations on the sidelines matter as much as anything that happens on a stage. The times are showing us that we need each other - and we need truer and more helpful stories to guide us beyond cultures of domination and polarization, hopelessness, and constant activity. The Porch Gathering is a place to find those stories, and to meet people who will share the journey.
ABOUT ASHEVILLE & WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Hurricane Helene has had an enormous impact on our city, region, and community. Many people in The Porch community have been directly affected, and been directly involved in supporting the thousands who have suffered as a result of the storm. We aim to make the Porch Gathering accessible to anyone who would benefit from it, regardless of ability to pay.
We are intentionally returning the Porch Gathering to the Asheville area, and responsibly engaging inviting folks back to a community in recovery.
In this moment of heightened cultural anxiety/tension/confusion, we believe a gathering of like spirited folk committed to transformative storytelling (a slow conversation about beautiful and difficult things) is important and necessary
So we want to support the place The Porch was born and is most closely associated with, in two ways:
1: Please support the Gathering by registering to attend, and if you can, please contribute to the scholarship fund so we can offer discounted or free registration to anyone from the local area who was directly affected by Helene.
2: If you are one of those directly affected, and it would affect your ability to pay for registration for the Porch Gathering (or if you are in any degree of unjust financial hardship), read further below.
Location
Montreat, near Asheville, NC
Date & Time
March 13-16, 2025
Here's the 2025 Porch Gathering schedule - scroll to the end of this page for information on speakers, performers, and facilitators.
Of course the schedule is subject to change, but whatever unfolds for us on the weekend itself, the purpose is to convene a transformative storytelling (and story-learning) gathering who can find some fuel for the journey of living into a vision of creativity, courage, and community. We hope you'll join us.
*Please note - to find your way around the site at Montreat, go to www.montreat.org, click on RESOURCES and then Montreat Map. You can also pick up a printed copy of the map at Montreat Assembly Inn reception desk.
Of course the schedule is subject to change, but whatever unfolds for us on the weekend itself, the purpose is to convene a transformative storytelling (and story-learning) gathering who can find some fuel for the journey of living into a vision of creativity, courage, and community. We hope you'll join us.
*Please note - to find your way around the site at Montreat, go to www.montreat.org, click on RESOURCES and then Montreat Map. You can also pick up a printed copy of the map at Montreat Assembly Inn reception desk.
PRE-GATHERING WORKSHOP
THURSDAY MARCH 13TH - 2-5PM
THURSDAY MARCH 13TH - 2-5PM
SANCTUARY: CARE FOR THE SERVANT SOUL
Venue: Thompson-Brown, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center (just below the lake)
Join the extraordinary teacher Gloria Burgess for an afternoon workshop prior to the opening of the Porch Gathering (separate registration required).
In our hectic, fast-paced lives, we all need to pause for refreshment and renewal. Without pauses, what we call music would be nothing but a continuous stream of white noise. The same is true in our lives. Without pauses, the grand symphony of our life can become a continuous stream of meaningless activity. This workshop is an invitation to enter the exquisite realm of Sanctuary, a gracious time out of time where you can slow down, say “no” to crazy busy, and say “yes” to the natural and necessary rhythm of rest and renewal.
In our hectic, fast-paced lives, we all need to pause for refreshment and renewal. Without pauses, what we call music would be nothing but a continuous stream of white noise. The same is true in our lives. Without pauses, the grand symphony of our life can become a continuous stream of meaningless activity. This workshop is an invitation to enter the exquisite realm of Sanctuary, a gracious time out of time where you can slow down, say “no” to crazy busy, and say “yes” to the natural and necessary rhythm of rest and renewal.
THE PORCH GATHERING BEGINS
THURSDAY
5.30pm-6.30pm
5.30pm-6.30pm
DINNER*
*While you do not have to eat on site at the Porch Gathering, meals are available at Montreat Conference Center, but must be booked in advance.
THURSDAY
7-9.30pm
7-9.30pm
Opening Night: Transformative Story Party - at WHITE HORSE, 105 MONTREAT ROAD, BLACK MOUNTAIN
For over seven years The Porch has hosted a regular storytelling night delving into community, creativity, and the common good. Tonight we'll have some of our favorite storytellers and music, and a deep dive into the way stories shape our lives.
A meaningful beginning to a weekend embodying a vision for Transformative Storytelling and how it can relate to current events in the world, our communities, and ourselves.
Featuring opening remarks from Porch co-founders Brian Ammons & Gareth Higgins, music from David Wilcox, and storytellers Gloria Burgess, Micky ScottBey Jones, Shan Overton, and Jon Warner.
A meaningful beginning to a weekend embodying a vision for Transformative Storytelling and how it can relate to current events in the world, our communities, and ourselves.
Featuring opening remarks from Porch co-founders Brian Ammons & Gareth Higgins, music from David Wilcox, and storytellers Gloria Burgess, Micky ScottBey Jones, Shan Overton, and Jon Warner.
FRIDAY
7.30-8.30Am
7.30-8.30Am
BREAKFAST
FRIDAY
9-10.15Am
9-10.15Am
MORNING SESSION - UPPER ANDERSON
Gareth Higgins on Storytelling for Times Like These
Irish storyteller and activist, and Porch co-founder Gareth Higgins shares the Porch vision for the kind of story we are called to embody in the current moment. It's a story of courage, creativity, community and the common (and perhaps even cosmic) good. It doesn't avoid lament for suffering, nor dwell on the darkness. It doesn't sugarcoat reality, but recognizes that the better world we want to see come to fruition is already being born. It doesn't claim that things are easier than they really are, but it also champions the idea that the stories we tell can make things harder than they need to be.
Taking inspiration from Porch friends and teachers like Richard Rohr, John O'Donohue, and Joanna Macy, we assert that the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better, and that one of the most important of those practices is to learn to tell, share, and live a story that audaciously asserts our own incalculable worth.
Living for the common good, woven into an interdependent ecosystem of people and things depends on our learning to fiercely love ourselves - especially when the loudest stories test us. Gareth will explore some of these questions - and we'll have a conversation too.
Irish storyteller and activist, and Porch co-founder Gareth Higgins shares the Porch vision for the kind of story we are called to embody in the current moment. It's a story of courage, creativity, community and the common (and perhaps even cosmic) good. It doesn't avoid lament for suffering, nor dwell on the darkness. It doesn't sugarcoat reality, but recognizes that the better world we want to see come to fruition is already being born. It doesn't claim that things are easier than they really are, but it also champions the idea that the stories we tell can make things harder than they need to be.
Taking inspiration from Porch friends and teachers like Richard Rohr, John O'Donohue, and Joanna Macy, we assert that the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better, and that one of the most important of those practices is to learn to tell, share, and live a story that audaciously asserts our own incalculable worth.
Living for the common good, woven into an interdependent ecosystem of people and things depends on our learning to fiercely love ourselves - especially when the loudest stories test us. Gareth will explore some of these questions - and we'll have a conversation too.
FRIDAY
10.30 - 11.45am
10.30 - 11.45am
Morning Breakouts
Take a walk, hang out, or participate in a profound exploration with wise friends, choosing between breakout, small group, and individual options.
David LaMotte - Creativity & Nonviolence (UPPER ANDERSON)
Fight and flight are the two most common responses to aggression. They are hardwired into our nervous systems. But what comes naturally is not always what serves our communities best. Because non-traditional strategies require us to look past our first impressions of what is possible, they require creativity. That may be why John Lewis and others often spoke of “making a way out of no way.” We will think together about the intersection between creativity and nonviolence, and how we can cultivate innovative actions and responses in communities of care and resistance.
Tamara Hanna - Untangle & Tend: A Soft Place to Land with Grief and Gratitude (WALKUP)
Let’s drop in, breathe, and journey together! Whether you’ve been going through personal difficulties or feel the enormity of all that is weighty in this world, this will be an experiential space to tend to the grief we carry in our bodies and hearts. The very good news is that we were never meant to carry it alone! We will spend this time re-connecting with self and source, re-membering community practices through a sampling of musical, somatic, and expressive exercises. Come as you are–tender and curious–and we’ll meet you with the rest!
Mike Morrell - Contemplative Composting: Fermenting Faith and Redeeming Rotten Religion (THOMPSON-BROWN, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center - just below the lake)
Join Christian spirituality author and facilitator Michael Morrell on a
journey through the sacred decay of belief, where the compost of
yesterday's certainties feed the fertile soil of tomorrow's wisdom.
David LaMotte - Creativity & Nonviolence (UPPER ANDERSON)
Fight and flight are the two most common responses to aggression. They are hardwired into our nervous systems. But what comes naturally is not always what serves our communities best. Because non-traditional strategies require us to look past our first impressions of what is possible, they require creativity. That may be why John Lewis and others often spoke of “making a way out of no way.” We will think together about the intersection between creativity and nonviolence, and how we can cultivate innovative actions and responses in communities of care and resistance.
Tamara Hanna - Untangle & Tend: A Soft Place to Land with Grief and Gratitude (WALKUP)
Let’s drop in, breathe, and journey together! Whether you’ve been going through personal difficulties or feel the enormity of all that is weighty in this world, this will be an experiential space to tend to the grief we carry in our bodies and hearts. The very good news is that we were never meant to carry it alone! We will spend this time re-connecting with self and source, re-membering community practices through a sampling of musical, somatic, and expressive exercises. Come as you are–tender and curious–and we’ll meet you with the rest!
Mike Morrell - Contemplative Composting: Fermenting Faith and Redeeming Rotten Religion (THOMPSON-BROWN, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center - just below the lake)
Join Christian spirituality author and facilitator Michael Morrell on a
journey through the sacred decay of belief, where the compost of
yesterday's certainties feed the fertile soil of tomorrow's wisdom.
12pM-1PM
LUNCH
FRIDAY
1.30pm-2.30pm
1.30pm-2.30pm
Porch Circles
Experience a radical and accessible method of community connection in the spirit of Transformative Storytelling - and then take it home with you.
Porch Circles are small gatherings that help us learn more of the story we're telling, connect with others committed to the common good, and get clearer about who we are and what we're here for. We're offering this opportunity during the Porch Gathering to experience a Porch Circle, which you can take home with you too. Circles will take place in Upper Anderson, Walkup Building, and Thompson-Brown Meeting room - just choose which one you wish to attend.
Porch Circles are small gatherings that help us learn more of the story we're telling, connect with others committed to the common good, and get clearer about who we are and what we're here for. We're offering this opportunity during the Porch Gathering to experience a Porch Circle, which you can take home with you too. Circles will take place in Upper Anderson, Walkup Building, and Thompson-Brown Meeting room - just choose which one you wish to attend.
FRIDAY
2:45pm-4pm (OR LATER)
2:45pm-4pm (OR LATER)
Breakouts
Take a walk, hang out, or participate in a profound exploration with wise friends, choosing between breakout, small group, and individual options.
Jessica Vazquez Torres & Hardy H. Kim - The Lifeblood of Liberation: How Our Stories Can Free Us From Systems of Oppression (UPPER ANDERSON)
The editors and algorithms that select the stories we consume often erase or drown out stories of marginalized folks for not being marketable enough, because they aren’t positive and don’t offer easy solutions. The empire’s stories are for profit.
But the stories told by those suffering under empire are essential to breaking through the lies and half-truths of the empire. Receiving them, we might catch glimpses of the beauty that is at the heart of humanity - glimpses that can lead us to find new paths toward connection, peace, justice, and joy. Join Jessica and Hardy to hear and share stories that fight against systems of domination and exploitation. Let's listen, together, for the ways our own true stories can lead us beyond the evils of this current imperial age.
Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle and Michael Arbuckle - Film Screening and Discussion: THE LAST ECSTATIC DAYS (WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN; total session time is 1 hour and 45 minutes)
A documentary about a man with brain cancer who uses viral social media posts to discover a death-care community and teach the world how to die, The Last Ecstatic Days is a sensory immersion into leaving the body, reveals a man who will not let us forget him – even after he’s taken his final breath. At the height of the pandemic, a young man with brain cancer chooses to live-stream his death journey on social media. His heartfelt desire -to share with the world "how to die without fear". Through a series of unforeseen events, he is transported to the Blue Ridge mountains, and for his remaining days, is held in the arms of community.
PLEASE NOTE THIS SCREENING AND DISCUSSION TAKES PLACE AT THE WHITE HORSE, 105 MONTREAT ROAD - LEAVE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES TO DRIVE AND PARK
Bobby Jo Valentine - Five Stories to Unlock Your Life (THOMPSON-BROWN, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center - just below the lake)
We're bound by and set free by the stories that we tell ourselves. Through storytelling and song, Bobby Jo walks through five stories we all have in our history that, when remembered and reckoned with, can liberate our truest selves and pave the way to a fulfilling and meaningful life: a story of love, a story of loss, a story of lack, a story of lust, and a story of luck. By knowing our stories, we can better connect with the story of the world around us, and help shape it for good. Join Bobby Jo Valentine for an inspiring workshop that combines music, storytelling, and reflection to explore spiritual themes of hope, connection, and identity. Through his original songs and personal insights, Bobby Jo will guide participants to find their own creative voice and share their own stories in powerful and profound ways.
FRIDAY
5.30-6.30pm
5.30-6.30pm
DINNER
FRIDAY
7pm
7pm
MOVIES & MEANING SPECIAL SCREENING - WHITE HORSE, 105 MONTREAT ROAD, BLACK MOUNTAIN
At our partner venue the White Horse we'll host a special screening of a remarkable film - the Southeast premiere of The Wise Guy, by Irish writer-director Sam O'Mahoney. A wonderful fusion of childhood fantasy, gangster-buddy movie, and family drama, The Wise Guy is also one of the rare films that truly deserves to be called redemptive.
Please note the venue is White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Road; two miles from Montreat - please leave adequate time to arrive, park, and get settled for what we intend to be an evening of entertainment, substance, creativity, courage, and community.
Please note the venue is White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Road; two miles from Montreat - please leave adequate time to arrive, park, and get settled for what we intend to be an evening of entertainment, substance, creativity, courage, and community.
saturday
7.30-8.30am
7.30-8.30am
BREAKFAST
saturday
9am - 10AM
9am - 10AM
PLENARY: Medicine Stories for the World - with David Wilcox and Gareth Higgins - UPPER ANDERSON
A story performance by Gareth Higgins of The Story of the People, mingled with a handful of songs from David Wilcox, including two or three medicine songs spontaneously arising from whatever is spoken in the room - for the community, for the world.
saturday 10.30-11.45am
Breakouts
Take a walk, hang out, or participate in a profound exploration with wise friends, choosing between breakout, small group, and individual options.
Jamie Boutcher, Missy Harris, and Brian Ammons - If These Hills Could Talk: What We Wish Folk Knew about Appalachia and its People (UPPER ANDERSON)
Southern Appalachian continues play a unique role in the imagination of the country. Paradoxically it is heralded for its beauty and stripped of its natural resources; home to population frequently depicted as quaintly folksy or sinisterly ignorant; a great place to vacation or retire, while also the punchline of a joke. In this roundtable discussion our speakers, each with multigenerational Appalachian roots, will explore questions of culture, power, identity, and community shaped in these mountains.
Jasmin Pittman- Dream Circles: Building Individual & Collective Resilience *Limited to 12 people - contact us in advance to confirm if you want to join this session (WALKUP)
Explore the terrain of your subconscious through dream work. In a safe (and brave), facilitated container, participants will be invited to share a dream and gain insights from the group. While not everyone will have the chance to offer a dream, everyone will have the opportunity to get in touch with their intuition and find meaning by engaging the symbols and themes that fuel us and the stories we hold. It's helpful if you keep a dream journal in the weeks prior to The Gathering, but it's not necessary to join the circle--all you need is a willingness to be present and listen respectfully and with an open heart. Dream circles will be limited to eight participants, so sign up* soon if the Dream-maker's been calling.
Greg Feightner - A session on organizing men seeking to embody alternatives to patriarchy. (THOMPSON-BROWN, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center - just below the lake)
In December 2024, nearly 50 people identifying as men met up in Asheville to discover and create ways of being in fellowship and community with one another at the first AVL Men's Meetup. In particular, we invited men to create small groups in order form a network of support for the work of becoming better allies to women and folks across the gender spectrum, construct alternatives to patriarchy based on accountability, mutual support, and knowledge sharing . Come to this session to hear more about why we did it, how we did it, and what we learned.
Jamie Boutcher, Missy Harris, and Brian Ammons - If These Hills Could Talk: What We Wish Folk Knew about Appalachia and its People (UPPER ANDERSON)
Southern Appalachian continues play a unique role in the imagination of the country. Paradoxically it is heralded for its beauty and stripped of its natural resources; home to population frequently depicted as quaintly folksy or sinisterly ignorant; a great place to vacation or retire, while also the punchline of a joke. In this roundtable discussion our speakers, each with multigenerational Appalachian roots, will explore questions of culture, power, identity, and community shaped in these mountains.
Jasmin Pittman- Dream Circles: Building Individual & Collective Resilience *Limited to 12 people - contact us in advance to confirm if you want to join this session (WALKUP)
Explore the terrain of your subconscious through dream work. In a safe (and brave), facilitated container, participants will be invited to share a dream and gain insights from the group. While not everyone will have the chance to offer a dream, everyone will have the opportunity to get in touch with their intuition and find meaning by engaging the symbols and themes that fuel us and the stories we hold. It's helpful if you keep a dream journal in the weeks prior to The Gathering, but it's not necessary to join the circle--all you need is a willingness to be present and listen respectfully and with an open heart. Dream circles will be limited to eight participants, so sign up* soon if the Dream-maker's been calling.
Greg Feightner - A session on organizing men seeking to embody alternatives to patriarchy. (THOMPSON-BROWN, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center - just below the lake)
In December 2024, nearly 50 people identifying as men met up in Asheville to discover and create ways of being in fellowship and community with one another at the first AVL Men's Meetup. In particular, we invited men to create small groups in order form a network of support for the work of becoming better allies to women and folks across the gender spectrum, construct alternatives to patriarchy based on accountability, mutual support, and knowledge sharing . Come to this session to hear more about why we did it, how we did it, and what we learned.
saturday 12PM-1PM
LUNCH
saturday 1:30-2.30PM
PORCH CIRCLES
Experience a radical and accessible method of community connection in the spirit of Transformative Storytelling - and then take it home with you.
Porch Circles are small gatherings that help us learn more of the story we're telling, connect with others committed to the common good, and get clearer about who we are and what we're here for. We're offering this opportunity during the Porch Gathering to experience a Porch Circle, which you can take home with you too. Circles will take place in Upper Anderson, Walkup Building, and Thompson-Brown Meeting room - just choose which one you wish to attend.
Porch Circles are small gatherings that help us learn more of the story we're telling, connect with others committed to the common good, and get clearer about who we are and what we're here for. We're offering this opportunity during the Porch Gathering to experience a Porch Circle, which you can take home with you too. Circles will take place in Upper Anderson, Walkup Building, and Thompson-Brown Meeting room - just choose which one you wish to attend.
saturday 2.45-4PM
BREAKOUTS
Take a walk, hang out, or participate in a profound exploration with wise friends, choosing between breakout, small group, and individual options.
Kim Richardson - Everyday Improv (WALKUP)
You are invited by local improviser and play addict Kim Richardson to join in simple improv games that will stimulate your imagination and encourage integration of your Porch experience. We’ll explore communication outside of words and tap into different ways of knowing. Connection is the goal.
Micky ScottBey Jones - As If By Instinct: A Way of Understanding What You and I Value (UPPER ANDERSON)
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and realized you were talking about the same thing but focused on it from two completely different angles? An often neglected, but very helpful dimension of the Enneagram model, The Three Instinctual Biases, can help us understand why this “clash of values” behind this miscommunication occurs. Turns out we are prioritizing different things … as if by instinct. We’ll learn about these instinctual domains and how to speak to them to be able to close communication gaps in a tangible way. No prior knowledge of the Enneagram necessary for this workshop.
Billy Jonas - The Story of Song, the Song of Story. (THOMPSON-BROWN, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center - just below the lake)
Come participate in a collective creativity experience, resulting in a story song to be presented on Saturday evening. We'll discuss the moment at hand, meaning-making, mythology, magic and mystery… and mold a mellifluous musical manifestation.
Kim Richardson - Everyday Improv (WALKUP)
You are invited by local improviser and play addict Kim Richardson to join in simple improv games that will stimulate your imagination and encourage integration of your Porch experience. We’ll explore communication outside of words and tap into different ways of knowing. Connection is the goal.
Micky ScottBey Jones - As If By Instinct: A Way of Understanding What You and I Value (UPPER ANDERSON)
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and realized you were talking about the same thing but focused on it from two completely different angles? An often neglected, but very helpful dimension of the Enneagram model, The Three Instinctual Biases, can help us understand why this “clash of values” behind this miscommunication occurs. Turns out we are prioritizing different things … as if by instinct. We’ll learn about these instinctual domains and how to speak to them to be able to close communication gaps in a tangible way. No prior knowledge of the Enneagram necessary for this workshop.
Billy Jonas - The Story of Song, the Song of Story. (THOMPSON-BROWN, Moore Center, Montreat Conference Center - just below the lake)
Come participate in a collective creativity experience, resulting in a story song to be presented on Saturday evening. We'll discuss the moment at hand, meaning-making, mythology, magic and mystery… and mold a mellifluous musical manifestation.
saturday 4.15pm-5:30pm
PLENARY
Brian Ammons - Invitation to Transformative Storytelling (UPPER ANDERSON)
An introduction to The Porch storytelling practices and philosophy with Brian Ammons. For all storytellers, aspiring, seasoned, or uncertain.
An introduction to The Porch storytelling practices and philosophy with Brian Ammons. For all storytellers, aspiring, seasoned, or uncertain.
saturday 5.30pm-6.30pm
DINNER
saturday 7PM
A CLOSING NIGHT OF FUN AND IMAGINATION - with BRIAN AMMONS & BILLY JONAS - UPPER ANDERSON
Music, storytelling, and community of heart and courage to close the Gathering!
sunday 7.30am-8.30AM
BREAKFAST - see you next time!
Location, Accommodation, Meals & Registration
The Porch Gathering takes place at Montreat Conference Center and the White Horse in Black Mountain, near Asheville, NC.
Here's a map of Montreat and information about the White Horse in Black Mountain (2.6 miles from Montreat).
The closest airport is Asheville (AVL), about a 40 minute drive to Montreat. Flights are often cheaper to Charlotte (CLT), a 2 hour drive, or Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP), just over a 90 minute drive. We encourage carpooling/ridesharing where possible.
Please note that advance registration is necessary to attend the gathering, and participant numbers are intentionally limited to create a possibility of more meaningful community - register now to guarantee your place. And because life is unpredictable, if you register in advance and are unable to attend, you can transfer your registration to a friend at no additional cost, although we cannot offer refunds. Accommodation and meals are not included in registration and must be booked separately (and of course you are welcome to commute to the gathering or eat elsewhere).
Onsite accommodation and meals are available at William Black Lodge (right next to the Conference Center) and South Carolina Inn (a very short walk away); if you stay at William Black Lodge or South Carolina Inn
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE ACCOMMODATION AT WILLIAM BLACK LODGE - USE THE CODE "PORCH" - ONLY TWO ROOMS LEFT
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE ACCOMMODATION AT SOUTH CAROLINA INN- USE THE CODE "PORCH" - GOOD AVAILABILITY
Other local accommodation is also available - click here for information on local hotels and other accommodation.
The town of Black Mountain has several good food options as well - click here for more information.
We want to make the Gathering widely accessible, so have set the registration at $379 - much lower than many comparable events; if you can afford to pay more, please do so: we will use any such contributions to offer partial scholarships to folks who aren't currently able to afford the registration fee. And if the registration fee is beyond your reach for now, please read on below for information on scholarships available to anyone that needs one, that can significantly reduce the registration fee - we'll be glad to help.
A SPIRIT OF MUTUAL GENEROSITY: SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EVERYONE
We want to make the Porch Gathering accessible regardless of ability to pay. If you have been directly impacted by Hurricane Helene, or if any financial hardship would prevent you from paying the full registration fee, please read on:
The full registration fee is $379 per person, and scholarship discounts include the same access as those who pay the full registration rate.
We ask that you consider three things when deciding what to pay.
1: The resources available to you.
2: The benefit you feel you will receive from attending.
3: A sense of mutual respect and trust with the members of The Porch Community who host this Gathering.
With that in mind, feel free to use one of the scholarship codes below to reduce the registration cost - and go to www.theporchgathering.com to register.
If you can afford the standard $379 registration fee, please register at that amount. If you can more easily afford a lower registration fee - and especially if it would cause hardship or you would not otherwise be able to attend, use one of the discount codes below to reduce your registration cost:
IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND IN-PERSON
To register at $279 (a $100 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP279
To register at $229 ($150 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP229
To register at $179 ($200 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP179
To register at $79 ($300 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP79
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND IN-PERSON BUT WANT TO JOIN ONLINE
The online option which includes some livestreams and recordings of the event is $99 - but if you can more easily afford $49, use this code: ONLINESCHOLARSHIP49
So again, if you’re able to register at the standard rate, please do; and if you can contribute more to help us share the gifts of the Porch Gathering with anyone called to transformative storytelling, regardless of ability to pay, we welcome contributions in any amount.
Please make a contribution at this link: www.paypal.com/paypalme/theporchmagazine
And click here to register for the Gathering.
Please note that scholarships can only be applied to the Gathering registration fee - meals and accommodation are handled separately by Montreat Conference Center - but you don't have to stay or eat meals onsite in order to participate in the Gathering. We hope you'll join us in the spirit of mutual generosity, creativity, and the common good.
Here's a map of Montreat and information about the White Horse in Black Mountain (2.6 miles from Montreat).
The closest airport is Asheville (AVL), about a 40 minute drive to Montreat. Flights are often cheaper to Charlotte (CLT), a 2 hour drive, or Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP), just over a 90 minute drive. We encourage carpooling/ridesharing where possible.
Please note that advance registration is necessary to attend the gathering, and participant numbers are intentionally limited to create a possibility of more meaningful community - register now to guarantee your place. And because life is unpredictable, if you register in advance and are unable to attend, you can transfer your registration to a friend at no additional cost, although we cannot offer refunds. Accommodation and meals are not included in registration and must be booked separately (and of course you are welcome to commute to the gathering or eat elsewhere).
Onsite accommodation and meals are available at William Black Lodge (right next to the Conference Center) and South Carolina Inn (a very short walk away); if you stay at William Black Lodge or South Carolina Inn
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE ACCOMMODATION AT WILLIAM BLACK LODGE - USE THE CODE "PORCH" - ONLY TWO ROOMS LEFT
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE ACCOMMODATION AT SOUTH CAROLINA INN- USE THE CODE "PORCH" - GOOD AVAILABILITY
Other local accommodation is also available - click here for information on local hotels and other accommodation.
The town of Black Mountain has several good food options as well - click here for more information.
We want to make the Gathering widely accessible, so have set the registration at $379 - much lower than many comparable events; if you can afford to pay more, please do so: we will use any such contributions to offer partial scholarships to folks who aren't currently able to afford the registration fee. And if the registration fee is beyond your reach for now, please read on below for information on scholarships available to anyone that needs one, that can significantly reduce the registration fee - we'll be glad to help.
A SPIRIT OF MUTUAL GENEROSITY: SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EVERYONE
We want to make the Porch Gathering accessible regardless of ability to pay. If you have been directly impacted by Hurricane Helene, or if any financial hardship would prevent you from paying the full registration fee, please read on:
The full registration fee is $379 per person, and scholarship discounts include the same access as those who pay the full registration rate.
We ask that you consider three things when deciding what to pay.
1: The resources available to you.
2: The benefit you feel you will receive from attending.
3: A sense of mutual respect and trust with the members of The Porch Community who host this Gathering.
With that in mind, feel free to use one of the scholarship codes below to reduce the registration cost - and go to www.theporchgathering.com to register.
If you can afford the standard $379 registration fee, please register at that amount. If you can more easily afford a lower registration fee - and especially if it would cause hardship or you would not otherwise be able to attend, use one of the discount codes below to reduce your registration cost:
IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND IN-PERSON
To register at $279 (a $100 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP279
To register at $229 ($150 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP229
To register at $179 ($200 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP179
To register at $79 ($300 discount), use the code: SCHOLARSHIP79
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND IN-PERSON BUT WANT TO JOIN ONLINE
The online option which includes some livestreams and recordings of the event is $99 - but if you can more easily afford $49, use this code: ONLINESCHOLARSHIP49
So again, if you’re able to register at the standard rate, please do; and if you can contribute more to help us share the gifts of the Porch Gathering with anyone called to transformative storytelling, regardless of ability to pay, we welcome contributions in any amount.
Please make a contribution at this link: www.paypal.com/paypalme/theporchmagazine
And click here to register for the Gathering.
Please note that scholarships can only be applied to the Gathering registration fee - meals and accommodation are handled separately by Montreat Conference Center - but you don't have to stay or eat meals onsite in order to participate in the Gathering. We hope you'll join us in the spirit of mutual generosity, creativity, and the common good.
Speakers & Facilitators
The Porch Gathering convenes a vibrant assortment of people committed to creativity, community, and the common good. We'll announce more details on contributors and conversations closer to the event itself, but to give a flavor we're delighted to introduce you to our friends who will help provoke and inspire our conversations at the Porch Gathering - storytellers, activists, writers, teachers, musicians, leaders and people like you.
Gloria J. Burgess, PhD, has dedicated her life to exploring spirit-filled leadership and
stewardship of our individual, collective, and planetary resources. Founder and CEO of Jazz, Inc.
and The Lift Every Voice Foundation, she serves as trusted advisor to organizations throughout
the world and as faculty at the University of Southern California, University of Washington, and
IEDC Bled School of Management in Slovenia. Gloria enjoys integrating the arts into all aspects
of her life and work.
stewardship of our individual, collective, and planetary resources. Founder and CEO of Jazz, Inc.
and The Lift Every Voice Foundation, she serves as trusted advisor to organizations throughout
the world and as faculty at the University of Southern California, University of Washington, and
IEDC Bled School of Management in Slovenia. Gloria enjoys integrating the arts into all aspects
of her life and work.
Michelle LeBaron
www.allard.ubc.ca/about-us/our-people/michelle-lebaron
www.allard.ubc.ca/about-us/our-people/michelle-lebaron
Tamara L Hanna is a licensed clinical mental health counselor certified in Spiritually integrated Psychotherapy. For 14 years she has specialized in inviting people into a new relationship with grief, loss, change, and uncertainty. Living in these deep waters has taught her to cultivate hope, joy, and rest in order to be sustained through life’s difficulty and as subversive acts of resisting the overculture.
www.loveandlosscounseling.com
www.loveandlosscounseling.com
Shan Overton lives and writes in Nashville. She currently serves as Associate Dean of Academics and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at American Baptist College, a liberal arts HBCU dedicated to social justice, equity, advocacy, and leadership.
@shanoverton
@shanoverton
Jamie Butcher is a certified enneagram instructor and ordained minister in the PC(USA). Originally from Bristol, TN/VA, she has served congregations in the Atlanta area for over 15 years. Jamie received her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia. She also holds a master's degree in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University.
www.covpresatl.org/staff
www.covpresatl.org/staff
Jessica Vasquez Torres is a proven leader with over 20 years’ experience in antiracism, anti- oppression, and cultural competency workshop development and facilitation. Jessica is deeply committed to addressing social structures and cultural dynamics that marginalize and minoritize communities and limit their access to the resources necessary to thrive not just survive. A 1.5- Generation ESL Queer Latina of Puerto Rican descent, Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Hardy H. Kim is Pastor at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, Sunnyvale, CA, and a second generation Korean American
Michael and Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle have, for much of their adult life, been actively engaged in expanding a public conversation of what it means to live and die consciously, in the full embrace of the impermanence of it all. Michael is an artist who sees as his life's path to embrace "art as life & life as art", and is a Founding Board member of the Center for Conscious Living and Dying here in Asheville. Wendy's lifework is centered around exploring and expounding on our inextricable relationship with "gravity, ourselves, one another and the world around us". Her upcoming book "Moving Beyond Core: A Somatic Exploration through Whole Body Relationships", will be out in the Spring of 2026.
Gareth Higgins is an Irish writer, storyteller, and violence reduction activist, and the co-founder of The Porch
www.garethhiggins.net
www.garethhiggins.net
Micky ScottBey Jones
(she/her) is a Black, queer woman with an international and intersectional understanding of social change and fierce dedication to cultivating emotional intelligence and resilience in leaders. Her work includes accompanying people as a facilitator, leadership coach, certified and accredited Enneagram trainer and writer that addresses sustainable leadership, self-awareness, compassion, team culture, values alignment and social-emotional skill building. You can find Micky on the web at mickyscottbeyjones.com.
www.mickyscottbeyjones.com
(she/her) is a Black, queer woman with an international and intersectional understanding of social change and fierce dedication to cultivating emotional intelligence and resilience in leaders. Her work includes accompanying people as a facilitator, leadership coach, certified and accredited Enneagram trainer and writer that addresses sustainable leadership, self-awareness, compassion, team culture, values alignment and social-emotional skill building. You can find Micky on the web at mickyscottbeyjones.com.
www.mickyscottbeyjones.com
Brian Ammons is a spiritual director and co-founder of The Porch
www.theporchmagazine.com/coaching-spiritual-direction
www.theporchmagazine.com/coaching-spiritual-direction
Jasmin Pittman is a writer, editor, and spiritual companion based in Asheville, North Carolina. Her work is included in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible, Bigger Than Bravery, Meeting at the Table and elsewhere. She is particularly interested in the language of dreams and stories intersecting identity, belonging, and the U.S. American South.
www.instagram.com/jasminiscreating/
www.instagram.com/jasminiscreating/
For over thirty years, Billy Jonas -- performer, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator -- has perfected the art of the neo-tribal hootenanny* with audiences around the globe. Using voice, guitar, and industrial re-percussion,* each concert is a soul-spelunking, heart healing, joy-filled journey.
www.billyjonas.com
www.billyjonas.com
David LaMotte is a singer/songwriter, author, speaker, and non-profit founder. He has performed or spoken in fifty states and on five continents, put out four books and thirteen original albums, and two more as part of an interfaith trio, Abraham Jam. He lives in Black Mountain, NC with his wife and son, an old dog, and four chickens.
www.davidlamotte.com
www.davidlamotte.com
Greg Feightner
(he/him) is an IT guy, a poet, and storyteller living in Black Mountain, NC. He’s led small groups for nearly 20 years in both religious and non-religious contexts. In December 2024, he co-organized the AVL (Asheville) Men's Meetup in response to many others expressing a desire to be in a men's group for support, accountability and fellowship.
Bobby Jo Valentine is an explorative, hopeful, spiritual, queer artist who strives to make music and poetry that is good medicine for everyone. Bobby Jo has won multiple awards for his songwriting, given a Tedx Talk, and is a believer in the soft and steady power of tiny everyday acts of love to heal our world.
Carrie MacLeod is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar-practitioner who has worked worldwide with communities, non-profit organizations and educational institutions for three decades. Her socially-engaged work moves at the intersections of conflict transformation, peacebuilding, involuntary migration, memory, and arts-based pedagogies. Carrie is grateful to make a home on the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. www.carriemacleod.com
The Wise Guy - written and directed by Sam O'Mahoney
Missy Harris grew up in Western North Carolina, and after attending seminary at Candler School of Theology she currently serves as co-pastor of Circle of Mercy Congregation in Asheville. She worked for five years as a chaplain in WNC's primary healthcare system and is currently working with a grassroots community group (Reclaim Healthcare WNC) advocating for accountability and quality patient care, following the purchase of the system by a for-profit corporation. She's also worked supporting refugee resettlement, community engagement on college campuses, HIV/AIDS education, organ donation, and affordable housing. Missy also worked for a summer at Santa's Land in Cherokee making funnel cakes and pork rinds, which ended up being a first step toward becoming a vegetarian.She lives in Candler, NC with her family and a sweet and very lazy dog named Blaze.
Diana, Princess of Themyscira**
**may not be able to appear in person due to saving the world commitments
**may not be able to appear in person due to saving the world commitments
Join us in March for a beautiful weekend of connection with what matters most
We look forward to hosting you!