If you love being inspired, learning about members of your local community and above all connecting with others, Entelechy Living at Woonona has been announced as the Illawarra home for the Stories that Stir movement. 

Stories that Stir was started in Sydney by Monica Rosenfeld and her husband, Joram, and like a lot of creative endeavours was born out of the Covid lockdowns. Monica, who had been a standup comedian for the five years prior, was missing the stage, other people and storytelling. They launched in the hope of breaking down barriers, fostering human connection and, the clue is in the name, stirring conversation. 

The events are now held in more than 10 locations throughout the country, with the Illawarra, specifically Woonona, being recently added.

Entelechy Living’s Anna Carson is “super excited” to have been chosen to host Illawarra’s storytelling events. 

“People can be inspired, connect and get a chance for their story to be heard and I guess this is why it resonates so deeply with us as well at Entelechy,” Anna said. 

“When we hear other people’s stories, it often resonates with ourselves and helps us to feel less alone in our own struggles. It helps us to feel empathy, compassion and that human connection.” 

And it’s not just professional speakers who are encouraged to apply for future events (Entelechy will be hosting a Stories that Stir evening each quarter).

“This is for everyday people to have an opportunity to tell their story and to be witnessed and observed as I think that’s such a powerful healing medium,” Anna said. 

“For the audience it’s such a powerful experience. I know I’ve spoken to a few people who have been part of Stories that Stir movement and they have come away feeling so incredibly heard.

"Each event consists of six locals who share their story through the lens of a one-word theme. The theme for the inaugural March 6th event is Hidden.

"We wanted to keep it [the theme] really broad so people could weave whatever they felt drawn to weaving through it."

"It started with ‘what people wouldn’t know looking at me’ or ‘couldn’t tell from looking at me’ …and we needed to condense that down into one word.

And just having little snippets of what the storytellers have shared already I think it’s going to be a really intriguing theme to start this one off.”

You can email Anna for tickets or more information

If you'd like to tell your story at an event, fill out an application form on the Stories that Stir website.