Stories That Heal Us: Reclaiming Voice, Building Belonging

About the Series

The National Women's Studies Association (NWSA) is proud to partner with award winning storyteller, creative disruptor, organizational culture change consultant, and interdisciplinary feminist educator, Dr. Meghna Bhat for our first storytelling workshop series! “Stories That Heal Us: Reclaiming Voice, Building Belonging” is an invitation to slow down and reconnect with the parts of your story that want to be heard. Together, we’ll explore how our lived experiences, values, and voices shape the stories we carry—and how sharing them can create healing and belonging. By the end, you’ll leave with a story that feels true to you and the grounded confidence to share it in community.

Gentle Reminders

These sessions are not necessarily focused solely on moments of trauma or unpleasant experiences, but we also explore other moments of joy and everyday life.

No need to prepare anything or think of a story.

Please bring your notepad or a book, and a pen!

Sharing your story during this series is encouraged but is not required.

→ You are not required to attend all session, please register/attend if/when you have the capacity.

Our aspiration is to create a space where NWSA community members can pour into themselves, create space for literally creating space to center oneself, write your story, and delve into the transformative praxis of storytelling as method, intervention, and enactment of healing joy. 

Our Workshops

 Tuesday April 28, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PT * 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET

We kick things off by getting grounded together and building shared agreements for the space. You’ll learn what storytelling really is (and what it isn’t), explore a few different styles, and hear some examples to spark ideas. By the end, you’ll create a short mini‑story to warm up your voice and imagination.

We kick things off by getting grounded together and building shared agreements for the space. You’ll learn what storytelling really is (and what it isn’t), explore a few different styles, and hear some examples to spark ideas. By the end, you’ll create a short mini‑story to warm up your voice and imagination.

 Tuesday June 30, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PT * 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET

This session is all about slowing down and noticing the moments in our lives that changed something in us—the little (or big) “aha” shifts that shape who we are. Together, we’ll explore the people who show up in our stories, including the roles we play ourselves, using gentle prompts and supportive peer reflections. You’ll have plenty of space to write, breathe, and uncover what feels true as you reconnect with your feminist values and the voice you want to bring forward.

 Tuesday September 1, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PT * 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET

In our final session, you’ll build a fuller version of your story using guided writing and free‑writing time. You’ll have the chance to share with peers in a supportive space and get reflections that help strengthen your flow and delivery. We wrap up with practical resources and a well‑being checklist to support you as both a storyteller and a facilitator.

Quick Links

Connect & Participate!

📌Interested in attending workshops in this series? Be sure to subscribe to the NWSA newsletter and check out our Upcoming Events to stay up to date and register!

📌If you'd like to connect with our facilitator, Dr. Meghna Bhat, please explore her work here.

📌You may also wish to participate in our Writer's Nest Series, click this link to learn more about our writing circles! 

About Dr. Meghna Bhat

Dr. Meghna Bhat (she/her) is an award-winning storyteller, creative disruptor, organizational culture change consultant, and interdisciplinary feminist educator. With over 20 years of extensive experience in diverse settings, she uses storytelling as a transformative tool for dialogue, prevention, and intergenerational healing. Dr. Bhat has led workshops at various national anti-gender violence conferences, including the National Sexual Conference and the National Symposium on Sexual Assault in Communities of Color. As a first-generation South Asian immigrant woman, her multidisciplinary project, Gulabi Stories: A South Asian Healing Initiative, amplifies narratives of resilience and collective care across the South Asian diaspora. A recipient of the 2025 ORACLE Leadership Award, Dr. Bhat partners with national organizations and coalitions to support facilitation, strategic planning, and curriculum design. Her stories have resonated with audiences in significant venues, including the 2022 Immigrant Stories and the anthology "SANCTUARIES" by South Asian SOAR.

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