Philly's nonprofit storytellers take the mic
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Photo: Courtesy of PWPvideo
Philly entrepreneur Michael Schweisheimer has one mission: To put the spotlight on Philadelphia's do-gooders.
Why it matters: Schweisheimer started a biannual event, Mission Story Slam, in 2018, and it has blossomed into a lively community gathering that gives nonprofits a chance to share their stories with the masses — all over a few beers.
Driving the news: Dozens will gather Tuesday night at Triple Bottom Brewing to share stories of struggle, tragedy and triumph in a no-judgment setting — all with cash prizes on the line, including one for the crowd favorite.
- The lineup includes some of the clients Schweisheimer works with through his media production company, PWP Video. But at least five storytellers will be randomly picked from a "can of destiny."
What they're saying: "This is not a TED talk," Schweisheimer tells Axios. "You know, you want telling from the heart."
Between the lines: The campfire-style tales have helped generate buzz for Philly nonprofits because people get to see the groups' leaders speak candidly, sometimes off-the-cuff and often about the hardest moments of their lives.
Case in point: Monica Montgomery, a former UArts professor and founder of DiasporaDNA Story Center, recounted last year how her new cultural center at Cherry Street Pier is an ode to her late parents.
- They died within months of each other — her mother from dementia and her father from heart failure.
- While grieving, she went through her parents' letters, notes and scrapbooks, learning things about them she never knew — like her mother's love for motorcycles and her father's activism in the civil rights movement.
That reshaped how she thought about legacy.
- She decided her cultural center would, among other things, lead tours focused on preserving the rich histories of roughly 300 homegrown Philly festivals — especially as some go on hiatus or face uncertain futures because of shifting social dynamics and funding losses.
The bottom line: "We've chosen to do good instead of, you know, be rich," Schweisheimer says. And in the end, they've become even richer people for it.
If you go: Tuesday, doors open at 5:30pm for the 7pm show.