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BREAKING OUR
SILENCE

STORYTELLING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
APRIL - MAY 2022

“Breaking Our Silence” was a month-long series of events in Spring 2022 that looked to the power of film, theater, dance, literature, music, poetry, and other forms of creative expression to help lift the shroud of secrecy around mental illness. 
 
Timed to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month, the series was organized by Story House Ithaca and sponsored by The Sophie Fund, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes, and the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County.

Screenings, workshops, performances, and more!

“Breaking Our Silence” included a May 15, 2022 screening at Cinemapolis of the award-winning documentary Bedlam, movement workshops on managing anxiety and grief, an open-mic storytelling event featuring master storyteller Regi Carpenter, a virtual panel at the Spring Writes Literary Festival on writing about mental illness, a presentation and volunteer opportunity with the Prisoner Express program, Civic Ensemble ReEntry Theatre Program's production of Delia Divided, and more. The series culminated on Saturday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in a community celebration at Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium. 

Featured events

  • The Writers' Room
    The Writers' Room
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Aug 05
    Tompkins County Public Library
    Aug 05, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Work on your project in the company of fellow writers
  • Resilience
    Resilience
    Multiple Dates
    Sat, Aug 08
    Hangar Theatre
    Aug 08, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Internationally recognized musician, humanitarian, and artist Samite shares his life story in this multi-media one-man play.
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Aug 16
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Aug 16, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Presentation Night
    Presentation Night
    Multiple Dates
    Tue, Aug 18
    Liquid State Brewery
    Aug 18, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewery, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Celebrate the joy of learning at this evening of short talks by non-experts (and there's beer!)
  • The Readers' Room
    The Readers' Room
    Multiple Dates
    Sun, Sep 06
    Rosie’s Cafe & Parlor
    Sep 06, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
    Rosie’s Cafe & Parlor, 312 E Seneca St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Come read with us!
  • Healthcare at the Margins
    Healthcare at the Margins
    Thu, Sep 10
    The Nocturnal Café
    Sep 10, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    An evening of stories about our experiences in the healthcare system. Share your journey or simply show up and hold space as a witness.
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Sep 13
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Sep 13, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Memoir Kickstart
    Memoir Kickstart
    Thu, Sep 17
    Buffalo Street Books
    Sep 17, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Buffalo Street Books, 215 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Learn how to get your memoir started!
  • The Readers' Room
    The Readers' Room
    Multiple Dates
    Sun, Sep 20
    Rosie’s Cafe & Parlor
    Sep 20, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
    Rosie’s Cafe & Parlor, 312 E Seneca St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Come read with us!
  • The Story Salon
    The Story Salon
    Sat, Sep 26
    First Baptist Church
    Sep 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
    First Baptist Church, 309 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Learn to tell your personal story in this workshop led by award-winning storyteller Regi Carpenter.
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Oct 18
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Oct 18, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Nov 15
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Nov 15, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Solace Among Trees
    Solace Among Trees
    Mon, Jul 20
    CAP ArtSpace Gallery
    Jul 20, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    CAP ArtSpace Gallery, 110 N Tioga St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    An evening of stories about our deep connections to trees
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Jul 19
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Jul 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Playwrights Jam - Extended Play #1
    Playwrights Jam - Extended Play #1
    Sun, Jun 07
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Jun 07, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three! Plus - a full reading of THE GREAT WOOLLY MAMMOTH by AJ Sage
  • Double Takes: That’s Not How I Remember It!
    Double Takes: That’s Not How I Remember It!
    Thu, Jun 04
    Liquid State Brewing Company
    Jun 04, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Memory is slippery. Perspective is everything.
  • Improv Night
    Improv Night
    Tue, Jun 02
    Liquid State Brewing Company
    Jun 02, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Completely made up live theater that we promise is good, and if not, there's beer!
  • Book launch: It's Hard to Be an Animal
    Book launch: It's Hard to Be an Animal
    Thu, May 21
    May 21, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
    Buffalo Street Books, 215 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Robert Isaacs and Jonathan Miller discuss Isaacs' funny, tender debut novel
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About The Sophie Fund

The Sophie Fund, Inc., principal sponsor of "Breaking Our Silence," is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable corporation established to support mental health initiatives aiding young people in greater Ithaca and Tompkins County. It supports programs and projects; raises awareness and fights the stigma around mental illness and treatment; advances a “zero suicide” ethos in the community; and serves as a community advocate for young people struggling with mental illness.

Story House Ithaca Line
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