Ghost Ranch
Retreat Video
Overview to event
By Grace Jacobson
StoryHost’s Story Work Retreat
Ghost Ranch Retreat Center
Abiquiu, NM
June 19-21, 2026
Broken Ground, Living Roots, the Ghost Ranch Story Work Retreat, gathered 26 educators, facilitators, and story practitioners at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú, New Mexico from June 19–21, 2026. The retreat was conceived as a direct response to the political moment—the rollback of civil rights protections, the erasure of memory, and assaults on gender, race, and class equity—asking how story work itself can serve as a form of resistance and re-construction. Taking its name from the cracked mesas and deep-time geology of the Ghost Ranch landscape, the gathering asked participants to locate what still holds and what can be rebuilt from rooted personal and communal histories, with the explicit goal of moving from reflection into concrete, personal commitments by Sunday.
Structurally, the weekend unfolded over three days. Friday began with four workshops, Photo & Words, Image & Tactile, Sound & Voice, and Movement, led by retreat participants, toward creating a work to share on Saturday evening. The Friday night had a calling in the ancestors and short creative statements (some riff off the Broken Ground, Living Roots template). A second round of the same four workshops followed.
Saturday launched from a shared StoryMaps presentation before the final round of the four workshops was held. The participants then had the rest of the day to prepare their “show and tell” presentations, working on their own or in collaboration. On Saturday night all 26 presented works ranging from visual art pieces in mixed medias, to films, to spoken word, to audio pieces. Sunday closed the arc with a synthesis session and a ritual of commitments, in which each participant named a specific activity they would carry forward.
Commitment Videos
The event had some 26 story workrs from around the United States, look into the issues facing our communities in 2026. All participants gathered at the end of the weekend to make individual commitments to carry forward the work. Their words and voice are collected below.
Amanda Esons, Rhode Island
By November 1st, I commit to having begun a consistent writing practice, beginning with Ekphrastic poetry that Brooke introduced me to. And I want it to be dialog with the natural world. I want to write love letters to all the natural beings that I come in contact with every day.
Amanda Hill, Colorado
By November 1st. I commit to making more sustainable creative practices in my life and making time for that, and even asking around about a community sing.
Brooke Hessler, New Mexico
For several years, I’ve been working on a book on digital storytelling for makers. I keep not holding the pilot practice, so by the end of the summer, but I will say by November 1st, I will have co-facilitated a four-week pilot of that practice.
Mark Griffin, Oklahoma
I am Mark, and I commit to connecting the goodwill of the Quaker meeting in Norman, Oklahoma and the First Congregational Church of Norman to the needs of South Oklahoma City.
Jode Brexa, New Mexico
I commit to my relationship with Muniz Jafari at the Green Shoots Foundation in exploring how to support work at the Agritech Center in Samurai going forward.
Carol Obrachta, Virginia
Beginning in July, which is almost here, I'll be documenting Jason, the chef who teaches cooking classes at our neighborhood food pantry. The title: What do you do with the garbanzo bean?
Pat Liehr, Virginia
By November 1st, I commit to connecting with the weaving community in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Leigh Bennett, Massachusetts
Hi, I'm Leigh. By November-ish, I hope to have a full draft of my dissertation done so that I can practice creating more communaly and less all alone
Dan Boyce, Colorado
There’s a comic book project that I’ve been thinking of, that I’ve been putting off pursuing for a number of years. I commit that by November 1st, 2026, I will have found out if it’s a viable project to pursue.
Tim Van Meter, Ohio
Beginning July 1st, I commit to a creative, meditative moment daily, either writing, photography, video, or other medium. Maybe even something risky like glass.
Cathrey Yeh, Texas
Cathery Yeh. By November 1st, 2026. I commit to bring more tactile making in my story works with use with my PhD students, with my family, and most importantly, even by myself.
Jamie Derrick, Idaho
I commit, starting now, to once a week, ask the kind of questions and hold the kind of space that invites other people to share their stories with me, interpersonally, especially interested in knowing the way that people connect to land.
Molly Falsetti-Yu, Massachusetts
I commit to introducing a sound story assignment activity in my classes to promote dialogue and collaboration.
John Higgins, California
[I commit] to help promote real dialogue and deep listening and empathy by helping promote story circles/ I’m kind of cheating because I’m going to a conference that we’re going to be putting together workshops, doing just that. But I shall become a missionary and a disciple and a promoter and a Johnny Appleseed of story circles. Thank you very much.
Sharmaine Jackson, Colorado
By November 1st, 2026, I commit to leading a story circle in a new community focused on spiritual development.
Joe Lambert, New Mexico
On October 27th, 2026. I commit after my month-long vacation in Europe with one Brooke Hessler to create a new partnership company with Brooke Hessler as a consulting and project development group.
Kate Lee, New Mexico
My name is Kate, and by November 1st, 2026, I commit to one vulnerable act of sharing a story.
Grace Jacobson, Arizona
My name is Grace, and by the 1st of November 2026, I commit to finishing my experimental short film.
Joy Pendley, Oklahoma
I commit to continuing the commitment from last year of developing a meaningful research practice out of the Center for Faculty Excellence. So I’ll build on our book club and our digital stories by infusing more creativity. We’ll be learning improv this year to teach scientists to talk to the public. And I think I’m going to back up. I had faculty talk about their research, but maybe back up and do personal stories, and then bring them to research. And I’m going to remember that we’re all Aspen roots.
Chris Pacheco, Massachusetts
By the middle of August, I commit to creating something creative for Tobin before he goes to college, something that he will keep in his room and remind him of us.
Monica Koller, Washington
By November 1st, I commit to learning how to create a physical connecting community healing space in my backyard. Kind of like a she-shed or a we-shed.
Ceci Norman
I commit to creative, compassionate action and making space for those who want to join me in it. And more concretely, I’ll be doing slow Sunday supper potlucks in Springsdale, Arkansas, workshops on a flower farm, and workshops with Yarb on his land.
Keely Cugini, Pennsylvania
I’m Keely Cugini. I want to be able to commit to bettering myself, even if it is within a short amount of time. Obviously, I won’t be able to make it extremely, extremely far in that time frame,
Sharon Parker, California
By November 1st. I commit to encouraging the people that I currently coach to use their voice and share their story.
Irene Felsman, North Carolina
Irene Felsman. I commit to continuing my work with the refugee community in Durham and to incorporate more art, music, and sound into storytelling with them.