Common Threads: Possibility, Joy
and the HeArt of Storytelling
Common Threads is a storytelling project that uplifts the lived experiences of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) within under and unrepresented communities. Until now, these stories have often gone unseen and unheard.
Connecting Communities
Through Storytelling
Launched in September 2024 by the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities (GCPD), Common Threads is rooted in advocacy, systems change and capacity-building. With a focus on urban communities like Indianapolis, Gary and Fort Wayne, the project builds bridges through deep listening and community engagement.
In partnership with The Learning Tree, this initiative seeks to amplify voices, uncover shared truths and highlight the threads that connect us all.
The Learning Tree Collaboration
The Learning Tree, an Indianapolis-based organization, invites communities to multiply goodness by uncovering their neighbors’ gifts and talents, nurturing opportunity and fostering a culture of abundance that drives social transformation. Their commitment to this mission continues through September 2026, relying on natural, relationship-based connections and word-of-mouth outreach.
LEARN MORELifting Up Stories
That Matter
To reach communities too often overlooked, The Learning Tree’s “Roving Listeners” set out on a journey of deep listening. Community members engage directly with individuals from under-resourced neighborhoods who have developmental disabilities, collecting and honoring their stories.
In a time when building authentic community is more important than ever, The Learning Tree ensures that these stories are not just heard but shared with GCPD and the broader world.
The Path to
Public Recognition
The stories and insights gathered are being curated into a multimedia portfolio, an evolving collection of community wisdom and cultural resilience. With ongoing support and collaboration, the project aspires to feature this work in an exhibit at the Indiana State Museum, creating a space where these voices can be seen, heard and honored.
GET INVOLVED
Are you ready to discover the common thread in your community? Reach out to the Learning Tree to learn more about how you can contribute to this important work and help amplify the voices that matter.
