STORYECTOMY* FAMILY PRIDE
Applications close 4/14/2026
Applicants will be notified 4/15/2026
Storyectomy* Family Pride is a community-driven mental health initiative using the art of storytelling and comedy to bring light, love, and healing to those with a personal and deep connection to the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether you are in the community, are a family member to someone in the community, or work directly with the community, your real and raw story is a vital part of the conversation.
The FREE storytelling classes will be held on six consecutive Tuesday evenings for 3 hours starting April 21, 2026. Classes will be held at The Crow in Santa Monica. Participants will be provided with the structure and guidance to tell their stories in a personal and effective way through Nicole Blaine’s teachings as a comedic storyteller. The course will culminate with a final storytelling show featuring program participants alongside professional comedians that also have relations to the LGBTQIA+ community. As the program expands, we will have our performers share their stories at events, fundraisers, and beyond.
Applications are now open for Season 3.
Applications close 4/14/2026
Applicants will be notified 4/15/2026
Starts April 21st
Tuesdays 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
The FREE storytelling classes will be held on three consecutive Thursday afternoons at The Crow in Santa Monica, CA. Participants will be provided with the structure and guidance to tell their stories in a personal and effective way through Nicole Blaine’s teachings as a comedic storyteller. The course will culminate with a final storytelling show featuring program participants. As the program expands, we will have our performers share their stories at events, fundraisers, and beyond.
Class Schedule
April 21, April 28, May 12, May 19, May 26, June 2
Final Showcase Thursday, June 3rd at 8:00pm
Includes a high-resolution video of the showcase performance
This class is FREE!
Family Pride, Season 3
Applications close 4/14/26 at midnight
Applicants will be notified 4/15/26
Please Note:
“STORYECTOMY” is also a docuseries and is being filmed and/or videotaped for future telecasts and/or other uses at the producer’s discretion. Participants in this program must consent to appear in such telecasts, other uses, and any advertising and promotion thereof, without compensation.
Storyectomy Family Pride is supported in part by the City of Santa Monica.
What Is Storyectomy*?
Storyectomy is a social justice "storymaking" mentorship focusing on using our real, raw, and personal lived experiences to find healing, destigmatize societal shame, and open our eyes to accepting and empathizing with all people. Each Storyectomy “cohort” has up to 10 participants and revolves around a shared theme or life experience that will be our communal focus for the six-week class and mental health initiative. Storyectomy educators safely guide participants to find their own voice, create and compose their own hero’s journey, and discover the power in sharing it with a worldwide audience to help foster compassion for ourselves and others.
If selected to participate in a Storyectomy program, there is no cost! This is a free program thanks to our partners, supporters, and sponsors! All participants will be required to sign an appearance release as classes and live shows will be filmed and recorded for public use.
Share Your Story.
Shape Our Society.
The phrase "Share Your Story. Shape Our Society." means that individual voices and personal experiences have the power to influence and change the world around us. It's a call to action that connects a personal act with a collective impact.
"Share Your Story" is about the courage and vulnerability of a person telling their own real, raw, and unfiltered truth. It implies that your lived experience—no matter how unique or common—holds value and needs to be heard.
"Shape Our Society" is the powerful outcome of that first act. It means that when you share your truth, you help to challenge existing beliefs, build empathy, and create a more nuanced understanding of the world. By putting a human face to an issue, you can influence public opinion, inspire action, and ultimately contribute to a more just and compassionate society.
Personal narratives are not just for self-healing, but are essential tools for driving social change.