Your story can change the world

“Your story can change the world” is a collaborative keynote and participatory experience that traces how courage travels—from one storyteller to the next, across generations, and into the present moment. The program illustrates how truth-telling moves through communities: when one person shares the part of their story that was hardest to say out loud, it creates permission for others to do the same. Stories ripple outward, building connection, challenging stigma, and inspiring action. 

The session unfolds as a live storytelling relay. A single notebook and pen are passed from storyteller to storyteller, making visible how voice and courage are carried forward. 

The program opens with longtime TMI Project member Blake Pfeil, who shares his introduction to TMI Project, a personal coming-out story, and his connection to the work of Celeste Lecesne. A screening from One Story at a Time: Celeste Lecesne follows, highlighting how Lecesne’s truth-telling helped catalyze the founding of The Trevor Project. 

The relay continues as the notebook passes to Celeste, then to Raine Grayson, who shares how storytelling didn’t just transform his life—it saved it. The final pass goes to Lily Ariel Mueller, who reflects on mentorship, representation, and the lasting impact of the late TMI Project co-founder Julie Novak, bringing the story full circle. 

At the close, the notebook is passed to the audience. Participants discover notebooks and pens under their seats and are guided into their own writing process. Some share aloud, reinforcing that every person holds a story with the power to create change. Everyone is invited to become a member of The Julie Novak Storytelling Club, a TMI Project program available to an international community.