The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice

We need to hear YOUR Story!

The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice can guide you to learn how to tell it.

Anyone interested in social justice and storytelling is welcome to this intensive workshop! 1:00 - 4:30 pm ET this Sunday, March 29th.

Please register here at least 1 hour in advance, preferably at least 1 day in advance.

http://tiny.cc/WeNeedYourStoryTGD3292026

We are in our final two days of our challenge!

At The Golden Door, we guide and train people to tell stories of injustice and social justice. We teach the skills people need to tell powerful personal stories. And we do it all through online facilitating, coaching, and performing.

The Golden Door is a program under the umbrella of the Social Good Fund, a 501c3 nonprofit.

A generous donor has challenged us to raise $2,500 in matching funds over six weeks, and now we are in our final two days.

Would you like to contribute to our mission?

You can invest in our powerful storytelling work by donating here...

Donate to The Golden Door The Golden Door has a generous donor who wants to help us raise funds this year by leveraging their support with a challenge. They have challenged us to raise $2,500 in the next six weeks - from February 8th through March 22nd, every dollar donated up to a total of $2,500, they will match it dollar....

Aaron Emmanuel Lee is a storyteller, speaker, artist and musician. He focuses on being empathetic, introspective, and compassionate during the growing tension in our socio-political climate.

This past winter he was the featured storyteller at our online session "Outraged and Disengaged," hosted by The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice.

Aaron Emmanuel guided attendees through the complex emotional landscape of dealing with the growing tensions in our country while we work to remain vulnerable and present.

Thank you, Aaron Emmanuel, for all that you do to encourage us and be honest with us in these difficult times.

A generous donor has challenged us to raise $2,500 in matching funds over six weeks (now, we have less than five weeks to go).
You can invest in our powerful storytelling work, like our programs with Aaron Emmanuel Lee, by donating here:

Donate to The Golden Door The Golden Door has a generous donor who wants to help us raise funds this year by leveraging their support with a challenge. They have challenged us to raise $2,500 in the next six weeks - from February 8th through March 22nd, every dollar donated up to a total of $2,500, they will match it dollar....

"We can delegate authority, but not responsibility," Colonel (Ret.) Jim Shelley reminded us of this truth when it comes to our country's leaders and what it comes to ourselves.

The Golden Door community was fortunate to hear Colonel (Ret.) Jim Shelley shared stories about his experiences as a colonel in the U.S. army, a police sergeant, and a registered nurse.

At our Golden Door online program, Jim Shelley shared stories about his experiences as a commissioned officer during two tours in Afghanistan, and he also spoke about serving the people of Baltimore, both as a police officer and as a nurse. He shared stories about his family members who were born in different countries. From Jim, we learned about advocating for people of color and people with disabilities.

Jim told a moving story of General George Washington standing before his men, reminding them that they did not need a king, they needed to elect leaders who serve our people.

Thank you, Jim, for all that you do to support the people of Baltimore, Maryland, and the USA.

A generous donor has challenged us to raise $2,500 in matching funds over six weeks (now, we have less than five weeks to go).

You can invest in our powerful storytelling work, like our program with Jim, by donating here:

Donate to The Golden Door The Golden Door has a generous donor who wants to help us raise funds this year by leveraging their support with a challenge. They have challenged us to raise $2,500 in the next six weeks - from February 8th through March 22nd, every dollar donated up to a total of $2,500, they will match it dollar....

Today we learned from Marli, a Minneapolis school social worker, about what is happening to immigrant students and faculty members, and families in Minneapolis and its suburbs.

The Golden Door is so grateful to hear from a direct witness, who is also a helper and a healer, and who advocates for the most vulnerable members of the Minneapolis community.

We learned about American citizens afraid to attend school and go to work. We learned about people of color and people with accents who are carrying their passports wherever they go, and who know this offers them little protection with an administration that wishes to instill fear and harm citizens and residents.

We also heard hopeful news - about the many people of privilege who are fighting back by organizing and supporting immigrants and Americans at risk, by providing food and money for people hiding in their own homes and living in constant fear.

Thank you, Marli for all you do to support the people of Minneapolis and being one of many voices who consistently let your community members know how much people do care.

At today's "Warm Hearts in Cold Places" online program with Marli, we also announced that it is the first day of our 6-Week Challenge Campaign for The Golden Door.

A generous donor has challenged us with raising $2,500 in matching funds in the next 6 weeks.
You can invest in our powerful storytelling work by donating here:

Donate to The Golden Door The Golden Door has a generous donor who wants to help us raise funds this year by leveraging their support with a challenge. They have challenged us to raise $2,500 in the next six weeks - from February 8th through March 22nd, every dollar donated up to a total of $2,500, they will match it dollar....

ONLINE TODAY at 12 pm ET

What is really happening to students and their families in Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs?

Join us online for 'Warm Hearts in Cold Spaces'

TODAY, Sunday, February 8th at noon ET

Hosted by :
The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice

Free Registration:
http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorFeb8th2026

About Marli, the Minneapolis school social worker:

For 26 years, Marli has worked as a school social worker at a demographically diverse high school just outside of Minneapolis.

In addition, for the past seven years, she has worked as a mental health therapist with a group practice, where she focuses on serving young adults.

Marli holds a Master’s degree in clinical social work.

At her school and in her district, Marli provides mental health support to youth, including assessment and referrals. She provides psych-education around mental health issues, trauma, and how these affect the way students function in school. She educates school staff and caregivers on best practices when working with young people, so that they use a trauma-informed and culturally relevant lens.

Marli works to dismantle educational systems that were designed to work well for white students who have a specific demographic profile. Marli views her role as a “system disruptor,” and she works to address the needs and lived experiences of students and families who belong to marginalized groups.

Hosted by :
The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice

Free Registration:
http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorFeb8th2026

We can delegate authority, but not responsibility.

Tonight, on Tuesday, December 16th at 7 pm ET, we will have the privilege of listening to Colonel (Ret.) Jim Shelley to hear stories of Empathy and Authority.

Register for free: http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorDec16th2025

Colonel (Ret.) Jim Kelley will share stories about his experiences as a colonel in the U.S. army, a police sergeant, and a registered nurse.

Jim Shelley served as a Colonel in the United States Army National Guard until his retirement in 2014. Before his military career, he spent 20 years with the Baltimore City Police Department, attending nursing school between his foot patrols, and retired as a Sergeant in 1994.
From 1998 to 2005, Jim worked as a nurse, instructor, and academic department head of Maritime Safety and Security at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum, Maryland, until he was called to active duty. Beginning in 1992, he served as a Commissioned Officer in the Army National Guard and deployed twice to Afghanistan, from 2006 to 2007 and 2011 to 2012, where he served as a senior police advisor.
After his military service, Jim completed his final career chapter as an employee health Nurse Consultant for the Social Security Administration.
Now fully retired from the U.S. Army, the Baltimore City Police Department, and nursing, Jim enjoys spending his days exactly as he chooses: with his grandchildren, on a bike trail, or discovering new places to explore.
After Jim shares his story, we will have time to share our own thoughts and stories in a very brief workshop.
Free registration -- http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorDec16th2025

Join us online this Tuesday night, December 16th at 7 pm for the next session of The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice.

Register for free: http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorDec16th2025

Colonel (Ret.) Jim Kelley will share stories about empathy and authority.

Jim Shelley served as a Colonel in the United States Army National Guard until his retirement in 2014. Before his military career, he spent 20 years with the Baltimore City Police Department, attending nursing school between his foot patrols, and retired as a Sergeant in 1994.

From 1998 to 2005, Jim worked as a nurse, instructor, and academic department head of Maritime Safety and Security at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum, Maryland, until he was called to active duty. Beginning in 1992, he served as a Commissioned Officer in the Army National Guard and deployed twice to Afghanistan, from 2006 to 2007 and 2011 to 2012, where he served as a senior police advisor.

After his military service, Jim completed his final career chapter as an employee health Nurse Consultant for the Social Security Administration.

Now fully retired from the U.S. Army, the Baltimore City Police Department, and nursing, Jim enjoys spending his days exactly as he chooses: with his grandchildren, on a bike trail, or discovering new places to explore.

After Jim shares his story, we will have time to share our own thoughts and stories in a very brief workshop.

Free registration -- http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorDec16th2025

Thank you to the citizens of Charlotte, North Carolina, for standing up for the dignity and rights of immigrants!

How many of us are Outraged and far too Disengaged?

Join The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice online this Thursday, November 6th at 7 pm EST.

The Golden Door will host a session featuring Activist, Artist, Musician, & Storyteller Aaron Emmanuel Lee.

Afterward, we can share our own stories with a partner.

Register for this free program at http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorNov6th2025

Emmanuel is a musician, filmmaker, painter, and activist whose work focuses on building Empathy. He serves as a storyteller and has facilitated seminars with The Golden Door: Storytelling for Social Justice.

Emmanuel is also a featured speaker with Artists Standing Strong Together. He also initiated a social campaign titled: Trust Moving Forward, where he used powerful demonstrations and performance art to create spaces for conversation addressing difficult topics.

Currently, Emmanuel is producing and directing a film, Donuts and Stardust. He is also exhibiting oil paintings in several galleries on the East Coast.

Through every project he coordinates, Emmanuel always pursues a deeper connection with humanity and himself.

To learn more about Aaron Emmanuel Lee, register for this free program at http://tiny.cc/GoldenDoorNov6th2025