FLINT, Mich. — From campfires to kitchen table conversations, barbershops to breakrooms, people have always connected through shared stories.
Inspired by his experiences at the Moth StorySLAM in Ann Arbor, Mich., an open mic event where people share stories, David Smith decided Flint needed something similar. That inspiration led to the creation of Passages, a monthly storytelling series he launched in last year.
“After a couple years of attending those and telling stories and most importantly, making friends there, I decided we needed that here, and so last year, I found the space and made the time, and that’s how it got started,” said Smith.
Unlike Moth, there are no judges or penalties for straying from themes, and amateurs are welcome.
“The first time…I spoke, when he called my name, I was so nervous I didn’t want to get up. The fear factor set in,” said Terralisa McBride, an author and now-regular storyteller.
Her first story, about her connection with her grandmother, left her in tears. When she was finished, she was met with a standing ovation and a hug from Smith.
“At that moment, I felt the impact like, wow, people really care about other people’s stories and their lives,” she said. “In Passages, people don’t judge you.”
The setup is simple: a single microphone stands at the front of the room, facing rows of chairs. Smith moves through the crowd, gently encouraging first-timers to consider sharing a story—if not tonight, then next time.
On Saturday, April 26, attendance was lighter than usual—fewer people lined the walls, but attendance regularly surpasses the 50-seat capacity. April’s theme was “Backfired,” stories about plans gone awry.
The first event was March 14, 2024, at Queens Provisions, a wine, beer, and charcuterie shop and lounge, which became its staple venue for each month moving forward.
“The storytellers kind of launched this thing but what has made it is Queens Provisions. And it isn’t just because of this rectangle. It is what everybody says. It’s the vibe, right?” Smith said on the night of the event. “You just come in and you feel I’m welcome here.”
When he approached owner Emily Doerr about using the wine bar, he said she barely hesitated before saying, “Tell me what I need to do,” Smith told attendees. Doerr stood smiling behind the crowd. Now, more than a year later, a painting of the first Passages event, drawn by Smith’s daughter, hangs on the wall.
Smith described it as a loving environment, saying that outsiders coming in have commented on the difference in culture compared to other storytelling events.
He recalled one newcomer who froze a minute into his story. The crowd encouraged him until he regained his footing and even though he went well over time, the timekeeper let him finish.
“We want to provide a good experience for everybody and we try to pay attention to what people need,” Smith said. “In that case, he needed our support.”
Each event features about 10 stories, five to six minutes each.
“What that forces the storyteller to do is to tell a true story from their life with clarity and vividness,” said Smith. “They tell us the best part of the story.”
Storytellers put their names in a hat, guided by a theme designed to give the greatest value to the audience. Early on, Smith “seeded the room” with experienced tellers from Detroit, Ann Arbor and beyond. Now, he is able to rely on the audience alone.
“There’s the disparities in our everyday society. I’m not trying to solve all that,” Smith said. “[But] people put their phones down, and they don’t look at them again until that show is over, and that’s because they are engaged with that person on the stage telling their true story.”
The sense of connection doesn’t end with the performance.
“It’s all these strangers who come into this room that are suddenly changed by the energy of these stories,” Smith said. “That’s what happens. It happens every single month, and that’s why I keep doing it.”
Last month, Passages offered its first storytelling workshop with about a dozen attendees, something Smith plans to continue.
“Most of the people in Passages would never have probably thought to sit there and listen to me or anybody else. I’ve come from poverty. These people are lawyers and doctors sitting there … and there’s a lot of other people who are in big, high positions,” she said. “I think that it bridges the gap between people.”
Always the last Saturday of the month, the next event is set for May 31, 2025. The theme is “Stop me if you’ve heard this one” or an open theme to tell any favorite true story in your life.
For updates, follow Passages on Facebook: Passages Storytelling Group.