C.D.S.T

Community Digital Storytelling (CDST) has become a powerful tool in my work as an educator over the past five years. It’s a method I turn to again and again because of its ability to help communities express their lived experiences in ways that are authentic, deeply personal, and often overlooked.

Originally introduced more than 20 years ago, CDST was designed to capture untold stories stories rooted in real lives and real places. In my experience, it goes beyond simply documenting issues; it builds agency. It gives people the space and support to reflect on what matters to them, to articulate what they want to change, and to explore how digital storytelling can amplify their voices in partnership with others, including decision-makers and fellow community members.

At its heart, CDST is grounded in two key values: authenticity and collective power. These principles shape not just the process, but the outcome ensuring the stories told can spark meaningful conversations, strengthen community identity, and inspire sustained action.

For me, it’s not just a method. It’s a way of honoring knowledge that already exists within the community, and of helping that knowledge take on new life through digital media