Customized programs with defined outcomes

Cindy Rivka Marshall listens carefully to a client’s needs and designs a process based on their goals. With her excellent workshop planning and facilitation skills, Cindy delivers on the outcomes you define together.

Diversity Awareness

As an expert Story Coach, Cindy works one-one with an organization’s members to craft personal stories of marginalization. These stories are shared in meetings with facilitated appreciative listening that encourage connection and empathy. Cindy designs structures to build a safe environment of understanding human differences.   Read “Hear Our Voices” about this work

Applied Storytelling

• Tell the story of your organization
• Express organizational values
• Build your team
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Appreciative Inquiry
• Diversity Awareness

See Workshops for Organizations

Facilitated listening and interaction

Cindy creates a structured space and time for all points of view to be heard and appreciated. She elicits anecdotes of moments of success, and leads groups to build upon these positive outcomes and articulate a vision. She coaches individuals and groups to tell their stories effectively. These stories can reinforce, guide future planning and be used to communicate organizational message internally and out to a wider community.

“It was a great workshop and we’re getting wonderful feedback. I enjoyed working with you and the time and care you took to make sure the program was exactly what we needed. I look forward to working together again in the future.” – Rise Roth, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, CT on Cindy’s “Tell Your Compelling Story” workshop

Sample Clients and Programs

• The Vilna Shul, Boston, MA, 2021 – Coached the speakers for their storytelling fundraising gala, “If These Walls Could Talk.”
• Brimmer and May School, Chestnut Hill, MA, 2019-2021 – Trained faculty in communication tools and structure with which to approach discussions on diversity. Story Coach for speakers at all school assembly highlighting voices of marginalized community members. 
• St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Dorchester, MA, 2019-2021 – Trained members to collect oral history interviews and edited a book of their oral histories. 
• Exploration Summer Programs, Wellesley, MA, 2016 – Trained faculty and designed curriculum “Reflecting with Story” activities to facilitate teens to tell the story of their “Explo” experience
• Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, CT, 2016 – Trained leaders of non-profit organizations to use story for outreach and development, to tell compelling stories about their work
• Gann Academy, Waltham, MA, 2012-2015 – Trained entire faculty in communication tools and structure with which to approach discussions on diversity – Consulted with the staff advisor to the Gay Straight Alliance on how to design a school wide event addressing diversity – Facilitated Appreciative Inquiry workshops for staff of Jewish and Student Life department
• BIMA and Genesis programs, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 2011-2014 – Professional development trainings using story to build community, culture of appreciation, and reflection on personal and professional journeys for staff of young Jewish educators
• Impact Boston, 2014 – Trained young educators in story based reflection and facilitation of activities with teens
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies, 2014 – Trained Boston area educational leaders to use Appreciative Inquiry as a tool with their staff
• Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA 2013-2015 – Trained teaching staff to tell moments of success stories, to build understanding of their new model for learning
• Temple Shir Tikvah, Winchester, MA, 2011 – present – Work with Education Director, teachers, parents and students, professional and lay leaders to develop programming using storytelling and interviewing with the goal of realizing the congregational innovative vision of learning
• Cohen Hillel Academy, Marblehead, MA, 2014 – Trained parents to be ambassadors for school outreach