Sarah White: Sharing Stories That Matter
Barbara Smith
Most of us in the GAB community have crossed paths with Sarah White in one way or another, perhaps through a class she has taught, in a GAB Chat, with her work on the annual Birren Center anthology, or through one of the many behind-the-scenes roles she skillfully and creatively fills.
Today, Sarah, who resides in Madison, WI, serves as Interim Executive Director of the Birren Center. Alongside her contributions to GAB, Sarah has built an impressive career as a personal historian, writing coach, ghostwriter, and publisher, bringing decades of professional expertise to her work.
Her journey with GAB began in 2004, after she discovered the emerging field of personal history and set out to find a memoir-writing workshop of her own. When she found James Birren’s work but no local classes, she decided to create one herself. The results were remarkable. Participants connected deeply with one another, and Sarah quickly realized she had found something special. “I was hooked from that first class,” she recalls.
In 2006, she launched First Person Productions, a creative venture through which she helps people share their life stories via memoir-writing workshops and one-on-one coaching. Her website https://firstpersonprod.com/ is a veritable treasure trove of creative ideas, offering a wide lens into Sarah’s multi-faceted work. Among her many offerings is First Monday, First Person, a free monthly event for reminiscence writers that she convenes at a library in Madison. Her blog "True Stories Well Told," available on her website, publishes personal essays from writers in her circle.
In 2015, Sarah met Cheryl Svensson at an Association of Personal Historians conference. The two quickly discovered a shared passion for storytelling and life review and have since become close collaborators in expanding GAB’s reach.
A self-described lifelong learner, Sarah returned to school in her 60’s, earning her MFA in two years. "I wanted to keep working, and it felt like reinvesting in my enthusiasm," she says. "I know much more about good storytelling now.” As a bonus, she adds, “I attract higher-paying clients because of that." The lesson? “It's never too late to go deeper into your craft.”
Sarah’s extensive experience in teaching, marketing, and publishing has greatly benefited the Birren Center. Sarah developed the popular Find Your Students, Fill Your Classes, a six-week marketing course, after instructors repeatedly expressed a need for practical guidance on attracting students. More recently, she and Heidi Thorsen co-developed Shaking the Family Tree, a six-week instructor-training course that assists workshop participants to locate, recall, and write the histories of their families. Both courses will be offered this summer.
Of her many accomplishments, Sarah says the Birren Center anthology project may be the most rewarding. Drawing on her extensive publishing experience, she stepped in to lead the project for the Second Chances anthology and is gratified to help GAB writers experience the thrill of seeing their work in print. “Many never expected to be published in their lifetime,” she says. “That’s a pretty big deal.”
Sarah is eager to share opportunities for GAB writers. For newer instructors, she points to the Birren Center's mentoring program. She is also excited to promote the newly launched GAB Instructor Writing Groups, which consist of small cohorts for both writing support and peer problem-solving. And she adds that, for anyone called to contribute at a higher level, the Birren board has a few open seats. For information about any of these GAB classes or opportunities, contact info@thebirrencenter.org.
Whether she is teaching a class, coaching a writer, publishing an anthology, or helping guide the Birren Center, Sarah’s work reflects a belief at the heart of GAB. As she writes in the foreword to Second Chances, “Telling your story is not only a creative act, but a profoundly healing one.” Through her many contributions, Sarah continues to inspire others to find their voice, honor their experiences, and share stories that matter.
