About The Real Story
The Real Story is a live storytelling series that centers personal narrative as a tool for connection, cultural memory, and community healing. Through curated events held quarterly in community-based venues, the project invites individuals to share true, personal stories grounded in themes such as On Becoming, Love + Loss, and Joy is Resistance. Each event features a combination of pre-selected storytellers and open mic participants, moderated by a local artist or cultural worker who helps shape a welcoming, intentional space.
At its core, this project is about creating opportunities for people to witness one another — across lines of identity, experience, and background — through the simple but profound act of sharing stories out loud. It uplifts voices often left out of traditional arts spaces and reaffirms storytelling as a form of public service, cultural expression, and collective reflection.
Events are accessible to the public and held in venues such as libraries, cultural centers, and arts spaces. The atmosphere is intimate and grounded, with a strong emphasis on community presence over performance polish.
The Real Story is a narrative project founded and led by Ricky Benavidez, a philanthropic strategist, cultural organizer, and storyteller. At every stage, the heart of the work remains the same: to witness each other, and to tend the collective through story.
We believe storytelling is a form of care.
The Real Story creates space for real people to be seen, heard, and held through the power of shared story.
The Real Story is guided by a circle of trusted advisors whose experience spans storytelling, leadership, cultural strategy, and systems change. Each of them brings deep wisdom, integrity, and care to this work — helping shape the vision, ground the practice, and ensure that this project stays rooted in purpose and possibility.
We’re grateful for their belief in the power of story, and for walking alongside us as we build something bold, vulnerable, and true.
Ricky Benavidez
Producer
The Real Story is created and produced by Ricardo Benavidez — a philanthropic strategist and cultural organizer who believes storytelling is a powerful tool for connection and change. He creates space for truth, complexity, and community through stories that help us see each other more clearly.
Anna Baeten
Advisor
Anna Baeten is the founder of The Human Solution and brings 20+ years of experience in organizational strategy, leadership development, and justice-forward systems change. She supports mission-driven leaders and teams in scaling with intention, centering human connection, and building cultures rooted in care.