Tricia Vita - Workshops

Contact Tricia Vita to learn more or schedule a workshop

What Workshop Participants Are Saying

"Many of my experiences growing up in New York were also shared by others. The group format proved to be supportive and stimulating." – Jim R.

"I learned to reflect on my childhood memories. How wonderful it was sharing some past memories of my family and listening to other seniors' memories as well. One should be involved in the workshop to really find out the beauty of it. I like the fact that some of my memories were written in a small book to cherish." – Iris C.

"The results of having people share spontaneously was surprising to some who started by 'I don't know exactly what to say' and wound up sharing vivid and meaningful memories of their lives. Sharing with members of the same generation is so connective. I was developing friendships with the group." – Mia R.

"It is fun, intimate, and especially appreciative of history. Would like to do it on a permanent basis." – Fred M.

Workshops

I design and facilitate in-person and virtual reminiscence and storytelling activities and workshops for older adult centers, rehab centers, and libraries and record oral histories for the Coney Island History Project. My training includes a Certificate in Reminiscence and Life Story Work from the University of Wisconsin's International Institute for Reminiscence and Life Review (IIRLR) and the Creative Aging and Arts-in-Healthcare Training Institute at the Creative Center at University Settlement. I am a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Awards include the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Manhattan Arts Grant funded by the NY State Council on the Arts (2025), SU-CASA residency funded by the NYC Council (2024, 2026), and Creative Learning Grant funded by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (2020).

Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center

My "Tell Us Your Stories!" workshop combines the techniques of reminiscence, oral history, and storytelling in an interactive arts-based group activity. Participants share their memories in reminiscence sessions, conduct oral history interviews with each other, and curate the recordings and transcriptions into a collection of audio stories and a printed keepsake book. The culminating event features a live reading and an audio party.

New Yorkers 60 and older are invited to join a free reminiscence and storytelling workshop I'm teaching at Greenwich House's Westbeth Older Adult Center in the West Village from March 5 through mid-June. For more info or to sign up for "Tell Us Your Stories!" please phone Janet Cobeo of Westbeth OAC at 212-255-5191.

Read about the workshop at Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center in "Story Workshop Captures Older Adult Memories"(July 24, 2024) on Goddard's website.

Listen to audio stories by Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center members on my SoundCloud page.

Jasa Luna Park Older Adult Center

My "Art of Reminiscing" workshop combines the telling of personal stories with the sharing of new and vintage photos and exercises in collaging, drawing, and writing to create individual or collaborative reminiscence boxes. Workshops have been conducted at JASA Luna Park Older Adult Center in Brooklyn and via Zoom for Greenwich House Washington Square Older Adult Center in Manhattan, and are co-taught with painter, collagist, and art instructor Nancy Prusinowski. Read about the "Art of Reminiscing Workshop" at JASA Luna Park on the Coney Island History Project website. We are teaching this workshop as "Create Your Own Diorama Art Box" at Encore Aging for the Arts in the Theater District from November 4 through December 30, 2025.

Encore Aging for the Arts

Interactive reminiscence events featuring show and tell and storytelling for general audiences have been held in person at Brooklyn Public Library and via Zoom for the Coney Island History Project and in person for older adults at Coney Island Active Aging NORC, JCCGCI Coney Island Seaside OAC, Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Trump Village NORC and Warbasse NORC in Brooklyn. Read about my show and tell events at Time Out New York and Brooklyn Eagle.

Coney Island History Show and Tell via Zoom

Workshops

Member