Storytelling as a portal for us to Envision and Imagine a New World
CCF's Partnership with Storyteller, Author and Poet - Jeffrey Bates
Why?
I have the experience of a young student coming up to me and asking, “How do you know what it feels like to be me?“
When those “lights” come on, I know that something is happening. And I have witnessed this too many times to count.
How would you answer a child who asked you that question? What would you say? What does it feel like to be you?
-Jeffrey
https://startexploringnow.net
Suitability:
- Schools
- School Districts
- Parental and Children Support Organizations
- Libraries
- Events
- On-line Groups
Help CCF raise $450,000 to provide 30, $15,000 scholarships for schools in low income neighborhoods.
The scholarship will help provide a week program for the school and help Jeff train additional storytellers.
Our goal to help all the children experience Jeff and The Little Bucket Experience.
To assist please click or scan the QR code.
Program Reviews

Jeffrey Bates (BA, MDIV, CLC) CCF’s Director of Engagement and Support

Mr. Bates is an expert at creating listening and story telling environments. Small business and large business can benefit hugely from creating these “kinds of spaces.” Jeff says. If story telling is to mean anything to us, we must, “start learning to listen again. Telling a story is only half the equation.” Jeff says. Most of post-modern Westerners have only learned to listen to see if see agree of disagree with what someone else is saying. Jeff thinks we need to learn to listen to the “inside of ourselves” and “reignite our imaginations.” Besides a BA in Sociology and Religion, he earned a Master of Divinity degree and most recently became a certified Life Coach (UDEMY, 2019). He is building his “FULL-FILLMENT LIFE COACHING” business along with his writing and story telling ventures. He is the father of two adult children. His son recently joined the Navy. In the coming months he will be working with the Buckminster Fuller Institute (bfi.org) and the Design Science Project (2021-22) on a play that he has been envisioning. He lives and writes in Cape Canaveral, Florida where he enjoys watching rockets go into space, the waves crashing on the beach and riding his bike to Starbucks. Most rece
Works by Jeffrey Bates
Hear and experience the story of the Little Bucket as told by the author, Jeffrey Bates. What happens to us when we hide from our feelings? Find out by following along as Jeff tells his story. You may register your small group event and Jeff will tell you the story and engage in a time of thoughtful reflection. Book him soon!
https://www.startexploringnow.net/the-little-bucket
See all 6 of Jeff’s children’s books at https://startexploringnow.net.
Amazon Reviews of The Little Bucket
BUT(T) The Podcast... a silly play on words, but hey it made you look!
“From Seoul with Soul” – Wendy Do – International Exchange Student
As a senior in High School, living in St. Louis, Missouri for the past 5 years, having the experience of being an International Exchange Student, Wendy Do has an engaging conversation with Jeff about creativity, academics and what she feels is missing in the educational life of most kids in the world. Is it any surprise that anxiety and depression are high when our young adults are put to the test of passing or failing, which is often translated as a present point trajectory for a future life path? As you listen, you will hear that this is the posture of education “across the globe” even in Seoul. Jeff shares some of his own experiences around being confused by the early presence of a preSTEM testing system as a young man – some 40 years ago. Is our failure or success determined only by whether or not we allow ourselves to be shaped by a sySTEM that seeks to make us conform to IT? Where is the human element – where are, as Wendy and Jeff reflect, the creative and imaginative impulses in the classroom? How is the neglect of these very important human character aspects adding to the sense of meaninglessness and pointlessness that so many of our young people feel? The day is calling us to re-evaluate Character as an important, currently virtually missing, aspect of our education – as it was for the Greeks so many thousands of years ago – when they reminded themselves to “Know Yourself.”
Grants
Grants Available
(Coming Soon)
Grant Application and Process
(Coming Soon)