Wherever this finds you, we hope you’re safe, well, and nourished by moments of joy.
Upshot
WBI’s two years of beta-testing is almost at an end. With all of you by our side, we’ve done and learned a LOT! Thank you!
For the next year, WBI will focus on: producing public readings for the Beta Cohort projects; getting the Beta projects in front of agents for production/publication; finishing our ambitious, first-of-its-kind Wheel of Possibilities and Actions Library; and raising funds to make the first Story Arc commissions possible. Dayenu!
The Backstory
Two years ago, we started two beta tests for the Story Arc. We formed the Beta Cohort with 7 writers to test our strategies for helping writers create solutions-focused stories. Huge thanks to the brilliant, patient, kind writers of the Beta Cohort: Damian Arteaga, Esther Banegas Gatica, Patricia Cotter, Mikee Loria, Susan McCully, Tom Swift, and Douglas Weissman.
For the last 2 years, we’ve also been testing the administrative systems and project management support we will offer the Story Teams as they move toward production/publication. Thank you to the extraordinary superheroes at Partners in Justice International for all of your help, feedback, and patience as we’ve tested our systems on you!
During this time, we’ve also been gathering data and developing our educational resources, the Wheel of Possibilities and the Actions Library.
Here are a few of the highlights from the last 12 months.
Based on findings from last year’s beta test of two Wheel pages — made possible by the incredible volunteer editors, Jodi Cobalt, Stacey Cobalt, and Michael Feldman. Thank you! — this year we re-envisioned and re-designed the Wheel of Possibilities in order to:
We’ve gathered over 2,300 solutions, implementation actions, and sources of explanation for the Wheel of Possibilities and Actions Library from thought leaders such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, the World Economic Forum, Oxfam, Project Drawdown, and other major intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organization.
Over the last 12 months, we held 2 final, full-cohort meetings with the wonderful beta cohort writers and 1-2 guest dramaturgs per meeting. Cohort meetings were times to share readings from projects-in-process, solicit peer and dramaturgical feedback, build community, and encourage each other’s progress.
Thank you to all of the dramaturgs for your generosity of time and your luminous talents!
Thank you Ann-Marie Dittmann, Doyle Ott, J Jha, Lisa Marie Rollins, Michael Feldman, Rebecca Novick, and Scott Horstein.
We held over 25 one-on-one meetings with the writers to take deeper dives into their drafts, learn how we could support them in their next steps, and set milestones.
We sent over 55 individualized, weekly accountability check-ins to the writers to help them complete their projects
Throughout the completion of their milestone drafts and full drafts, WBI provided detailed editing, feedback, and dramaturgical information on their solutions. We’re now working to help the writers polish their projects for their public readings and for presentation to agents, publishers, and producers.
Together with the writers, we’ve started the process of building pitch materials, including Bibles and Query Letters
Upshot
We’ll be wrapping up the beta tests of our Story Arc programs in the spring of 2026. The Beta Cohort writers are absolutely smashing it and we’re working to provide public readings of their final projects in April 2026!
The Backstory
To end the beta process, we had originally planned to do a public reading for one project. However, after reading their full drafts this summer, we knew we couldn’t pick just one; these stories are beautiful lanterns to shine in the darkness, and we want these projects to be read aloud by professional actors and shared — hopefully both live and online — with all of you!
We’ll send more details on the readings as we get closer. For now, here are four snapshots of projects we hope you’ll be able to experience this spring.
Esther has created a brilliant pilot for a tv/streaming series that takes place in a near-future where a person’s country of origin is no longer a barrier to any kind of study, job, travel, or dream. When a rag-tag and randy group of grad students are given an unexpected opportunity, they choose to document the stories of the last, pre-reform U.S. immigrants. Think: Community and Jane The Virgin meets the Holocaust Project. At turns hilarious, sexy, and heartbreaking, the show shines a light on a world that’s within our reach while also uplifting the harrowing experiences of present-day immigrants. We’re very excited to produce a reading and help Esther get this exciting and timely pilot in front of agents.
Mikee has taken his experiences in the Filipino community and turned them into an utterly delightful, hilarious, and touching screenplay about a family who is sent to mandatory therapy. Think: Prince of Tides meets Family Ties and Kim’s Convenience. From the first absurd moments, these characters become friends that we’re rooting for while their path toward healing is gently lit with compassion and joy. We can’t wait to share this script with all of you this spring and help Mikee get this must-see screenplay in front of agents.
Douglas has created a gripping new fantasy world for young-adult readers to explore and enjoy. Douglas’s heroine ventures out into a desert filled with ancient gods to find solutions for her drought-stricken city. Throughout her journey she learns how the stories we choose to tell can shape our actions and reality. This book turns dystopia on its head by reminding us that there is always a better way when we band together to create the possible. We can’t wait to share a reading from Douglas’s book with you this spring, and to get this vibrant world into the hands of tween & teen readers everywhere.
McCully has crafted a beautiful play that intertwines realism, surrealism, dance, multimedia, micro-algae, and a talking dog! During a life-threatening storm in New York, a coalition of GenZ mutual aid activists band together with the leaders of a Boomer wealth distribution network to provide shelter for hundreds of Battery Park residents. This high-stakes drama highlights the tensions between philanthropy and activism, the challenges and impacts of collaborative action, and the deeply encoded interdependence that is the open path to our best potential. We can’t wait to share a reading of this wonderful new play with you this spring!
Help spread the word by following and sharing WBI with your networks on social media!
Keep up with milestones, changes, and great news by subscribing to our email newsletter.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Manage your cookie preferences below:
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Service URL: policies.google.com (opens in a new window)
Vimeo is a video hosting platform for high-quality content, ideal for creators and businesses to showcase their work.
Service URL: vimeo.com (opens in a new window)
You can find more information in our Cookie Policy and .
Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.
