Do you ever feel trapped by the life you’re living or the decisions you’ve made? Imagine reinventing your identity, becoming the hero of your own story, and creating generational change. What kind of life would you envision—and how would you make it real? There’s an organization in Utah helping people do exactly that.
My Story Matters began with founder Amy Chandler’s vision in 2010, when she hosted “VIP Days” for children in Salt Lake City’s homeless shelters. Each child was paired with two volunteers who listened to their hopes and dreams, then guided them through fifteen themed photo stations to create a personalized bedtime story—something uplifting to read every night.
Looking back, Amy said, “We dove in without knowing exactly what we were doing, but we quickly realized everyone needed tools. The parents needed tools. The kids needed more than hope; they needed to learn how to create it for themselves.”
The organization soon expanded into hospitals, helping terminally ill cancer patients feel seen and remembered. As parents viewed the finished books, many asked for stories for their other children—those often overlooked during long seasons of treatment. This shift led the team to work with entire families. But as the program grew, Amy realized she couldn’t be everywhere, prompting the team to pause, reflect, and create a shareable curriculum that would empower others to bring storytelling and healing to their own communities.
My Story Matters became a 501(c)(3) in 2012 and introduced its new curriculum in schools across Utah, helping refugee children use an online portal to share and write their stories—often seeing a photo of themselves for the first time. By imagining new possibilities for their lives, these children gained a sense of control and empowerment.
The program saw strong results with refugee children and soon drew requests for more students to participate. Brenda Simmons, Assistant Executive Director, remembers teachers saying, “Whatever you’re teaching these kids, we want all our kids to have,” and the program quickly expanded schoolwide. At one point, the organization had an 80-school waiting list.
Amy and her team had to pivot again when COVID-19 hit and enrollment dropped. Teachers, parents, and students were overwhelmed, and no one felt they had room for one more thing. Today, My Story Matters brings a scaled-down program to rural schools through assemblies, since new curriculum often requires lengthy administrative approval.
The drop in school waitlists didn’t deter Amy; as the pandemic began, the program was also exploring work in the Utah County jails. With a part-time crew of fewer than ten dedicated staff, My Story Matters has grown into what it is today, holding classes in jails, sober-living homes, and homeless shelters across Utah. Volunteers now focus on justice-involved youth and adults, helping them rewrite their stories and move beyond the belief that “convict” is the only label they carry. It’s part of their past, not their whole story.
The “Captain Your Story” prison class now has a 700-person waitlist. Each 12-week cohort is capped at 15 participants, many of whom take it more than once to strengthen their identity and skills for lasting change. Although the courses are online, prisons focus on the ‘career’ curriculum. Brenda explains the reentry program prepares people leaving maximum-security facilities to present themselves to the board, navigate life outside, and stay true to their vision.”
Tammy Orchard, the Justice-Involved Coordinator, explained the challenge of reentry: “The world has changed so much… Think about being inside four walls for fifteen years, then coming out to such major growth. It’s very overstimulating.” Brenda adds, “Some of them have never held a cell phone. They’ve never done Zoom; they’ve never done self-checkout.” These everyday skills are vital for a healthy transition back into society, which is why family members are encouraged to take the classes alongside inmates—learning the same language and strengthening communication. The organization also recently completed a Spanish translation of the program.
And it’s not just storytelling that’s changing lives—My Story Matters has expanded its “Captain Your Story” framework to include financial literacy and parenting programs. Other organizations are getting on board too; several local CEOs have become “Guides,” bringing the program into their workplaces after seeing its power firsthand. As the curriculum continues to grow, My Story Matters is always looking for more volunteers and Guides to help lead classes.
So, what does the program involve, and how can people get involved? My Story Matters credits its success to teaching real “tools for emotional resiliency.” As Brenda explains, people often offer vague advice, but “we actually teach tools they can look at and say, ‘In this situation, which one helps me move forward?’ It all starts with ‘Vision.’”
The organization follows a twelve-step “Control Panel” map that begins with “Vision,” helping participants build a new identity as the foundation for everything. This psychology- and science-backed approach guides them to imagine the life they want and develop the skills to reach it—regulating their nervous systems, leaning on community, taking focused action, and showing up even when they’re afraid. Each twelve-week course focuses on one tool per week, led by a trained Guide who acts as both coach and cheerleader. Brenda, a certified life coach, took the class in 2023 and became a Guide the next year, noting that the role is “the guide on the side, not the sage on the stage.” Brenda says what she loves most is watching the program give people hope.
Guides take the class three times in a process the organization calls “Learn, Live, Leverage,” ensuring they’ve applied the tools in their own lives before mentoring others. Resident-Guides in prisons are especially impactful because they’ve walked the same paths as those they lead. Amy invites anyone interested to “come and see—take the class and experience your own transformation. Then you’ll know how you can create impact.” She adds that they’re always seeking people who believe in the mission and want to help bring healing to places where transformation is needed most, especially for individuals who can’t afford it.
My Story Matters has faced economic challenges this year after government funding cuts, which once made up more than half of its support. The organization is now seeking additional private donations and corporate sponsors, and early interest from local businesses has been encouraging. They offer five-tier package options for schools and companies, making participation accessible for most budgets. For parents who want the program in their child’s school, becoming a parent advocate is one of the most effective ways to help make it happen.
Amy’s vision for My Story Matters is radical. She wants this program to go global and doesn’t want the cost to be prohibitive. For individuals who can’t afford the full cost of the course, the organization offers scholarships that cut the price in half for those who qualify. “We believe every human on the planet deserves to live their very best life and have permission to do so. We won’t stop until everyone has tools.”
More than anything, Amy wants people to “feel seen.” She understands the struggle of starting over, and My Story Matters stands as proof that these tools work. “I want everyone to know their story matters—not just where it’s been, but where it’s going. Choose to pick up the pen and be the agent of writing your story. Until we believe our story matters, we don’t give it intention. We just let life happen to us.”
If you’re feeling inspired to pick up the pen and write your story—or want to learn more about the organization and how to get involved—you can find My Story Matters online and across their social media platforms.
Learn more: mystorymatters.org
@mystorymatters
12-Steps
- Vision
- Choice and Commitment
- Focus
- Language: (Words Matter)
- Surrender
- Community
- Help: (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)
- Identity
- Response: (Dan Siegel’s “Hand Model of the Brain”)
- Learning
- Focused Action
- Story: (Based on Joseph Campbell’s ‘Hero’s Journey’)
