By creating monthly storytelling open mic sessions for community members to share their most disastrous moments, The LAVA Center provides an opportunity to “learn things about people that wouldn’t normally come up in conversation,” in the words of manager Vanessa Query.

On the first Thursday of each month, Trouble Mandeson and Nisse Greenberg bring “Beautiful Disasters” to The LAVA Center in Greenfield. “Beautiful Disasters” is a pay-what-you-want event, with storytelling beginning at 7 p.m. after a 6 p.m. potluck. The program is sponsored in part by a Greenfield Cultural Council grant.

December’s theme was “Fashion Disasters,” where attendees shared stories in which they prevailed through embarrassing or otherwise disastrous fashion moments.

Standing on an elevated platform surrounded by mood lighting and eclectic decorations, Greenberg has a way of telling his own stories that invites anyone to tell their own with the same subtle humor and flair. If audience members think of a story, they can write their name on a card and throw it into a hat from which Greenberg picks the next speaker. Although winter months are slower, Greenberg noted The LAVA Center often has so many attendees that they can’t hear from everyone.

“Community is formed by it,” Greenberg said when asked about the origins of “Beautiful Disasters.” “We just thought it would be fun for people to come and tell stories and share food. The LAVA Center is a great space for the community, and people are able to come by and are safe to talk about whatever they wanna talk about. We’ve been building a little bit of a community where we can tell stories and be embarrassing, but they don’t have to be embarrassing; they’re allowed to be whatever you are.”

Greenfield resident Emily Koester, who came up with the fashion theme for December, has been involved with the group for more than a year, driven by her interest in participating in storytelling.

“I’m not a musician, I’m not a visual artist, but I wanted to do some kind of art form and I’ve always loved listening to stories,” Koester said. “When Nisse started doing this, I thought, ‘Oh, this is an art form I can do.’ It’s more accessible than getting up and singing.”

Participants at the Dec. 5 session told stories on stage about their own “fashion disasters,” which ranged from putting on pants backwards to accidentally stripping in front of their bosses. Most stories shared during the monthly event, Koester said, “have some kind of funny element.”

“It’s just something that keeps my heart warm,” Greenberg said.

“Everybody’s got something that’s happened in their lives,” Koester said. “The thing about a story is it doesn’t need to be a big thing like a near-death experience. It can be something that’s particular to you and your experience.”