Asher Lyons

Big-Hearted Facilitator

Asher Lyons, serving as the executive director of Medicine Theater, is devoted to facilitating liberation and healing through the art of original story creation. Over the past 23 years, Asher has immersed himself in the practice of supporting youth (particularly marginalized, inner-city youth and those with indigenous lineages) in finding their voice and healing through storytelling. His journey has been profoundly influenced by his integration into indigenous families and communities, guided by the wisdom of indigenous elders who entrusted him with the mission of reuniting youth with their ancestral practices under tribal mentorship.

Rooted in two decades of learning from storytellers across the Americas, Asher’s work is richly informed by diverse cultural traditions. Central to his mission is the commitment to reconnecting youth with Indigenous Wisdom Keepers and storytellers. Following the guidance of his indigenous relatives, he passionately supports underserved youth in rediscovering their heritage and identity.

Asher has been teaching original story crafting to youth for over 20 years, starting in 2003 as an instructor for the San Francisco Mime Troupe’s Youth Theatre Project. This experience solidified his belief in the transformative power of collaborative story creation. It was this experience that sparked the vision for Medicine Theater, where he remains dedicated to empowering youth to craft and perform their own productions. Asher’s journey reflects his unwavering commitment to cultural preservation, community empowerment and the profound influence of creative expression in nurturing personal and collective growth.