Storytelling
As the founder of an award-winning live storytelling series, I’ve helped over 150 people share their true stories on stage since 2016. Each show features five community members sharing true stories on the night’s theme, plus live music, poetry and a brief open mic.
No experience? No problem. This is a curated show. That means I’ll coach you through the process and provide encouragement along the way. It’s always a collaborative effort between myself and the storytellers. Ultimately, I want this to be a positive experience for everyone involved.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS > PARTNERSHIPS
Belonging: A Community Art Project
I developed a community art project to complement a live storytelling event themed “Belonging: Stories of standing out, fitting in and finding your way.” I hosted art-making workshops at various locations to encourage a diverse cross-section of the community to explore the idea of belonging in words and images on 7-by-7-inch mixed media paper.
I photographed the finished pieces and posted the images on social media with an artist’s statement. The images were also projected on a screen as a backdrop during the live show, and the statements were shared in between storytellers. The project was meant to foster a sense of connection and inclusion in the community. Perhaps most importantly, it got more people to think deeply and express themselves, which added more voices and perspectives to the series.
We’re all energy, and we move at different vibrations and frequencies. Like a chord of music, we can be different and sound beautiful together.
My blonde hair always made me feel different. I grew up in a family of brunettes. I’d hear jokes about being the mailman’s daughter. I’m adopted.
Omaha Public Library
Omaha Reads, book selection “The Hate U Give”
Theme: I am… Stories of Identity
Hosted at the Union for Contemporary Art
Sioux City Public Library
One Book One Siouxland, book selection “Hidden Figures”
Theme: Just Keep Going
Hosted at The Marquee in Sioux City, Iowa
Siouxland District Health Department
Raising awareness for the worksite garden wellbeing initiative
Theme: Food
Hosted at the Mary J. Treglia Community House in Sioux City, Iowa
"Your storytelling events serve a vital public service by giving a platform to those who might otherwise remain silent and by challenging your audiences to consider the human impact of their own assumptions and actions."
— Iowa State University Kappa Tau Alpha and Greenlee School Diversity > Inclusion Award Letter