Storytelling For Peace: Storytellers and Story Educators for Peace


	Storytellers and Story Educators for Peace
	This is a partial listing by country and state of storytellers who identify themselves as focusing all or part of their repertoire on peace-building and conflict transformation. The list is constantly growing; please consult it often. Canada \| United Kingdom \| California \| Colorado \| Florida \| Georgia \| Illinois \| Maine \| Maryland \| Massachusetts \| Michigan \| Minnesota \| Missouri \| Nebraska \| Nevada \| New Hampshire \| New Mexico \| New York \| North Carolina \| Oregon \| Pennsylvania \| Texas \| Washington CANADA Hazel Lennox 735 Ninth Street Courtenay, British Columbia V9N 1P1 250-334-2352 spinningtales@telus.net Publications: Healing Hearts, Appleseed Quarterly, In Focus. Hazel's original work, The Crystal Spring, deals with solving problems through cooperation. It is featured on her tape Where the Mountains Meet the Ocean and was performed as participatory theatre through Tricksters Theatre, which has been touring in British Columbia. Hazel was born in Scotland into a family of wonderful tellers who passed on the family history through stories. A professional storyteller for the past 17 years, Hazel often accompanies her stories on the flute and pennywhistle. Although she started sharing stories with children in schools, much of her current work is with teen and adult audiences. Celia Barker Lottridge 42 Vermont Ave Toronto, ON M6G 1X9 416-531-6072 celialottridge@yahoo.com Celia is co-founder (with Katherine Grier) of the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program in Toronto. She is a graduate of Stanford University and has library and education degrees from Columbia University and the University of Toronto. She is a well-known storyteller and has taught storytelling workshops and performed across Canada and in the United States. She is also the author of prize-winning children's books. Joseph Naytowhow Mocikun Midtown RPO, PO Box 24023 Saskatoon, Canada S7K8B4 306-220-6653 josephnaytowhow@hotmail.com Joseph Naytowhow is a Cree from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, SK. He has a B.A. in Education and is a Life Skills Coach. Joseph has performed as actor/ drummer/ singer/ storyteller for theater, festivals, concert tours and in recording studios. He was the cultural co-coordinator for the Eagles' Nest Video Project (1999). Joseph has performed with Cheryl L'Hirondelle Waynohtew across Canada and in the US in the singing/drumming/storytelling duet Nikamok -- also the title of their new CD of traditional/hybrid music. As artistic directors and editors, they helped develop the Dene/Cree ElderSpeak: Tales from the Heart and Spirit web site. Both also share duties as Storytellers-In-Residence for Meadow Lake Tribal Council. Rico Rodriguez 595 Dovercourt Rd. Toronto, Ontario 416-588-8442 rico_lucy@hotmail.com www.storytellingtoronto.org click on Rico Rodriguez Founder of "Queers in your Ears," an annual Storytelling event for Lesbigaytrans storytellers. Workshops on the use of storytelling to combat homophobia. Cathryn Wellner Miocene Box 15 4030 Horsefly Road Williams Lake, British Columbia V2G 2P3 250-296-4432 (phone) 250-296-4429 (fax) cwellner@grassrootsgroup.com http://grassrootsgroup.com Cathryn Wellner has been traveling the storyteller's path for nearly two decades and now performs primarily with her husband, Richard Wright. Storytelling is an integral part of their consulting practice, GrassRoots Consulting Group Inc., which focuses on communications, research, publishing, and community development. Whether addressing a business group, teaching seminars or workshops, keynoting a conference, or performing at a festival, stories are at the heart of their work. Dan Yashinsky 19 Kenwood Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6C 2R8 Canada 416-654-1652 dan_yashinsky@swiftnet.org www.tellery.com Dan Yashinsky founded the Toronto Festival of Storytelling in 1979 and co-founded the Storytellers School of Toronto. A working storyteller since 1977, he has traveled to many parts of Canada and around the world telling and collecting stories. Dan provides a wonderful glimpse into the world of storytelling through the multiple books he has authored. He created a curriculum program called The Telling Bee and is working on a millennium project called The Portage Project. UNITED KINGDOM Liz Weir Gleann na Scéal 127 Ballemon Road Cushendall Co Antrim BT44 0QP Northern Ireland +44 28 217 7 58451 +44 28 217 58699 liz@taleteam.demon.co.uk Liz Weir is a professional storyteller who works with all age groups promoting the traditional art for which Ireland is world-famous. A children's librarian by training, she travels the world telling stories, conducting workshops and speaking at conferences and courses for parents, teachers, librarians and health care professionals. She has been a featured teller at many U.S. festivals including Tejas, St Louis, Bay Area, Northern Appalachian and the National Storytelling Festival. In her native Northern Ireland, Liz organizes the Ulster Storytelling Festival and has opened a facility for storytelling retreats at her home. Wendy Welch/Jack Beck The Old Schoolhouse New Gilston Fife KY8 5TF 01144 1334 840234 jbeck69087@aol.com www.scottishsongandstory.co.uk www.storytellingunplugged.co.uk Wendy Welch writes a newspaper column on folklore and storytelling, is founder of the American Folklore Society's Storytelling Section, has written numerous articles on the art and study of storytelling, and teaches college classes on folklore and telling techniques. Cultural understanding is the hallmark of a repertoire gathered from her native Appalachia, studies in Newfoundland and current home in Scotland. A Ph. D. in folklore infuses her tales with depth and meaning; an energetic approach to life makes them come alive. From festivals to private parties, libraries to corporate seminars, day-care centers to college campuses, her listeners never fail to enjoy themselves and learn something new. USA California Kevin D. Cordi PO Box 1066 Hanford, CA 93230 559-587-0309 Kctells@youthstorytelling.com www.youthstorytelling.com Publications/audiotapes: Raising Voices: Youth Storytelling Groups and Troupes, written by Kevin Cordi and Judy Sima (2003). This collaborative text shows how to empower youth by forming storytelling clubs and Troupes; Strength Through Stories: Non-violent Means Told By Teens, Voices Across America audiotape. As a storyteller, I believe one of our major obligations is to promote peace by sharing the community in story. People in stories are continually learning from each other. As storytellers we are ambassadors of sharing this collective learning. With each story comes the responsiblity to share it with others. Like peaceful thinking, soon it will spread, so collectively we reach hearts and homes with stories. Lyn Fine 510-655-1628 Berkeley, California LynFine@aol.com Recently moved from New York City to Berkeley, Lyn enjoys teaching mindfulness meditation inspired by the teachings and practices of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the United States and Israel. Her transformative storytelling for peace includes stories of wisdom and compassion from all traditions, including in particular Buddhist and Jewish sources; stories of personal and political transformation without violence; and singing. Nancy Schimmel 1639 Channing Way Berkeley CA 94703 nancy@sisterschoice.com www.sisterschoice.com Nancy Schimmel is a storyteller, songwriter, activist, and the daughter of activists. She is the author of Just Enough to Make a Story: A Sourcebook for Storytelling, which contains an annotated list of "Stories in Service to Peace." Her stories come from cultures around the world, and she looks for the tales that honor tradition and break stereotypes. Her list "Folktales with Active Heroines," is at http://www.sisterschoice.com/heroines.html Ruth Stotter 2244 Vistazo East Tiburon, CA 94920 r.stotter@att.net www.ruthstotter.com Ruth is the former director of the Dominican University Storytelling Program (San Rafael, CA) and the author of numerous publications. Her bio can be found in Storytellers: A Biographical Directory of 120 English-Speaking Performers Worldwide by Corki Miller and Mary Ellen Snodgrass (McFarland, 1998) She has conducted workshops and performed throughout North America, as well as in England, France, Portugal, Malaysia and Australia. Diane F. Wyzga Tell It By Heart P.O. Box 1213 San Clemente, CA 92674. E-mail: dfwyzga@attglobal.net Diane Wyzga lives along the Pacific Ocean in San Clemente, California. As a storyteller in juvenile hall, high schools, domestic abuse shelters, corporations and associations, Wyzga has witnessed the increasing need for storytelling beyond the entertainment value. She has seen both tellers and listeners gain a transforming and healing effect from stories when used in relation to life's trials and tribulations. Wyzga has presented workshops and concerts on healing domestic violence through storytelling, and brings her expertise from working as both a nurse and a lawyer into these venues. Colorado Bob Seigetsu Avstreih address: somewhere on the road in the west 303-817-7341 storyflute@hotmail.com Specializing in "Roots of Conflict and Alternatives to Violence," affiliated with Mizel Museum's "Bridges of Understanding," The Alternatives to Violence Project, and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Pre-Collegiate and Graduate School Counseling programs. Coordinator and performer: "Blues in the Schools" programs for Colorado Blues Society. Storyteller/musician for Colorado's "Blues and Bones Festival" and "Red Dirt Blues Festival." Also specializing in Japanese and Taoist/Zen cultures and certified teacher of shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) in the ancient sui-zen tradition. Linda Fredericks 011 10th Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-545-6051 lindaf@indra.com Publications: Using Storytelling to Prevent Violence and Promote Cooperation and Healing Wounds with Words: A Guide to Conflict Resolution and Storytelling. Both are available through the Colorado School Mediation Project, 2885 Aurora Avenue, Suite 13, Boulder, CO 80303, 303-444-7671. Additional storytelling areas of interest: using storytelling to develop literacy and critical thinking skills; storytelling and resiliency; the warmth and wisdom of Chassidic stories. Linda has lectured throughout the U.S. on the link between storytelling and healthy human development. She developed a popular training on storytelling and literacy skills for AmeriCorps and VISTA staff and conducts trainings on storytelling and conflict resolution. Susan Kaplan, M.S.W. 2318 S. Josephine St. Denver, CO 80210 303- 871-8469 kaplangould@earthlink.net Susan has worked as a social worker for more than 25 years. She gives workshops and storytelling programs for peace, working with such organizations as: The Conflict Center, working primarily with parents, students, and child-care providers and character development stories for Denver Public Schools. She has worked with Seeking Common Ground, Building Bridges (Camp for Israeli, Palestinian and American Young Women), schools, conferences for Youth, and the Colorado Association for the Education of the Young Child. Her private parenting practice, spiritual parenting (a non-demoninational, holistic approach) is based on an interactive workshop model, helping parents bring balance and harmony into their daily family life. Storytelling for Peace programs and workshops include: Use Storytelling and Activities to Teach Skills of Peace; Telling Personal Stories to Create Peace -- Learning to Use the Power of Your Own Stories; Discover the Third Side of Peace Through Stories; Use Storytelling to Teach Values of Character Development; Use Storytelling to Heal, Calm Inner Fears and Teach Ideas to Overcome Everyday Challenges; Violence Reduction Through Storytelling Activities. Florida Caren S. Neile 48 S.W. Ninth Terrace Boca Raton, FL 33486 carenina@bellsouth.net Caren teaches storytelling at Florida Atlantic University, where she hosts a storytelling performance series. She is founding coordinator of the Healing Story Alliance Social Action Committee of the National Storytelling Network and consultant to the International Storytelling Center on storytelling for peace. She is also founding director of StoryTelling Opportunities to Reach Youth (STORY), a program serving the Haitian community in Delray Beach, Florida, and presents workshops nationwide at conferences and campuses. Publications (co-author): Hidden (University of Wisconsin Press, 2002), which uses storytelling techniques to tell the story of brother and sister Holocaust survivors. Diane Rooks 151 Santa Monica Ave. Saint Augustine, FL 32080 904-829-1754 904-826-0449 fax diane@storyjourney.com www.storyjourney.com Publications: Spinning Gold out of Straw: How Stories Heal. Secretary and Resource Coordinator for the Healing Story Alliance Available for presentations, storytelling, keynotes, workshops, and coaching for all ages. Jessica Senehi Assistant Professor of conflict resolution and peace studies Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution Nova Southeastern University 9102 Vineyard Lake Drive Plantation, FL 33324 (954) 916-0072 senehi@nova.edu Georgia Audrey Galex 2085 Valiant Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30345 404-486-7377 agalex@bellsouth.net www.RootsWings.com Audrey is co-creator of "Tapestry: An Arab-Jewish Storytelling Dialogue." Her interests also include preserving individual and community histories, stories about and for older adults, inter-generational story-sharing programs. Illinois Susan O'Halloran P.O. Box 5170 Evanston, IL 60204 847-869-4081 superoh@aol.com www.racebridges.net/sue From the neighborhood front porches of her childhood home on the south side of Chicago to perilous bus rides through the mountains of Guatemala, with wit and compassion, Susan O'Halloran's stories explore the complex issues of race, politics and social justice. Her resources include the video, Tribes & Bridges at the Steppenwolf Theater (with Antonio Sacre, Cuban American and La'Ron Williams, African American), the CD Dividing Lines: The Education of a Chicago White Girl in Ten Rounds (a one-woman show dealing with housing segregation) and the book The Woman Who Found Her Voice a story about making a difference. Maine Margaret Jones Day One 88 State Street Suite 400, Portland, ME 04101 207-842-2995 dayoneptd@aol.com margaretj@day-one.org Margaret Jones, M.Ed., is the Director of Prevention Services for Day One, an adolescent substance abuse agency that is currently in the fourth year of a storytelling grant. She and her colleague, Cindy Krum, have trained hundreds of professionals to use storytelling in their work and have led storytelling groups with youth. They also lead ongoing nature-based storytelling for teens in recovery from substance abuse. Her specialty areas of storytelling are therapeutic stories and the Arthurian Legends. She has published in the newsletter published by the League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling and has a story in The Healing Heart, edited by Alison Cox and David H. Albert (New Society, 2003). Maryland Noa Baum 13 Devon RD. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-587-3558 cell phone: 703-244-1938 noabaum@earthlink.net www.noabaum.com Storyteller Noa Baum, an Israeli who began a heartfelt dialogue with a Palestinian woman while living in the United States, weaves together their and their mothers' stories in her show "A Land Twice Promised." She creates a moving testimony illuminating the complex and contradictory history and emotions that surround Jerusalem for Israelis and Palestinians alike. The show is for adults. It is 90 minutes long with an intermission. Additional storytelling areas of interest: stories from the Jewish tradition, peace tales for young and old, multicultural stories for all ages, stories about strong and marvelous women. Gail Rosen 721 Howard Rd. Pikesville, MD 21208 410-486-3551 gailstory@aol.com www.GailRosen.com Gail Rosen is a professional storyteller, writer and bereavement facilitator. Her work serves people in grief support groups and retreats, memorial services, workshops, synagogues, churches and schools. She has presented at a variety of venues, including the annual conferences for the Maryland Hospice Network, the Nebraska Storytelling Festival on the Healing Arts, the National Conference on Loss and Transition and the National Storytelling Network. Gail also tells the story of Holocaust survivor and poet Hilda Cohen and programs of Stories for Peace. She has released two audio tapes, "Darkness & Dawn; One Woman's Mythology of Loss and Healing," and "Listening After the Music Stops: Stories of Loss and Comfort." Massachusetts Bonnie Greenberg 63 Gould Rd Newton MA 02468 617-244-2884 BBonnieG@aol.com www.BonnieGreenberg.net See website for information about award-winning recordings/programs for children/adults. Doug Lipman P.O. Box 441195, W. Somerville, MA 02144 doug@storydynamics.com www.storydynamics.com Free email newsletter, "eTips from the Storytelling Coach." Elisa Pearmain PO Box 634 Lincoln, MA 01773 781-259-0492 Elisa@wisdomtales.com www.wisdomtales.com http://www.wisdomtales.com/character/ Publications: Doorways to the Soul (Pilgrim Press, 1998). Elisa's web site is actually two web sites now, the WisdomTales site, which features a story related to wisdom/ peace/healing, and a Character Development Through Story site, featuring a bi-monthly story with follow-up activities for the classroom John Porcino 120 Pulpit Hill Rd. #10 Amherst, MA 01002 413-549-5448 John.Porcino@cohousing.com John Porcino never imagined that his love of both storytelling and music would one day lead him to hanging out his shingle as a storyteller/musician. Seventeen years, a wife, two kids, a mortgage and several thousand performances and workshops later, that shingle is still the same. The journey has brought John to many places, helped him to meet lots of fine people, and he's known great exhilaration, and humbling bumps and bruises. What John is after through these simple arts is to bring people of all ages the gifts of laughter, wisdom, and insight, and leave them with nourished minds and spirits. Michigan Corinne Stavish 26216 Franklin Pointe Drive Southfield, MI 48034-1565 248.356.8721 Stavish@LTU.edu www.storynet.org Publications: Seeds from Our Past: Planting for the Future-- Jewish Stories and Foktales; numerous articles; four recordings. Focus: Stories of justice, conflict resolution, and relationships. These types of stories help to promote understanding and alternative answers to problem-solving. Minnesota Loren Niemi 8105 Jamaca N. Stillwater, MN 55082 651-271-6349 niemistory@aol.com http://www.storytelling.org/Niemi/Niemi.htm Publications: Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories (with Elizabeth Ellis) August House Publishers (2001). Loren has spent 35 years working as a community organizer, helping communities, organizations and individuals identify, craft, and effectively tell their stories. Both for the creation of powerful metaphors for identity or change and in conflict resolution, stories enable us to share common ground. Twenty-five years ago Loren declared himself a storyteller, and drawing from the well of tradition and from thoughtful reflection on my own experience, he has collected, created and performed stories that help audiences of all ages own wickedness and celebrate joy. He offers workshops, coaching and consulting services -- contact him for details and schedule. Missouri Gladys Coggswell P.O. Box 56 Frankford, MO 63441 573/784-2589 (phone) 573/784-2364 (fax) gladcogg@nemonet.com http://coggswell.com/home.html Gladys Coggswell's workshops include "Storytelling As A Violence Prevention Strategy," " Inspirational Storytelling" and "Community Building With Storytelling." Nebraska Nancy K. Duncan 1803 S. 58th St. Omaha, NE 68106-225 402-551-4532 storygalore@home.com www.storygalore.com Nancy Duncan, MFA, was born in Indiana, raised in Illinois, reared in Georgia, awakened in Iowa and settled in Nebraska. She tells stories for all ages and venues including personal, folk and fairy tales, coyote stories with tribal members approval, historical tales of the 1849 transcontinental migration, and literary tales. Duncan teaches graduate storytelling courses every summer in Nebraska and Iowa. Her most popular residency is Storybuddies, an interactive oral history project linking senior citizens to school students, celebrating and building community. Nevada Joseph Andrejchak Galata 1193 Wagon Wheel Reno, Nevada 89503 775-677-3560 JGalata@aol.com Joseph Andrejchak Galata is a retired representative to the Social Economic Council of the United Nations in New York City for the international Rom (Gypsy) population. His television/video production My Father Was a Junkman: Stories of the Gypsies is now being distributed. Galata's TV productions have been broadcast throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Central America. A recent production, "The Shuffle of Shoes Left Behind" features the personal stories of adults who were children in the WW II European concentration camps. Galata is a former dancer with companies throughout the world. He is an international lecturer and workshop facilitator on topics pertaining to the creative arts. New Hampshire Paul Nelson PO Box 453 Milford, NH 03055 603-654-5944 story@tellink.net Paul Nelson holds a master's degree in psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an undergraduate degree in psychology and art from the University of Massachusetts. He is also a graduate of the Montserrat College of Art. Paul is an accomplished writer who has written on such topics as developmental psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and education. He is founding director of Keepers of the Lore, which sponsors an on-going series of lectures, workshops, and special events, including the annual Joseph Campbell Festival of Myth, Folklore & Story, designed to help preserve and perpetuate the wisdom-lore in today's modern American culture. New Mexico Megan McKenna P.O. Box 7309 Albuquerque, NM 87194 505-345-4548 meganmck@juno.com Tapes available from Credence Communications, Kansas City, Kansas, and St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, Ohio. Books: Keepers of the Story: Storytelling in the Religions; Not Counting Women and Children: Forgotten Stories of the Bible; The Prophets: Words of Fire; Parables: Arrows of God; Mary Shadow of Grace; Angels Unawares; Mary Mother of All Nations (Icons) with Wm. Hart McNichols, SJ; Christ All Merciful (Icons) with Wm. Hart McNichols, SJ; Rites of Justice; Advent, Christmas and Epiphany (2 vol.); Lent (2 vols); Leave Her Alone; Blessings and Woes (Luke's Gospel); (all from Orbis Press, Maryknoll, New York); Poetry: The Marrow of Mystery, Sheed and Ward, Chicago, Illinois.; Anthology: Send My Roots Rain: A Spirituality of Justice and Peace Random House, Doubleday, New York (Sept. 2002); Stations of the Cross, Random House, New York, Jan. 2003. New York Lorna MacDonald Czarnota PO Box 1641 Buffalo, New York 14215 LCzarnota@aol.com www.sff.net/people/lorna Publications: Medieval Tales That Kids Can Read and Tell, published by August House Audio recordings; CROSSROADS: Stories of Choice and Empowerment, Magic Lands, Love's Laughter and Tears. Lorna is president of CROSSROADS Story Center, Inc. a not-for-profit reaching at-risk youth through story, music and art. She is co-director of the Western New York Storytelling Institute and artistic director for Keeper of the Flames Storytelling Retreat. Storytelling areas of interest: healing with story, use of metaphor, Scottish tales and Celtic culture, medieval history, colonial American life, and the American Civil War. Heather Forest Story Arts Inc. PO Box 354 Huntington, NY 11743 631-271-2511 heather@storyarts.org Heather Forest is a storyteller, author, recording artist, and educator. Her performance repertoire of world folktales weaves original music, and the sung and spoken word. With a focus on the metaphorical wisdom embedded in world folktales, Heather Forest's programs encourage listening skills, literacy, multicultural understanding and peaceful interpersonal communication. The founder and director of Story Arts Inc., a not for-profit arts organization in Long Island, NY, she presents storytelling programs in schools, festivals and community centers nationally and professional development workshops for teachers about use of storytelling in the classroom. Heather is an adjunct professor of Oral Tradition in the Library Science Department at Southern Connecticut State University and a Ph.D. student in Antioch University's Leadership and Change program. Robert Reiser 15 Oak Ave, Tarrytown, NY 10591 914-422-1156 RSReiser@aol.com Bob is an expansive and joyous teller of stories to "light up the spirit." His experience as author and performer shines out in his storytelling. His books for adults and for children have been published by Houghton Mifflin, Simon & Schuster and W.W. Norton. Accompanying himself with flute and drum, he brings warmth and wit to traditional stories from around the world, as well as to his own original tales. Featured as one of the "120 best living English-speaking storytellers" in Contemporary Storytellers by McFarland Press. Peninnah Schram 525 West End Avenue New York, NY 10024 212 787-0626 Peninnah1@aol.com Publications: Jewish Stories One Generation Tells Another; Tales of Elijah the Prophet; Chosen Tales: Stories Told by Jewish Storytellers (ed.); Ten Classic Jewish Children's Stories; Stories within Stories: From the Jewish Oral Tradition. Audio: CD; The Minstrel and the Storyteller: Stories and Songs of the Jewish People (recorded with singer/guitarist Gerard Edery on Sefarad Records). Additional areas of interest: Workshops and performances in family and intergenerational storytelling; telling stories that will enhance spirituality and Jewish values; participatory storytelling with all ages, including lullabies and nigunim (melodies without words). Sue Tannehill 8750 Tonawanda Creek Road Clarence Center, NY 14032 716- 741-4755 716-741-8675 Stannehill@aol.com Sue is an experienced storyteller and teacher trainer. She has several different programs that involve conflict resolution, peace and diversity stories. She has told before audiences ranging in size from six to 550 and listeners aged two and three to nursing home residents. She has taught conflict resolution to students of all ages. She also has stories of Giraffes: people who have "stuck their necks out" for the common good at some personal risk. These stories of real heroes give students a way to think about using anger about social injustice in constructive ways. She also does programs that use storytelling and workshop exercises to help people explore their spirituality. She has had an article about the Giraffe stories published in Storytelling magazine and is currently a regular columnist for Western New York Family magazine. North Carolina Milbre Burch 43 Oakwood Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27517 919-942-7937 kindcrone@aol.com www.kindcrone.com Internationally known, award-winning storyteller Milbre Burch offers a lecture-demonstration entitled "Making the Heart Whole Again: Stories of Peace and Justice for a Wounded World." Not since the Vietnam War era has the peace movement been so suspect. In a nation torn by terrorism and its own inner violence, peace and justice stories are as potent as they are rare. Drawing on more than two decades of work in community, educational and correctional settings, Milbre Burch leads participants in an exploration of reconciliation stories from the oral and literary traditions, followed by a brainstorming session on sowing the stories and nurturing them in an environment made bitter by fear, grief, anger and retaliation. Annette Simmons Group Process Consulting 418 Woodlawn Avenue Greensboro, NC 27401 336-275-4404 (phone) 336-275-4405 (fax) AnnetteGPC@aol.com www.groupprocessconsulting.com Publications: Territorial Games: Understanding and Ending Turf Wars at Work; A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths: Using Dialogue to Overcome Fear and Distrust; The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence and Persuasion Through Storytelling. Current research: Storytelling to Build Social Capital: passing out disposable cameras to a disinfranchised community and asking them to "tell their story" dramatically transformed perceptions of personal responsibilty and increased collaborative action to reclaim their community (full details on www.groupprocessconsulting.com); Storytelling and Dialogue: combining storytelling with dialogue creates powerful shifts in conversations between conservative Christians and gays. (Sharing stories of a time when you were "excluded," then a time when you were "included" even when you didn't deserve it.); Women and Power: gathering stories to discover what do women mean when they say "powerful" -- what works and what stops women from pursuing political office and high level positions in organizations. Oregon Leslie Slape 74283 Fern Hill Road, Rainier, OR 97048 503-556-4048 lslape@storyteller.net http://www.storyteller.net/tellers/lslape/ Leslie is drawn to stories with interesting women, strange twists, honor, love and loyalty, and journeys of the soul. She also knows quite a few tales about cats. She is the co-author of the play The Time-Traveler's Story Guide to Planet Earth, which incorporated folktales and myths about caring for our world. She also teaches storytelling workshops. Susan Strauss P.O. Box 1141 Bend, Oregon 97709 541-382-2888 susan@straussstoryteller.com www.straussstoryteller.com Susan Strauss has engaged audiences of children and adults across the United States and Europe for more than 20 years. Recognized as one of the finest storytellers in the country today, she gives workshops and performances frequently for the National Park and Forest Service, museums throughout the U.S. and Europe and serves as affiliate faculty at the University of Idaho and teaches movement at the Sagewood Waldorf School. Publications: Coyote Stories for Children, Wolf Stories: Myths and True Life Tales from Around the World, and When Woman Became the Sea: A Costa Rican Creation Myth, and The Passionate Fact: Storytelling in Natural History and Cultural Interpretation. Recordings include: Birds of Fortune: Blessing Stories from the Book of Nature; Tracks, Tracks, Tracks: Native American Coyote Tales; And For Kids; Coyote Gets A Cadillac and Other Eye-opening Earth Tales; Witches, Queens and Goddesses: Mythic Images of the Feminine; The Bird's Tale. Pennsylvania Eva Grayzel Master Storyteller/Motivational Speaker 4245 Farmersville Ct. Easton PA 18045 610-258-3763 www.EvaGrayzel.com Eva engages audiences with creative, interactive renditions of folklore drawing diverse groups together. Belly laughs guaranteed! She is a graduate of Columbia University, a professional storyteller since 1987 performing world-wide, and a motivational speaker. More importantly, she has gained a profound insight from her life-threatening illness in 1998. She crafts stories that mesmerize and transform, illuminating universal truths. Eva's energy and sincerity inspires audiences to embrace life. Texas Elida Guardia Bonet 9801 Oxaus Lane Austin, Tx 78759 512-345-7608 512-345-7610 (fax) mangopit@austin.rr.com www.underthemangotree.com Elida specializes in stories from Spain, Latin America and about Latinos in the U.S. By telling stories about others we build bridges of peace, at least that is what I believe! Publications: Under the Mango Tree: Stories from Spanish Speaking Countries; Rabbit Tales/Los cuentos de Tio Conejo; Debajo del arbol de mango: Cuentos de paises de habla hispana. Washington David H. Albert 1717 18th Court NE Olympia, WA 98506 360 352-0506 shantinik@earthlink.net www.skylarksings.com David H. Albert holds degrees from Williams College, Oxford University, and the Committee on Social Thought, University of Chicago, but says, "the best education he ever received he gets from his kids." He writes a regular column - "My Word!" -- for Home Education magazine. He is author of two books on homeschooling - And the Skylark Sings with Me: Adventures in Homeschooling and Community-Based Education (New Society Publishers, 1999) and Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery: A Journey of Original Seeking (Common Courage Press, 2002) -- and is co-editor of the two-volume set The Healing Heart: Storytelling for Caring and Healthy Families and The Healing Heart: Storytelling for Strong and Healthy Communities (New Society, 2003). As founder of New Society Publishers, he was also publisher of Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope: Stories of Peace, Justice, and the Environment, to which he contributed. David is also an active member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Allison Cox 25714 Wax Orchard Rd., SW Vashon Island, Washington 98070 206-463-3844 206-463-2026 allison@dancingleaves.com http://www.dancingleaves/allison Allison Cox has graduate degrees in Counseling Psychology and in Public Health. She has worked as a mental health therapist, social worker, health educator and prevention specialist and for the past 20 years, storytelling has accompanied her along these many paths. Allison's storytelling projects have included Mother Goose Parent Child groups, the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Project, substance abuse prevention/intervention efforts, training volunteers for the Asthma and Allergy Prevention Project, women's health issues, the ethnic elder health promotion/violence prevention project (middle school students interviewed ethnic elders) and using story in community assessment and development in her work for the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department. She shares stories on violence prevention in the county youth detention center and is active in domestic violence prevention initiatives. Allison is on the board of the Healing Story Alliance Special Interest Group of the National Storytelling Network. She is co-editor and contributing author of The Healing Heart: Storytelling for Caring and Healthy Families and The Healing Heart: Storytelling for Strong and Healthy Communities, New Society Publishers, available early 2003. Allison has performed across Canada and in the U.S., offering concerts and workshops on storytelling as a healing art. Mary Dessein 1918 Everett Avenue Everett, Washington 98201 360-568-3320 (home) 425-257-2101 ext. 3327 (work) marystoriesmusic@excite.com Mary Dessein has been a chemical dependency therapist for 10-plus years, currently working in the outpatient setting and with Drug Court. She is also a musician, storyteller, and writer. She fell wondrously into storytelling a few years back and now is the coordinator and a host of Global Griot, a live weekly program of stories and music from around the world on community radio, KSER 90.7 FM (available live online at: kser.org). Suzanne Down PO Box 1688 Port Angeles WA 98362 Toll free phone 1-888 688-7333 suzanne@junipertreepuppets.com www.junipertreepuppets.com Suzanne Down is the founding director of the Juniper Tree School of Storytelling and Puppetry Arts, which offers a certificate in storytelling and puppet theater. The training focuses on the foundations of performance, educational, therapeutic puppetry, and the development of puppetry for social change. Suzanne founded the Puppets for World Change Institute as well as the Hope Puppet Project, a research and practice initiative for underserved children in crisis, and the International Puppets for Peace Day Project. Her latest program is Puppets for World Change/Youth Voices, which empowers high school students with story and puppetry for social and community service. Suzanne travels throughout the world offering trainings and presentations in puppet theater and storytelling. She is co-chair of NAARPA the North American Association for the Renewal of Puppetry Arts, connected to the North American Waldorf School movement, and is on the education committee of The Puppeteers of America. Publications (early childhood): Around the World with Finger Puppet Animals, Autumn Tales, and Spring Tales. Order on website. In progress: Lifting the Veil, A Renewal of Puppetry Arts. Cathy Spagnoli 27225 97th Avenue SW Vashon, WA 98070 Phone/Fax: 206-463-4054 spagnoli@nwlink.com www.cathyspagnoli.com A professional storyteller/writer for more than 20 years, Cathy has given programs in the US, Canada, South Asia, Korea, and Japan. Funding from The Japan Foundation, The Korea Foundation, USIA, and regional institutions have allowed her to collect Asian tales and to meet hundreds of Asian storytellers in mountain temples, at all-night village performances, in traditional Japanese inns, in Northwest homes of all kinds. She is a favorite teller at teacher conferences, schools, libraries, museums, parks, and senior centers in the U.S. and abroad. Cathy lives with her husband, Indian sculptor Paramasivam, and their son, Manu, on an island off Seattle in a home which they built themselves. Next article in the series: Selected bibliography All articles: Introduction How does it work? Selected stories for peace and conflict resolution Selected bibliography Return to top of page Return to Resources

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