Healing Story Alliance is a not-for-profit, educational, arts organization which provides online resources and concert, workshop, and community programming in support of storytelling as a healing art.
Description
‘Kindness is having the ability to speak with love,
listen with patience, and act with compassion.”
-Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Join the Healing Story Alliance for a special gathering to share and explore stories of kindness in its many faces and forms. Through folk tales and personal stories, we will dive deeply into multiple experiences of kindness. What is it? How does it impact us and our relationships to ourselves, to each other, to the world? Come and listen to “kind stories” shared by both professional tellers and community members and see what memories of kindness emerge for you. Featured tellers are David Novak, Renee Emanuel, Liz Mangual with emcee Jennifer Munro.
About the Storytellers
Renee Spears Emanuel, recipient of the 2023 "Women in the Arts Award," is a gifted storyteller whose folktale and tall tale renderings have captivated audiences of all ages for over a decade. Renee has performed on public television, at universities, libraries, conferences, and other venues.
David Novak made his storytelling debut in St. Louis in 1979. He has since been featured at the National Storytelling Festival, Timpanogos, Talking Island and many others. International appearances include the Singapore StoryFest, Czech Children’s Theatre Festival, Sydney International Storytelling Conference, and China international schools. David is proud to have been in the dynamic storytelling trio, Triple Crown Tellers, with Milbre Burch and Angela Lloyd, and co-creator of The National Yakker’s Theatre Ensemble with Nancy Donoval and Gerald Fierst. He is recipient of the NSN Circle of Excellence, and the Aurand Harris Playwrighting Award. David lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Liz Mangual was “kidnapped by stories.” Her childhood was filled with an ever-changing cast of unusual characters fresh off the boat from Puerto Rico whose lives were difficult but who still found time to laugh, dance, play music and tell stories. Liz thinks of her storytelling as a sancocho (a rich stew) seasoned with encounters with life, people, cultures and the universal concerns that make us human. Her storytelling has brought her to the usual places; libraries, schools, festivals…and to more unusual places like migrant farm worker camps and youth prisons. She enjoys many rich collaborations with colleagues, and organizations across the country. What keeps Liz on the story trail? The constant re-discovery that storytelling is a powerful tool for creating safe, and welcoming environments, for bringing joy and fun to the lives of children. What better way to build connections and community than through story? Look for Liz by the banks of the nearby Rio Grande. The River, where past, present and future meet, just like they do in stories.
EMCEE
Jennifer Munro, a recipient of the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award, tells original stories about rogues and heroes that resonate with the frailty and courage of the human condition. She also puts modern spins on ancient tales, often combining them with personal experience. She has produced three award-winning CDs and a collection of short stories, Aunty Lily and other Delightfully Perverse Stories, also an award winner. Jennifer has performed at the National Festival and the Timpanogos Festival. Her most recent project, a tour-deforce performance of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, has been hailed by critics as “dazzling and spellbinding”.
Community Tellers
D'Marie Shy-King is a 3-time Author and a Poet. She is a Mental Health Professional of some 25 plus years. She wrote and directed 2 one- act plays as Behavior Modification Modules that were acted out by her patients at a state Mental Health Institute. D'Marie is a Distinguished Toastmaster and Speaker with Toastmasters International where she has spoken to audiences in 10 foreign countries over the past three years. Two of her signature presentations are "Put Up or Shut Up" and "It All Starts with You!" D'Marie is currently the Executive Director of Victory Over Violence-NPO where she advocates on behalf of Survivors of Domestic Violence.
Danielle Brown, a dedicated leader who helps the homeless people with severe mental health or co-occurring illnesses. CARC-certified recovery coach and Recovery Coach Academy trainer. Strong DEI advocate. She tirelessly represents homeless issues across the regional continuum. Over the past 20 years, she has worked for many nonprofits dedicated to human welfare. She started her profession as a youth organizer, sharing her public and alternative school experiences and supporting incarcerated women. In addition, she connects with the community by volunteering her time for coaching / mentoring programs Street Outreach and Co-Leading a Celebrate Recovery Group. As a woman who has endured many challenges and obstacles in life, she has turned her pain into passion and commitment. Her mission has been to gain trust and build relationships within the community. Danielle’s motivation is to be a light and support others on their journey by empowering, inspiring and mentoring individuals through sharing her story, self-awareness, emotional and spiritual well-being. Her belief is that if we listen, make someone smile or connect them to resources a difference can be made. Danielle lives by the adage, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” Muhammad Ali
Date & Time
Sun, Feb 2, 2025 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM