On January 15th, Kevin Brooks, husband of our dear friend and colleague, Laura Packer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. On March 28th, he lost the battle. Laura writes much more eloquently than I, so here are her words:
It is with immense sorrow and overwhelming gratitude that I tell you that Kevin Brooks has moved onto his next adventure. Prior to his death, Kevin had many sweet hours holding hands, hugging and kissing those who love him.
His passage was peaceful. He was surrounded by family and close friends who sang him into the next world. His last words were to tell me he loves me.
I cannot tell you how sad I am.
I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the time we had together.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your support through this.
This cancer was too aggressive and cruel.
I am mute with grief.
HIs kids and I all appreciate your support. If you know any of his children, then you know how lucky I am to have them in my life. Please reach out to them.
Please remember Kevin as a friend, a father, a scholar, a thought leader, a storyteller, a dancer, a dreamer, a husband, a juggler, a kindhearted man, a bread baker, a wonderful man. The cancer is only a very small part of his story.
I never met Kevin. I am sorry I did not. But to know Laura was to know how wonderful Kevin was, in all the aspects that Laura has described him. Please hold Laura in your hearts, as her own journey now is extremely difficult.
Opening Session led by Liz Warren - FREE to Public
We are thrilled to share the news that NSN has received a $5,000 grant from the Arizona Humanities Council to support the 2014 National Storytelling Conference’s Thursday evening opening, “Kindling Community Connections through Story.”
This grant supports NSN’s making this 7:30-9:30 pm session free and open to the Arizona public, encouraging the local community to become involved with storytelling and NSN.
Liz Warren, director of the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute, will moderate a diverse panel of three discussing the power of storytelling to make a difference in strengthening communities:
Panelists include:
Doug Bland serves as pastor of the Tempe Community Christian Church, known as “the storytelling church.” Doug and the church offer storytelling programs “as a way to explore the human soul.” Twice the congregation has received the Martin Luther King Diversity Award from the Tempe Human Relations Commission. Storyteller and teacher, Doug also is the chairperson of the Arizona Interfaith Power & Light which mobilizes people to reduce the causes of global climate change.
Queen Nur (Karen Abdul-Malik), nationally renowned storyteller and teaching artist, has received “Mid-Atlantic Artist as Catalyst” grants for her work with teens-at-risk and women’s shelters. Queen received NSN’s Brimstone Award for Applied Storytelling for her “Sustaining Culture and Traditions through Storytelling” project, designed to use storytelling and folk arts as a tool for the community’s voice on social justice issues, to build community partnerships and to forge intergenerational relationships and to ignite change.
Kiran Singh Sirah is the Executive Director of the International Storytelling Center, an advisory member to UNESCO, a Rotary Peace fellow, storyteller and poet. Kiran uses the power of human creativity to establish discourse and dialogue, empowering communities to address issues related to gang violence, sectarian and ethnic conflict, poverty and other forms of human rights violations. In 2012 Kiran was invited to give an address at The United Nations Headquarters, “Telling Stories That Matter.”
REGISTER FOR THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE Students and Seniors - Special Pricing
Earlybird Registration DEADLINE - MAY 15
Save BIG BUCKS when you register early.
As little as $255 for Seniors or Students BEFORE May 15
(after may 15 - prices go up $75) Click here for Registration
Stew and Stories Wednesday, April 2nd
Come to the South Mountain Community Library for Stew and Stories.
Come for FREE stew from the Frybread House on the Library Patio at 5:30. Stay to hear noted storyteller Tim Terry of the Gila River Indian Community in the Community Room at 6:30.
This unique event is being co sponsored by the Phoenix Public Library, the District Office of American Indian Outreach, and the President’s Office.
Be one of the first 20 attendees and receive a $10.00 gift card redeemable for an online purchase at BooksforGood.org, which features books, movies, music and more! Limit one card per family. The gift cards are being provided by the Phoenix Public Library and the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library.
Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson Thursday, April 3rd
This curated Storytelling event in Tucson is in it's 12th year! Six people are invited to tell ten minute, personal stories on a theme in front of an audience. The stories are not read or memorized, they are told from the life experiences and creativity of the teller.
The theme for this month is "The Gun Show".
Burnished wood and cold blue steel. Family hunting trips and self protection. Tragedy and terror. Department issued or passed down from great, great granddad? Second Amendment. No second chances. Close calls. Welcome to The Gun Show--No background checks required.
Storytellers: AZPM Arizona Spotlight host, Mark McLemore; straight shooter, Terri Haag; Pima College writing instructor, Molly McCloy; writer Terry Ahearn; performer Dorothea Nobile; writer and 4th Avenue fixture, Nico Ratoff; and Feng Shui practitioner, L. Marc. Haberman!
What If? Last week, Sean Buvala produced a fantastic concert in Avondale, One Story, Many Tellers. Five tellers told different (and distinct) versions of their images of Beauty and the Beast. All the stories were quite marvelous. One teller, Elly Reidy had a slightly different slant with her story. In the Q & A afterwards, she shared with the group that she is always looking for the "back story" and asking herself "What if?" She asked herself, "What if Beauty and the Beast were already married before the curse was placed?" The result was a very powerful story!
The magic of asking ourselves "What if?" has limitless possibilities.
What if...the characters were all animals, instead of humans?
What if...the characters were all humans, instead of animals?
What if...this was on another planet?
What if...this took place 1000 years ago...1000 years in the future?
What if...the genders were reversed...or all men...or all women?
What if...there were no police?
What if...we only saw ourselves through the eyes of our lover...or our enemy?
What if...all the characters were blind...or deaf...or deaf and blind?
What if...the punishment for every crime, even jay-walking, was death?
What if...all the characters spoke in a language that none of the listeners understood?
What if...we heard what each character was saying...and what they were feeling?
What if...insert your own questions here.
The Newsletter Contest Continues The Contest Continues - We Have the First Winner Congratulations to GCC student David Thomas for the first submission and winning as T-shirt
Have you been reading the Newsletter?
Below are ten questions. The answers can be found in the issues of the newsletter.
Click the PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS button at the top of the page to find the answers.
Here are the ten questions. (Only GREEN questions are eligible for single answers - see rule #4)
Name at least TWO of the five dates when the Newsletter was NOT published on a Monday.
What is my favorite tip?
According to the videos in Tidbits, who are the two women I am in love with? One’s a storyteller, one is not?
Congrats to David Thomas
Who are the two people named Karen that I follow and most often post about?
Which storyteller wrote about the “Twenty Skills a Storyteller Needs”?
I posted videos of which two deaf storytellers?
What time is it on the clock in the “Try Going Backwards” tip?
Which issue date had no actual “Tip”?
I have written several tips regarding Significant Objects. According to these tips, what is one of MY most significant objects?
What color hair did the girl have that I saw in the small town square in Dublin?
BONUS QUESTION: Which film writer/director/producer did I attend high school with?
RULES:
The FIRST PERSON to E-mail me the correct answer to ANY of the "eligible" ten questions will receive ONE Arizona Story Slam T-shirt (a true collector's item).
One submission per person.
One win/T-shirt per person.
Once a question has been correctly answered - IT WILL BE MARKED RED - AND IS OUT OF PLAY & IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE ANSWERED - except for submitting ALL the answers together.
You may NOT submit an answer where YOU are part of the answer (see rule 6, 7, 8 for exception).
The FIRST THREE PEOPLE to E-mail me the correct answers to ALL ten questions will receive A T-Shirt AND I will buy you a drink at the 2014 NSN Conference.
The FIRST person to E-mail me the correct answers to ALL ten questions - AND answer the bonus question correctly will receive A T-Shirt, a drink and I will buy you breakfast or lunch at the conference.
NOTE: People who are part of any answer MAY submit ALL ten answers together (and the bonus question answer) in an attempt to win the above stated prizes for answering ALL TEN questions together (and/or the bonus question).
Contest will end when all winners have been acknowledged (total of 14 winners - ten individual question winners, three TEN question winners and one TEN QUESTION PLUS BONUS QUESTION winner).
OR at MIDNIGHT, April 30, 2014; whichever occurs first.
All decisions by the judge (me) are final. Don't argue...don't cheat...play nice.
Remember; E-mail me - no posting of answers on this site's comments or separately in FACEBOOK OR ANY OTHER GROUPS - Play Nice!
------------------------------------THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH -------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR CALENDAR TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
Liz Warren, director of the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute, will moderate a diverse panel of three discussing the power of storytelling to make a difference in strengthening communities:
Doug Bland serves as pastor of the Tempe Community Christian Church, known as “the storytelling church.” Doug and the church offer storytelling programs “as a way to explore the human soul.” Twice the congregation has received the Martin Luther King Diversity Award from the Tempe Human Relations Commission. Storyteller and teacher, Doug also is the chairperson of the Arizona Interfaith Power & Light which mobilizes people to reduce the causes of global climate change. 
Queen Nur (Karen Abdul-Malik), nationally renowned storyteller and teaching artist, has received “Mid-Atlantic Artist as Catalyst” grants for her work with teens-at-risk and women’s shelters. Queen received NSN’s Brimstone Award for Applied Storytelling for her “Sustaining Culture and Traditions through Storytelling” project, designed to use storytelling and folk arts as a tool for the community’s voice on social justice issues, to build community partnerships and to forge intergenerational relationships and to ignite change. 
Kiran Singh Sirah is the Executive Director of the International Storytelling Center, an advisory member to UNESCO, a Rotary Peace fellow, storyteller and poet. Kiran uses the power of human creativity to establish discourse and dialogue, empowering communities to address issues related to gang violence, sectarian and ethnic conflict, poverty and other forms of human rights violations. In 2012 Kiran was invited to give an address at The United Nations Headquarters, “Telling Stories That Matter.”
Wednesday, April 2nd
Last week, Sean Buvala produced a fantastic concert in Avondale, One Story, Many Tellers. Five tellers told different (and distinct) versions of their images of Beauty and the Beast. All the stories were quite marvelous. One teller, Elly Reidy had a slightly different slant with her story. In the Q & A afterwards, she shared with the group that she is always looking for the "back story" and asking herself "What if?" She asked herself, "What if Beauty and the Beast were already married before the curse was placed?" The result was a very powerful story!
The FIRST PERSON to 
