Virtual Track

Discover how reframing your personal narrative can transform your life. In this interactive workshop, you'll become the protagonist of your own story, using story-crafting tools including structure, themes, and character to shift your perspective and breathe new life into your stories. Through reflection, journaling, and group activities, you’ll gain practical techniques to analyze and reshape your life stories, empowering you to navigate challenges and find meaning through the lens of a storyteller. This workshop is geared toward professional storytellers as well as anyone interested in using storytelling for personal growth and resilience.

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Bio: Allison Downey is an award-winning singer-songwriter, storyteller, speaker, and professor. With an MFA in theater, she has been an NPR-affiliate host and radio producer, as well as a featured performer and presenter at conferences, festivals, and stages across the country—from The Moth’s Mainstage to presenting at Lincoln Center Theater. Allison returned to the scene, after beating cancer, with a win at the 2025 National Storytelling Festival’s StorySlam. Based in Kalamazoo, MI, she is currently developing a book and a one-woman musical storytelling show about her health journey. She does not tend to refer to herself in the third person.

The Malaga was a 183 ton brig built in1832, in Brunswick Maine, in a shipyard owned by Joseph Badger. The ship eventually found herself as part of the already illegal transatlantic trade of African captives to the Americas, especially Brazil.

The Malaga Ship Story is a tour de force performance. Using his entire body and voice, Antonio sings, narrates, and mimes his way through this poetically toned historical tale told mostly from the perspective of the ship. The story vividly explores the reality and impact of the slave industry, which was the largest industry in the world in the 1800’s. The story also has a deep connection to the performer, for Malaga goes to Rio de Janeiro - Brazil in 1845, where Antonio was raised in a biracial household over a century later.

Bio: Antonio Rocha (pronounced haw-sha), originally from Brazil, began his career in the performing arts in 1985. In 1988 he received a Partners of the Americas grant to come to the USA to perform and deepen his mime skills with Mime Master Tony Montanaro. Since then he has earned a Summa Cum Laude Theater BA from USM (University of Southern Maine) and studied with Master Marcel Marceau. Mr. Rocha’s unique and award winning solo fusion of mime and storytelling with mesmerizing voices and sound effects has been performed from Singapore to South Africa and many places in between, including 20 countries on 6 continents as well as in 44 US states. Some of the venues include The Singapore Festival of the Arts, Wolf Trap, The National Storytelling Festival, The Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Institution, The National Geographic, The Tales of Graz in Austria, Dunya Festival, The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, Cave Run Storytelling Festival as well as thousands of school performances. Antonio Rocha also loves to teach his craft and often facilitates workshops, not only for performers, but for those who want to incorporate storytelling into their business presentations and classroom.

A two time TEDx speaker, Mr. Rocha is a proud recipient of the coveted Circle of Excellence Award by the National Storytelling Network, and most recently the 2024 Maine Arts Commission Fellowship for the Performing Arts.

Bio: Laura Packer knows that the best way to the truth is through a good story; she has told, taught, ranted, raved, coached, consulted, and considered storytelling for over 30 years. As the daughter of a children's librarian and a writer, it seems almost inevitable that she ended working with words, and so she has. Laura passionately believes that this universally accessible artform creates empathy, builds bridges, and has the power to change the world, and has brought that truth to venues as wide ranging as festivals, theaters, government agencies, corporate stages, on the streets, in prisons, schools, assisted living facilities, faith spaces, libraries, hospices, and more. She has won many awards for her work, including the 2022 Staff Choice in the Minnesota Fringe Festival and 2020 induction into the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence.

Laura holds a degree in Folklore and Mythology from Boston University. She can be reached at laura@laurapacker.com or through www.laurapacker.com and www.thinkstory.com. You can support her work and read her blog at patreon.com/laurapackerwork.”

This interactive workshop will use the ancient Kalila wa Dimna, fables of animals speaking truth, to explore the role storytelling can play in social transformation. These fables carried their roots from ancient India into Persia, the Arab world, and Europe. We will use our modern reality to analyze these ancient tales and how they apply to our current political and social times, connecting the stories to our personal and familial reality and the wider picture of social transformation. Kalila and Dimna fables will be used to stimulate conversation about our role as artists in response to today’s world issues.

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Bio: Sarah comes from a long line of Storytellers on her paternal side. She is an award winning Storyteller who has told stories both nationally and internationally at festivals in Canada, Cuba, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Tunisia, Morocco and United Arab Emirates. Because Sarah grew up in several countries she tells stories from all over the world with the focus on Palestinian and Croatian stories where her roots lie. Her favourite stories are ones that promote social change. Sarah has also used stories in a therapeutic way with children in refugee camps and refugee children in Toronto, as part of their therapy. She works at the Parent Child Mother Goose Program using traditional storytelling to encourage parent child bonding. Sarah belongs to a collective called "Musical Story Studio" where stories and music are combined. Sarah tells stories so that she may go deep inside of the tales and find herself in far away magical places that she remembers, from long, long ago.

The “ah-ha” moment is sometimes exciting and sometimes painful, but it is always a gift. Understanding our personal moments of change and then sharing them is a step on the path to collective, positive, change. Storytellers have a special role in change-making, in that we can listen, process, and share stories effectively. Those stories help everyone feel less alone in their journey and often more open to change themselves.

In this highly interactive workshop, you will identify a moment of change in your own life, share it, and craft a story from it. We will explore the meaning of that moment and what you want your listeners to get out of it. We will discuss how this story can be used and altered for the audience in front of you. Expect a safe space, clear ground rules and instructions, and a lot of storytelling fun.

ALL LEVELS

If learning how to use your voice in a safe and creative way is useful for your storytelling style, then this workshop is for you. Antonio Rocha will teach how to dynamically move the story forward with character voice and sound effects. These techniques are very useful when telling to kids, but also to adults. Antonio will also share voice care advice in order to keep your voice strong and alive show after show. Come on over to this safe and exploratory session and your stories will never be the same.

ALL LEVELS

"The Washington Post describes Israeli born Noa Baum as "Spreading cultural truths that eclipse geopolitical boundaries...". An award-winning storyteller, author, and coach, Noa focuses on the power of narrative to heal across divides of identity and promote peace. She presents internationally from Turkey to Australia, the World Bank to the US Defense Department, the National Storytelling Festival, and the Kennedy Center. Noa holds an M.A. in Educational Theater and Drama Therapy from NYU and is the author of “A Land Twice Promised: An Israeli Woman’s Quest for Peace”, and “How the Birds Became Friends”, on the power of kindness.

"Galen Brandt is a storyteller, writer and songwriter who loves weaving word and song in her storytelling. An award-winning composer of children's music, and a corporate speechwriter, cultural journalist and marketing expert, she pioneered the use of virtual reality as healing modality in live performance and education, especially in the area of special needs. She's currently writing a musical fairytale about a piglet. Galen is a member of the Healing Story Alliance Advisory Committee and chair of HSA’s Oars in the Water program.

Rachel Briggs is an educator, creative leader, and proud mother of five (ages 11–21) who inspire her work. She is the Founder and Creative Director of Dream Through STEAM RI, honoring the past, educating the present, and inspiring the future by celebrating African American contributors in STEAM. With over 20 years in education, Rachel designs culturally responsive, student-centered learning experiences grounded in collaboration and creativity. She serves on state and regional advisory boards, advocates for racial justice in child welfare systems, and has received numerous civic and humanitarian honors for her impact on underserved communities.

"Elizabeth Rowe, from Oceanside, NY, has been sharing her repertoire of folk tales, myths, short stories and personal tales throughout the Northeast for over 30 years. She’s been a featured performer for the NY Story Exchange in Greenwich Village since its inception in 1997, on Long Island Cablevision’s Tell Me a Story, at the New York State Reading Association Conference, and the Columbia Teachers’ College Writers’ Project. Elizabeth is a member of the National Storytelling Network, the Northeast Story Tellers’ League, and Story Circle of the Capital District. You can visit her website at www.Storytellerowe.com"

Emily Stamets specializes in original fantasy with a modern twist. A dynamic and theatrical storyteller, she brings over two decades of Theatre Arts experience to the stage. She learned the art of storytelling from Mark W. Lewis, studied with Shakespeare & Co in MA and is current Director of CA Thespians. Active member of Storytellers of San Diego. Recent projects include directing the SDUSD Honor Theatre Project for La Jolla Playhouse. Masters degrees in Theatre Design & Production (SOU) and School Leadership (Harvard). She lives near San Diego with 20 chickens, 2 cats, 2 moms, 1 husband, and 1 sourdough starter.

"Paul Strickland is a full-time professional storyteller and musician who lives in Covington, KY. Paul was a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival in 2023 and a Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center in 2024. Paul’s heartfelt and hilarious original tall-tales, reupholstered folk tales and thought-provoking songs have been performed in virtually every imaginable environment, from Off-Broadway to elementary and middle schools, libraries, corporate events and even two prisons - where he was NOT an inmate at the time.

Luther D. Isler, poetically known as THE ARTIST ANUBIS, is a spoken word artist, cultural

curator, playwright, and community cultivator. He founded Harlem Bomb Shelter: Spoken Word Open Mic & Showcase in Harlem, NYC in 2012 with the help of long-time mentor, Voza Rivers, cultural impresario and Executive Director of New Heritage Theatre Group, to provide a stage for amateur and professional performers and a safe space for people to express their human experiences. In 2022, Anubis started The Bomb Squad Mentorship Program, mentoring 5 young adults each year to develop their writing, performance, and networking skills. Most recently, he received an AUDELCO Award for his “Special Achievements” throughout the years as he keeps the multi-faceted Harlem literary legacy alive.

A full-time professional storyteller, author, and theatre artist for over thirty years, Diane Edgecomb has created numerous innovative performances for both adults and families that tour nationally and internationally. A transformational teller with a rich background in the theatre arts, Diane’s dynamic telling embraces elements of theatre, movement, and song bringing each piece vividly to life. Winner of the Oracle Award for Storytelling Excellence in the Northeast and the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Network, Diane is known for the passion and depth of her work whether embodying a true story or bringing renewed meaning to traditional tales.

Madelyn Folino is a native of the Hudson Valley, a retired public library director, co-founder of the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild in Orange County and a past co-chair of STF. She has taught English to recovering heroin addicts, migrant farmworker children and HEOP students. In 2004, she was honored with the NY Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Award for defense of the First Amendment. Madelyn has a wide range of stories to tell and is the mother and grandmother of many good listeners.

Denise Manning Keyes Page is founder of Ubuntu Storytellers, an ensemble of story artists of Black and Brown ancestry who tell contemporary personal stories. Her experiences as a racial justice consultant, a Black multi-generational New Englander and her newly acquired status as “elder” form her storytelling lens. In 2019 prompted by a friend living with ALS, Denise began telling. A few of the places she has performed this year include the Woodstock Storytelling Festival, Westport Library Main Stage, Tellabration™ New Haven and the Moth Main Stage.

A storyteller and folklorist, Linda Humes, PhD, performs and conducts workshops nationally and internationally. She has performed at The Crop Over Heritage Tent in Barbados, the Santiago Arts Festival in Cuba, Little Island Park (NYC), United States Postal Office Kwanzaa stamp inaugural ceremony, Black Expats Kwanzaa Celebration in Panama, National Association of Black Storytellers Festivals, Connecticut Storytelling Festival and Clearwater Festival to name a few. Her CD, Kwanzaa- A Time to Celebrate, received the 1999 Silver Parents Choice Award. Her latest CD, On the Shoulders of Our Ancestors is meeting rave reviews. Her theatrical credits include the entertainment reporter for PM Magazine and principal work in commercials, television, and film.

Robin E. Kitson has been telling stories for over 20 yrs. She is known for her personal tall tales, civil rights, Cajun folktales, and international folktales. Her trips of the mind are like those heard as a child in New Orleans where stories roll down the river clothed in fog. Robin’s motivational tales come from having to take welfare to get by, on to being well paid at the power company. Life-changing events have influenced Robin’s life and stories, such as witnessing Ruby Bridges walk into Robins Elementary school. Six whites reentered and two stayed. 367 transferred."

Andy Russell grew up in North Carolina, and the region and its people figure prominently in his stories and songs. In 2025, Andy won the annual StorySlam Championship by Six Feet Apart Productions, and appeared as a Featured Teller at the Cracker Storytelling Festival. Andy has been selected as a New Voice teller at the Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival, Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, and Old North State Storytelling Festival. Andy is a repeat performer at the Florida Storytelling Festival, MoonShine Stories, Traditions and Truth, and Better Said Than Done.

Change rarely arrives with a marching band. More often, it tiptoes in on fragile wings, knocks disguised as trouble, or waits deep in the woods where we least want to go. Join Laura for traditional tales and lived-in stories that explore what happens when we are asked—by circumstance, by choice, or by fate—to become someone new. These are stories of thresholds and transformations, of fear and wonder walking hand in hand, of the unexpected gifts that emerge when we listen closely to what is changing within us and around us. Some stories will be ancient, some personal, all of them shaped by the moment we share together.

Virtual Track 2026

The Sharing the Fire Virtual Track includes:

Friday March 27

WELCOME TO THE VIRTUAL TRACK EXPERIENCE

Day One Debrief

Saturday March 28

GATHERING TIME-Rise and Shine Meet Up

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE

VIRTUAL TRACK WORKSHOP

VIRTUAL TRACK WORKSHOP

VIRTUAL TRACK WORKSHOP

VIRTUAL STORY SWAP & FEEDBACK

OLIO PERFORMANCE

Sunday March 29th

SECOND HELPINGS STORY CONCERT

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE

VIRTUAL GATHERING AND SEND-OFF