Number of storytelling sessions 46 (42 school sessions, 4 public)Number of workshops 2 Number attending workshops 16 Number of storytellers 17 Number of people attending festival 5632 (School Sessions 4944, Seniors 60, Friday pm 304, Matinee 138, Sat pm 96) Receipts $22,947.00 Expenses $22,534.00 Volunteers for School Sessions 66
Jackson Storyfest’s mission is to ignite imagination through the art of storytelling The seventeen storytellers told hundreds of stories over the 2-day festival. Educators, students, parents, grandparents, volunteers, other storytellers, toddlers and a cross section of the community comprised our audiences. The evening performances found young and old alike, with many loyal supporters who return year after year. In the workshops, each of us discovered ways to remember our stories and tell them to others, especially to share with our families as a way to pass along our heritage. Each storyteller reinforced the idea of continuing to tell stories.
Jackson Storyfest Objectives: To provide free storytelling performances for the students of Jackson CountyOn Friday, 4944 students, plus their teachers and classroom chaperones came into downtown Jackson to participate in 2 storytelling sessions. This years tellers included Charlotte Blake Alston, Tim Bogar, Trudy Bulkley, Paige Conat, Karen Czarnik, Tonya Dallas, Michael Deren, Judy Gail, Robin Nott, Andy Offut Irwin, Sharon Peacock, Larry Plamondon, Cate Robarts-Snyder, Steveanna Roose, Lois Sprengnether-Keel, Corinne, Stavish, LaRon Williams. Through the generous support of businesses, foundations, individuals and the Jackson County Intermediate School District, these sessions are free of charge. On Saturday afternoon, Tonya Dallas entertained 96 at the family matinee. To provide storytelling experiences for adults in the communityPublic evening performances were held with Friday featuring Andy Offut Irwin from Covington, GA, who related stories of his “Aunt Marguerite Van Camp MD” and her exploits with humor and music. Saturday evening Charlotte Blake Alston from Philadelphia PA shared her music and breathed life into traditional and contemporary African and African American tales. A new session held on Friday featured 4 tellers and a special audience of senior citizens. Adult volunteers, teachers and parents also heard tales during the school sessions Friday.
To provide workshops for the public on the art of storytellingTwo workshops were held on Saturday with the two featured storytellers leading the workshops. Attendees came from different sections of Michigan. Attendance was 7 and 9 particiapants.
To provide opportunities for total community involvement with businesses, churches, and other organizations providing sites for student performances, the involvement of city and county government, schools and many volunteers. Jackson Storyfest is definitely a community endeavor. To think that over 5600 lives were touched by this event is in itself a testimony to the impact it has upon peoples’ lives. Toddlers to retirees come together to hear stories of our culture and the cultures of others. Businesses and organizations not only provide monetary support but also open their doors to our children, adults and storytellers. Foundations and individuals continue to offer financial support so that everyone, no matter his or her economic status, can have “the world brought to our door” through the spoken word. The Jackson City police offer assistance and insure the safety of our children. 66 community volunteers “man” the sites to help the school children and teachers/chaperones. The Jackson County Intermediate School District provides liaisons to the committee who complete the scheduling of students/teachers. The Jackson District Library also has a committee liaison as well as provides a meeting place for our planning committee and Board of Directors.
Report prepared 5/30/09 Sara Tackett Sara Tackett, Chairperson |