“It has been said that next to hunger and thirst, our most basic human need is for storytelling.”
~ Khalil Gibran
On Wednesday, September 26, 2018, more than 50 people gathered to share stories of “How I Got Here” at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in Fort Myers, Florida. The Wasmer Art Gallery in the Bower Arts Complex provided a beautiful backdrop. Every art piece has its own story, from the portraits honoring female comedians to the remnants of the old oak tree fallen during hurricane Irma having new life in art. Within this gallery of stories in art, community storytellers, students and professors shared their own oral storytelling performance in 5 to 7 minutes in a competition for the grand prize, a gift card to Starbucks. As they stepped up to the microphone, the audience honored their bravery with applause. Then the tellers gifted the audience with their stories, laced with humor, vulnerability, ups and downs. Weaving a rich web of shared connection throughout the room, the night brought the power of storytelling as an oral performance art to the FGCU community.
I had the honor to emcee this inaugural event, the first in a series. There is more the come.
Thank you to the more than 50 people that showed up! Storytellers need an audience.
Next Slam Storytelling Event at FGCU
Wednesday, October 24, 2108 at 7pm – 8:45pm.
Theme: “Sweet”
Details at JoelYing.com/fgcu
Our Recent Event, Gratitude to all involved
Wednesday, September 26, 2018.
Theme: “How I Got Here”
Congratulations to our amateur & professional storytellers from the community.
- Lisa Leonhardt (1st place winner! Overall champion of the night! Gift card to Starbucks!)
- Tashahara Jallad (2nd place overall!)
- Pam Minton
- Rhonda Brazina (Time Deduction! Be careful!)
Our student storytellers. Thank you for your bravery.
- Dejora Curry (Winner of category! Gift card to Amazon!)
- Griffin Baker-Royo (Gift card to Amazon!)
- Natalie Barrios (Time deduction! Be careful!)
Thank you to our professors & instructors that supported our event.
- Prof. Steve Cavitt (Winner of category! Gift card to Amazon!))
- Prof. Mark Massaru (Time deduction! Be careful!)
Thank you to the volunteer judges, timers, scorekeepers.
Special thanks to Prof. Lori Cornelius for helping to put this event together and to the Wasmer Art Gallery staff for hosting us.