Danielle Daniel
Danielle Daniel will take you on an exciting journey filled with adventure, suspense, and drama. Her voice and dramatization captivate and transport you to a variety of places and times. She weaves stories full of adventure and imagination that impart positive messages of courage, faith, respect, and freedom. Danielle is a roster artist with COMPAS, Black Storytellers Alliance, and the Givens Foundation. She is an actor, storyteller, author, and educator.
Howard Lieberman
Nationally known storyteller, poet, performance artist and political activist Howard Lieberman moved from edgy Brooklyn New York to bucolic Stillwater MN in 1990. His jaded yet surprisingly tender style has made him a favorite on the national and, thanks to Zoom, global performance scene. Howard is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Fringe Festival and The National Storytelling Network and a current board member of Story Arts of Minnesota.
Jim May
Jim May is an EMMY Award-winning storyteller and author. He has made his living full time telling stories and leading workshops and presenting at training venues for (38) yrs. He has presented storytelling workshops to storytelling groups and at festivals throughout the US, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Mexico (an annual one-week retreat in Oaxaca de Juarez). His collections of stories have won national book awards from the American Public Library Association and the Anne Izard "Best Book" committee. He lives in Harvard, Illinois in an 1850's circa Wisconsin built dairy barn with his wife Nan and his cats Freddy and Frieda.
Errol McLendon
Errol McLendon has presented his stories and his two solo shows in Kansas City, St. Louis, Houston, Dallas, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Orlando. He is a two-time Moth winner. His solo show, Inner State Stories, is about roadtrips with his mom and how memories of those trips gave her comfort when dealing with Alzheimer’s. He tours this show to retirement communities. His solo show, Unrested Spirits covers his four years as a paranormal investigator. His newest show, Dad? Daddy? Poppa?, is a tribute to dads everywhere and will premiere in Chicago Father’s Day weekend. Keep up with Errol at innerstatestories.com.
Sue Searing
Sue Searing loves to tell all sorts of stories: traditional folk and fairy tales; stories drawn from history and family lore; and original tales inspired by her own life experiences. Sue has performed at schools, theaters, churches, breweries, libraries, coffeehouses, and the State Fair. She engages audiences online and on the radio, as well as in person. Sue has won story slams in the Twin Cities and took first place in the Great American Story Contest in Park Rapids, MN. She is a member of SAM’s board of directors and manages SAM’s online presence. You can learn more about Sue (and hear more of her stories) at suesearing.com.
Tseganesh Selameab
Tseganesh Selameab is a wife and mother to three creative and amazing girls, all living in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is an internal medicine & public health doctor by day, and a medical educator and disruptor by night. Storytelling and narrative medicine has been a part of Tseganesh’s medical journey for many years and she has been invited to share her written work at the University of Minnesota Medical School White Coat ceremony, at Regional medical conferences, and has participated in several local story slams.
Jim Stowell
An award winning professional actor, director, playwright and storyteller. Jim Stowell has written and directed eleven full cast plays, including two children’s plays, three book adaptations and a Spanish language play. Written and performed twelve one man plays that were commissioned and produced by six different theaters in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. His work has also been on National Public Radio, Minnesota Public Television, seen at The Sundance Film Festival, The Toronto Film Festival, The National Storytelling Festival and 200 hundred other venues around the USA and Canada. A museum in Mexico, a theater in Guatemala, a banana plantation in Honduras and a village in the Amazon rainforest.
Laura Packer, Host
Laura Packer knows the best way to truth is through a good story; she has told, taught, ranted, raved, coached, consulted, and considered storytelling for over 30 years. She loves how stories connect people and help us dream bigger. Laura has won many awards including the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence. Laura holds a degree in folklore and mythology and is the author of From Audience to Zeal: The ABCs of Finding, Crafting, and Telling a Great Story, winner of Storytelling World’s highest honors. Find out more at laurapacker.com and patreon.com/laurapacker.
Mari Harris, Music
Mari Harris is a Singer, Songwriter, Pianist, Actress, Voice Coach, Life Coach, and a Certified Reflexologist. In a world that is not necessarily designed for one to be multitalented, multidimensional, and multifaceted, she has met the challenge of creating a Life where she can powerfully be who she is and do what she does. Mari is an amazing and fierce advocate for others as they shape their best, most powerful, and most fun lives! Performing nationally for world leaders, executive events, and educational institutions, Ms. Harris specializes in performing at cutting-edge conferences, gatherings, and special events.