 A few of the Story Bridges participants are professional storytellers in their own right. Many of them are "just folks" working as engineers, nutritionists, computer programers, security guards, restruant owners, graduate students, etc. What they all share is the choice to be "culture bearers" for their particular cultural inheritance. These are the folks who keep the stories alive; who insure that todays young people still have the chance to enjoy the old stories. The essence of Story Bridges work is: * Supporting community storytellers in keeping their cultural traditions alive through storytelling workshops, coaching, encouragement, and the opportunity to share their stories with appreciative audiences. * Making storytellers from an astonishing variety of cultural traditions available to the community at large. Thus providing opportunities for learning, understanding, and connection across cultural boundries. * Inspiring new people to become culture bearers for their own families and communities and identifying gifted storytellers, through the leading of new Story Bridges workshops in a variety of communities. Nina Aly Elshiekh was born in Cambridge, Mass. to Egyptian parents, and spent her growing up years in both Raleigh, N.C. and Egypt. Nina's stories reflect her multicultural experience and Islamic upbringing. Nina now lives in Chapel Hill, N.C. and has a variety of interests, including butterfly breeding, organic gardening, singing, and telling stories. 
Surabhi Shah. Although Surabhi was raised in Canada, trips "home" to Gujarat State in Northern India, where her parents grew up, were frequent. There Surabhi had extended time with family and friends, including her grandmother, who loved to tell stories. Surabhi’s family practices Jainism, a religion of India whose first principle is that of compassion for all living things. Surabhi works as environmental engineer and lives in Raleigh, N.C. Daphine Strictland grew up in Roberson Co., N.C. Throughout her life she has studied Native American history, traditional medicine, crafts, and particularly the traditions of her Lumbee/Cheraw/Tuscaroro people. Daphine now lives in Greensboro, where she is a well-loved storyteller and presenter of educational programs. Touger Vang and his family left their home in Laos as refugees, spending time in a refugee camp in Thailand before settling in Stanley Co., N.C. Touger has devoted himself to learning the songs, dances, stories and traditions of his Hmong people so he can keep his culture alive for Hmong children growing up in N.C. 
David Winer is involved in the rich Jewish tradition of storytelling, ranging from folklore, to sacred texts, to mystical stories. In 1995 David left full-time legal practice to direct Durham Congregations In Action, an interfaith, interracial group of 57 congregations dedicated to help those most in need and to seek reconciliation among different peoples in the community. Surekha Pendyal tells Indian folk tales and stories from the great Hindu epics. Surekha grew up in a big family in the city of Hyderabad in southern India, where she heard stories all around her, especially from her grandmother. When she came to the US and had children herself, she told stories to help connect them to their Indian heritage. Surekha now works as a nutritionist at UNC-Chapel Hill. 
Carmen Chasteen has lived in her native Columbia, Brazil, Uruguay, and for the past 18 years in the US. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Carmen enjoys singing Latin American Folk Songs and telling traditional stories from South America. Carmen lives in Chatham County, N.C. Jem Williford brings Turkish folk tales and Islamic teaching stories alive with a fine blend of humor, wisdom, and adventure. With a Turkish mother and a father from NC, Jem was born in Turkey and raised in both countries. He now lives in Chapel Hill, NC where he is co-owner of the Silk Road Tea House. Louise Omoto Kessel is the coordinator for the project as well as one of the storytellers. phone: 919-542-5599 email: louiseok@mindspring.com 3348 Alston Chapel Road Pittsboro, NC 27312 |
