Gather Storytelling

“gather” started in April 2020 as a storytelling livestream. SInce that time, we have presented over 50 incredible tellers, dozens of thoughtful themes and connected with our fellow Arizona residents–storytellers and viewers!

We invite you to join us in person on Wednesday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. for this very special inaugural hybrid edition of the event, where we’ll connect with in-person and remote audiences over “Do-Over” stories. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Guest host Marilyn Torres, West African Ifa Yoruba traditional storyteller, will share a traditional story in line with the theme. Indigenous author/dancer/educator/storyteller Violet Duncan and interfaith climate crisis leader Rev. Doug Bland will tell personal stories.

This kickoff event is FREE with RSVP. Beer and wine will be available for 21+ with ID.

Please help us manage safety, health and related staffing concerns by letting us know in advance if you plan to attend!

Masks are required unless actively eating or drinking. Capacity is limited.

MARILYN TORRES

Marilyn Torres is known as the “West Winds Storyteller” in the Valley. Torres was born in New York City and spent her childhood between the island of Puerto Rico and the mainland United States. Throughout the course of her life work, she has spent several years traveling and sharing the importance of preserving oral storytelling traditions around the world. Torres is an ordained West African traditional storyteller of over 40 years. She received two chieftaincies on August 1, 1984 in the village of Imota West Africa, Nigeria as a descendant of the “children of slavery from the island of Puerto Rico.” During her stay in Nigeria, she was hosted by the African Religious [Ogboni] Society of African Descendants and received a renaming ceremony, giving her the name “Omifunke,” meaning “the waters have returned the last born” in honor of her journey to the land of her ancestors.

Torres has built a life of study and world travels, earning a Master of Science in Not-for-Profit Management, Public Policy and Organizational Development. Her research has taken her to such countries as: Brazil, Canada, England, France, Ghana, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Spain and Scotland. In 1995, her research bridging the oral traditions of West African people with cultures around the world resulted in relocating to Montana before migrating to Arizona in 2000. She has dedicated several years to teaching elementary school children and middle school youth as an educational partner with the Storytelling Institute at South Mountain Community College. Her focus has been to advocate the use of story and storytelling as an educational strategy to teach all forms of literacy, academic achievement and college-bound leadership as an Early College approach to student success in education amoung youth.

In 2009, Torres was invited to join Maricopa Community Colleges as Residential Faculty for the Storytelling Institute in the Communication, Fine Arts and Social Sciences Division. Torres currently teaches courses in The Art of Storytelling, Multicultural Folktales, African Oral Traditions, Using Storytelling for Advocacy, Storytelling for Business and more.

VIOLET DUNCAN

Violet Duncan is Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation. She has toured nationally and internationally as an author, educator, dancer and storyteller. Duncan facilitates workshops to promote spiritual wellness and cultural education across the United States, Canada and Europe. After becoming a mother of four and seeing the need for Native representation in literature, she took it upon herself to author three award winning children’s books, “I Am Native,” “When We Dance” and “Let;s Hoop Dance!” Her newest book, “I Am Native,” released in 2020, shares a glimpse into the wonderful world of a multigenerational Native family. This book showcases beautiful imagery of family members passing down traditions in both traditional and modern ways. She has recently joined the Random House publishing family, with two new children’s books coming out in 2022. She is currently the Indigenous Cultural Advisor at the Tempe Center for the Arts where she aims to create space for a permanent program of Indigenous performance and practice.

Some of Duncan’s accomplishments include holding the “Miss Indian World” title and representing all Indigenous people of North America. In the 2013 music video for “Big Hoops” by Nelly Furtado, Duncan was the Native American Fancy Dancer.

DOUG BLAND

Doug Bland is the founder and Executive Director of Arizona Interfaith Power & Light—a spiritual response to the climate crisis. As a new grandfather, he has yet another reason to care for the future of our precious planet home. He retired from the Community Christian Church in Tempe where he served as pastor for twenty-three years. The church’s inter-religious and multicultural storytelling concerts earned the Diversity Award from the Tempe Human Relations Commission. Besides his interest in connecting spirituality and ecology, Bland is passionate about the art of storytelling. He is adjunct faculty at the Storytelling Institute at South Mountain Community College, where he has taught Telling Sacred Stories, Storytelling and Advocacy and Storytelling and Healing.