Elder Audience » Storytellers

Writing Your Life Story–with Joan Dobbie

pam — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:05:19 +0000

I would be honored to help you record your life story. Since 1981, I have worked with seniors and their families through interviewing, transcribing, and designing oral history books that become treasured, lasting records of a life. I am a published author and poet, based in Eugene, Oregon. Please see my website (click on the Oral Histories link) and contact me! Willing to travel.

Contact: Joan Dobbie

Phone: (541)653-8451

Email: dobbiejoan@yahoo.com

Website: www.joandobbie.blogspot.com

Jeni Foster-Music and History!

pam — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:03:19 +0000

Interactive lecture and music programs by folk singer Jeni Foster, who specializes in songs related to history and literature. These programs are both entertaining and educational. Half the songs in each program have sing-along choruses. Jeni’s programs capture much of the the American experience, and more–songs of America’s Railroads, Irish emigration, Miners’ struggles, Womens lives, America’s farmworkers…

Songs are set in the context of the historical narrative and are used to add an emotional dimension to the the stories.They come from real people singing about their lives, making the past come alive!

Jeni has always loved to sing: “My mother says I started singing as soon as I could talk. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana, and living in relative isolation I became very good at entertaining myself. Singing and reading were my favorite pastimes. I often would sit on a windmill platform and sing to the cows — which in retrospect was a good exercise in learning vocal projection!”

What others have said about Jeni’s programs:

“…a masterpiece of well-researched history combined with beautifully sung Irish songs …”

“…We were charmed by her presentation and at the year-end review of programs, it was chosen as the favorite program of the year.”

“…Jeni was a great success! Not only was her program of historical interest, it also touched the heart. Many a tear was seen. Her personality was warm. …She was absolutely wonderful.”

“…I’ve lived a lot of years and have seen a lot of birds, but this program gave me a whole new perspective on birds and I thank you for that.”

“…A superior program. One of the best I have attended. Ms. Foster is an excellent presenter and has a wonderful, soulful voice.”

“…Fabulous program — informative, entertaining, poetic and inspiring. Jeni is an original!”

Learn more at Jeni’s website, and listen to samples of her music! Jeni travels widely!

Limited discount available for programs clustered in one location.

Phone: (541)479-6577

Email: jeniwren@q.com

Website: www.jenimusic.com

Mi-Cree-Ni Quash-Mah: American Indian Flute,Drum Songs and Stories

pam — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:09:55 +0000

I play American Indian flute, drum songs, and tell stories. Please check out my website, and invite me to do a program at your facility in the Lane County area!

NO CHARGE, but donations appreciated.

Contact: Mi-Cree-Ni Quash-Mah

Phone: (541)345-7159

E Mail: Queue@qwestoffice.net

Website: www.nakatoshaj.net

Family Heirloom Arts-Lisa Kagan,presenter

pam — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:56:18 +0000

Family Heirloom Arts workshops and presentations are designed to introduce participants to the field of personal history, focusing on the value of preserving life stories. Participants learn tips for getting started on their own personal history projects. They develop their skills in creative writing and visual art to bring their stories to life and create a lasting legacy that will be treasured for generations to come!

Family Heirloom Arts will come to your facility or event! Also great for Family Reunions, Special Birthdays and Anniversaries! Learn more at our website.

Testimonial: Heirloom Art, Family Tree for Ruth C.’s 90th Birthday Celebration–”It has been a sheer pleasure working with Lisa on my mom’s photo collage. She has artistic sensibility, paired with a delightful manner of communicating about the project, sensitivity to my personal needs and time, and clarity about what the goals of the project are for me. I would highly recommend her to anyone!”

Contact: Lisa Kagan

Phone: (503)347-1391

Email: LIsa@FamilyHeirloomArts.com

Website: www.FamilyHeirloomArts.com

Alton Takiyama-Chung, Storyteller

pam — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:54:24 +0000

Each storytelling program is a unique performance custom designed for client and audience. I have a wide repertoire of stories and have specialized in telling Asian Folktales, Hawaiian Legends, Ghost Stories, Tales of Christmas, stories of the Japanese American Experience of WWII, and humorous personal stories. My latest suite of stories, SALTY DOG TALES, contains true stories of exploding whales, the silly things tourists do on the beach, and Japanese submarines off the Oregon Coast during WWII.

Please contact me to arrange a program at your facility!

Phone: 360-882-3581

Email: Alton@altonchung.com

Website: www.altonchung.com

Well Arts Institute–Voices of our Elders project

pam — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:12:59 +0000

Voices of our Elders, a project of the Well Arts Institute, is specifically for people living in senior care facilities. In collaboration with Care Center directors and staff, we guide elderly residents in an engaging 6 or 10 week program of Memoir and Creative Writing, short story and poetry. Facilitators and artist-assistants interact one-to-one with residents, offering questions, encouragement, listening and scribing spoken stories or poems. Elders with physical challenges that may limit writing or speech may fully take part, since their artist-assistant can take down word-for-word their spoken stories. Each session entails a lively group experience, consisting of periods of simultaneous 1:1 interactions, followed by group sharing. At the conclusion of the 6 or 10 week program, each participant receives a typed and bound manuscript of their own writing, to be treasured and enjoyed by the writers and their families! Well Arts also provides the facility with a bound collection of their residents’ writing. Actors then present an on-site reading performance of the group’s writing, in order to celebrate and share the creative work with the larger care center population, the families, and staff.

Our curriculum contains variations that make it effective and appropriate for either Memory Care, Full-care, or Assisted Living resident groups.

Theater Production–Serving 6 facilities per year, Well Arts also mounts an annual professional stage production, open to the public, featuring writing and writers from the year of programming, brought to the stage by professional actors.

**We are also available to present short performances with stories, followed by a Question and Answer session. Contact us and we will work with you to create a wonderful event for your residents!

Learn more about Voices of Our Elders at our website: www.wellarts.org

Phone: 503-459-4500

Email: katy@wellarts.org

Website: www.wellarts.org

Bobbye Brown–Speaker: History of Beads/Civil Rights/Slavery

pam — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:21:09 +0000

Bobbye Brown is an engaging and compelling speaker who will present a program on your choice of three topics:

The History of Beads-Known as “The Bead Lady”, Bobbye weaves together the craft of beading, why people wear jewelry, and the social history of the cultures who created the beaded works. This talk addresses why we wear beads, the people who made them, and how the beads were used, including discussion of the Northwest Native American tribes trading with the white settlers. See Bobbye’s extensive collection of beads and beaded apparel from around the world (co-sponsored by the Portland Bead Society)
Let’s Talk Civil Rights-Civil Rights is not just about black and white. No matter what color you are, whether or not you have a disability or speak the same language, you have human rights. Bobbye shares her experiences as an African American growing up in the 1950′s and in the Civil Rights movement during the ’60′s. Listeners think about situations they have been in, how they handled them at the time, and how they might better handle them in the future

Let’s Talk about Slavery-Bobbye dresses in period slave costume for this presentation (popular at the End of the Oregon Trail Museum). She tells stories about the slave trade in early American history, the first African Americans who came to Oregon, and the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.

*NOTE: THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR BOBBYE’S PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, SHE WELCOMES DONATIONS FOR HER TRANSPORTATION

Contact: Bobbye Brown

Phone: (503)752-6314

Ken Iverson-Storyteller

pam — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:26:20 +0000

Storytelling: Folktales, Wonder Tales, Stories for High Teas! Interactive Stories, Humor, Storytelling Workshops!

**Recently booked for St. Patrick’s Day program! I’ve also done programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so think of me for holidays!

Recent testimonial from an activity director :“Having Ken out to our facility is an incredible treat; his lighthearted warmth and fun-loving stories make him a resident favorite!”

Contact: Ken Iverson

Phone: 503-659-2190

Email: keniverson2@comcast.net

Wordplay Theatre

pam — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:42:27 +0000

Classic short story readings, play readings. Special events, like our annual one man “Christmas Carol.”

*We can travel to your facility on weekends for certain events.

Contact: Thom Bray

Phone: 503-701-8298

Email: thom@wordplaytheatre.com

Website: http://www.wordplaytheatre.com

Uncle Yascha–singer, musician, storyteller

pam — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:07:25 +0000

Uncle Yascha plays and sings neglected gems from the traditions of jazz, ragtime, popular standards, and tango–with humor. He also tells stories accompanied by music. Examples can be heard and seen at his Myspace page.

Contact: Gerson Robboy

Phone: 503-260-9851

Email: UncleYascha@gmail.com

Website: http://www.myspace.com/uncleyascha