Anne Shimojima is a third generation Japanese American, born and
raised in Chicago, Illinois. An award-winning elementary school library
media specialist of 35 years, she first discovered the power of story
with her students, using storytelling to enrich and expand the
curriculum and develop a deep emotional connection with her listeners.
Some highlights in her storytelling career include a week as Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN and performing at such venues as the National Storytelling Festival, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the 1st Asian-American Storytelling Festival, the Illinois Storytelling Festival, the Talk Story Storytelling Festival in Honolulu, Storytelling Arts of Indiana, the Hans Christian Andersen Statue in Central Park, and the Stories Connect Us All Online Storytelling Festival.
Caleb Winebrenner
” Caleb Winebrenner is a storyteller, poet, clown, and educator whose mission in life is to guide our discovery of our lost humanness. From clowning in West Virginia to storytelling in Brazil to a poetry classroom in Phoenix, Arizona, he’s deeply interested in how we can be our wisest and kindest selves through story, poetry, and playful conversation. He delights in the amount of knowledge and wisdom in a room when people gather, and he crafts his events enable that. He holds a BA in Linguistics, an MA in Educational Theatre, and a certificate in Transformative Language Arts. The son of innkeepers, hospitality and community are central to what he does.”
Denise Bennett tells stories, sings and plays the harp for audiences of pre-schoolers to centenarians.
One of the residents where Denise is part-time chaplain, used to wink and say, “storytelling huh? that’s what my mama called lying…” and Denise did win the coveted Golden Shovel for winning first place in Virginia’s Mountain Mac Liar’s Contest in 2015.
Other recent achievements include being a featured teller at the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, as well as America’s Best Storytellers Festival, and a finalist for Timp Tells New Voices at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Orem Utah 2016. In November 2017, Denise will be a featured teller at the first ever Chincoteague Storytelling Festival on Virginia’s beautiful Eastern Shore.