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The Center Brings Stories to the 2007 Partnership
for the Homeless Christmas Party

 
Regina Ress and Diego Carvajal.

 

Members of the storytelling community joined with the Storytelling Center at Price Waterhouse Cooper in midtown Manhattan on December 15, 2007 to entertain and delight listeners at a Christmas party organized by the Partnership for the Homeless.

This was the first year that we were asked to participate in this holiday party for families served by the Partnership. Robin Bady organized the storytelling sessions and Jimena Salinas assisted and kept the tellers lined up and ready to go. Thirteen tellers, new and seasoned, locals and not, all contributed stories in fifteen minute blocks. I was one of the new tellers at the event, and it was a great opportunity to try out two of my stories with an audience. We tellers competed with music, clowns, food, and general party chaos… not to mention the arrival of Santa Claus! Nonetheless, it was a joy to watch the children's faces as they listened within the storytelling cocoon set up for the event.

During the event, the weatherman "Mr. G," from WPIX–TV (a CW Network station), a co–sponsor of the event, commented with regret that he considered storytelling to be a dying art. The storytellers could all happily refute this idea with personal stories. Personally, I felt the role we played in this event speaks to the vibrancy and place that storytelling still occupies in our society. And I was glad to be one of many to show up and make our presence known.

The Partnership for the Homeless has asked us to return next year because they received so much positive feedback from parents and kids at the party. The Storytelling Center extends its thanks to the following tellers: Eileen Palley, Dianne Carr, Kirsten Cruzen, Kapila Love, Sarah Northshield, Mike Seliger, Diego Carvajal, Jean Hale, Thelma Thomas, Bob Reiser, Tammy Hall, Regina Ress, and Margaret Dawson. And, of course, to all the great story listeners who found their way into our circle.

Kirsten Cruzen.