The Organizations

Storytelling

The National Association of Black Storytelling
The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. (NABS) promotes and perpetuates the art of Black storytelling-an art form which embodies the history, heritage, and culture of African Americans. Black storytellers educate and entertain through the Oral Tradition, which depicts and documents the African-American experience. A nationally organized body with individual, affiliate and organizational memberships, NABS preserves and passes on the folklore, legends, myths, fables and mores of Africans and their descendants and ancestors - "In the Tradition..."  The NABS festival & conference is held in a different city annually, featuring storytellers who excel in the art form.  The Scholars' panel explores different aspects of African-American and folk culture each year.

Keepers of The Culture:  Philadelphia's Afrocentric Storytelling Group
Keepers Of The Culture, Inc. KOTC, or ("Khotsi") of Philadelphia is an educational, cultural art organization which seeks to perpetuate the African and African-American oral tradition. As an affiliate of NABS, they recognize that traditional African storytellers - griots - were the true "Keepers Of The Culture." Their role as historians of the community helped people maintain a strong, positive sense of self and a clear understanding of the values of the community and the individual's role in the community. The griot's presence insures that the history, culture and values of a people would be passed on in their own words. KOTC's purpose is to inform, educate, enrich and restore storytelling to its traditional place of importance in the African-American community. KOTC has established professional development workshops for artists and provides concerts for the community throughout the year, including, Love Night, Family Day and Kwanzaa.  Under my leadership as President, the organization is a major partner in developing the SCATTS model. 


National Storytelling Network
The National Storytelling Network is dedicated to advancing the art of storytelling – as a performing art, a literacy tool, and a means for cultural transformation.  Their annual conference travels around the country, and identifies regional representatives.  Their monthly periodical, The Storytelling Magazine is a tremendous resource exploring the traditions and modernity of storytelling.

The International Storytelling Center
The International Storytelling Center inspires and empowers people around the world to capture and tell their stories, listen to the stories of others, and use storytelling to produce positive change.  The organization is  the most prominent in the exposure of storytelling.  Hosting of 10,000 guests, The National Storytelling Festival is produced each year in Jonesboro, Tennessee, featuring renown tellers.  The Center has developed a year-long Residence Program, with posted podcast. They provide a valuable link to on-line resources on their web page.

Folk Life

American Folklore Society

The American Folklore Society, founded in 1888, is an association of people who study and communicate knowledge about folklore throughout the world. AFS is a premier resource for folklorist.  This year the annual convention  is being held at Indiana University, October 12-15.

Philadelphia Folklore Project
The Philadelphia Folklore Project is committed to paying attention to the experiences and traditions of "ordinary" people. There focus is to build critical folk cultural knowledge, sustain vital and diverse living cultural heritage in communities in our region, and create equitable processes and practices for nurturing local grassroots arts and humanities. One of their Works in Progress follows the life of Linda Goss, co-founder of the National Association of Black Storytellers, and Keepers of the Culture.  The PFP is the home of KOTC membership meetings.


I Am Kenny J Productions
It is the mission of I Am Kenny J Productions (IAKJP) to define and exploit the true benefits of R&B/Soul Line Dancing; Healthier Lifestyles and Community Enrichment.  It is through dance, that the group defines and epitomizes the idea of "footwork with a purpose."  I Am Kenny J carries on the history and tradition of social dance in the African American community through line dancing.  They lead in several historical first. IAKJP has been the only line dance group that has performed at the US Swing Open, demonstrated the health benefits of line dancing on Dr. OZ, and presented SCATTS performances at their 2009 and 2010 National Line Dance Symposium & Scholarship Awards.  I hold the position of Chief Officer of Community Outreach.

 

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