Trần Thị Minh Phước and the Viet Youth Storytellers Troupe
Viet Youth Storytellers Troupe, comprised of young Vietnamese-American tellers 4 to 17 years old, believe in the transformative power of storytelling to build communication between generations and to preserve and perpetuate Vietnamese cultures and traditions through folktales and legends. Recently formed, the ensemble performs at community events, cultural celebrations, and libraries.
Peter Stebinger
Pete Stebinger was an EMT/Firefighter and chaplain when needed for over 30 years for a small town volunteer fire department. He has published true accounts of his volunteer EMS experiences in Pulse, JEMS, EMS1 and has a substack, “Small Town EMT Firefighter Chaplain”. He has presented some of these stories at various Twin Cities open mics and at the 2026 Art Shanty Festival in Minneapolis. He is currently the part-time chaplain for the CT1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team of the Department of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical System.
Pam Schweitzer
Pam Schweitzer is a reading teacher, naturalist and storyteller. She has worked with students at nature centers and schools teaching the art of storytelling through shadow puppetry and individual performance. Finding a story that combines the natural world with the human world is a real joy. Cicada’s Love Song allows Pam to share her love of nature and to encourage students to be true to themselves. You can connect with Pam at: catenastories@gmail.com.
Bjorn Long
Bjorn is a local performer and educator in Minneapolis. He has performed with the Art Shanty Projects, Novagrex, Thin Air Theater, CLIMB Theater, and many others. Childhood stories and myth have always been an inspiration for him, and he first heard the story of Baba Yaga and her Black Geese as a young child. He still finds the mythical Russian witch frightening, and is still touched by the compassion and heroism of the young girl who ventured into her woods to rescue her younger brother.
Brotha Ase (Joshua Gillespie)
Brotha Ase is a Minneapolis-based neo-Griot, educator, and cultural bridge who weaves African drumming, spoken word, and ancestral storytelling to awaken roots, resilience, and remembrance in every generation.
Carol McCormick, Host
Carol McCormick sparks imaginations of all ages as a performer, public speaker, trainer, workshop leader, conference keynoter and author. A professional storyteller for over 30 years, she is a former teacher and corporate trainer. Carol has presented many school artist residencies, teacher workshops and assembly programs. Her children’s book A Bridge for Grandma is based on interviews with children who have had Near-Death-Experiences.