With hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate the success of the 10th Annual Story Crossroads Summit & Festival, where over 1,100 people gathered in-person across schools, pavilions, and performance spaces—and more than 400 (and growing!) engaged virtually through our YouTube playlist as viewing happens through June 15,
2025.
We were honored to showcase the incredible talents of our featured artists: Twin Poets (Al Mills and Nnamdi
Chukwuocha), Rachel Dunstan Muller, Sam Payne, Jeff Driggs, Elizabeth Gibson, Charlotte Starks & Everett Spencer, Karl Behling, and Stephanie Morgan, along with a moving commissioned piece by Tiffani Dean.
Our featured guests enriched the experience with powerful insights: Gloria Mensah (GK Folks Foundation), Greg Noel (Two Brothas Counseling), Dr. Armando Solórzano (University of Utah – Mexican storytelling), Dr. Joy Sitawa Richards (BYU – “Language of Story: Swahili”), and Dr. Ato Quayson (Stanford University – reflections on Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe).
We were also thrilled to include 43 community tellers, spanning from K–12 youth to older adults, making this year’s event a truly
intergenerational celebration of storytelling.
At the Detention Center, the powerful words of the Twin Poets left
a lasting impression on the youth. One reflected, “Don’t settle for handcuffs,” while another shared, “Don’t let the streets take your dream.” A third summed it up with a heartfelt plea: “Give up violence for peace.”
Rachel Dunstan Muller captivated students from preschool through 9th grade at Reid School with expressive voice, humor, and magical tales that sparked imagination and delight. As one student put it, "It felt real," while another marveled, "Anything that you draw comes to life."
Whether at the Murray Park Church of Christ or the Murray City Park or any of the outreaches, audiences of all ages experienced the magic of stories told live. Thank you to every
artist, volunteer, partner, and attendee who made this milestone year unforgettable—we felt your love, support, and belief in the power of storytelling.
Summit & Festival pictures below -
credit to Brother Valdez Photography
