Story Crossroads: The Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 30
Welcome to a short, more direct weekly newsletter * Week 1: Story of the Month - links with membership * Week 2: Upcoming
Events * Week 3: Cap's Off to You! - people/organization profiles * Week 4: Past & Future News
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Salt Lake Art Museum prepares to
host NEA series led by Story Crossroads
Story Crossroads recently met with leadership from the Salt Lake Art Museum (see above picture) to solidify more details in our NEA America250 Storytelling Series. Together, we discussed how six live storytelling concerts (July–December 2026) can align with the Museum’s mission while expanding access to arts programming for new and returning audiences. Besides the
Museum, Story Crossroads—in partnership with the Utah Storytelling Guild and Nubian Storytellers of Utah Leadership—has been selected as one of 50 recipients nationwide of the America250 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The conversation laid important groundwork around logistics, audience reach, marketing collaboration, and documentation, including videography and long-term educational use. With artists already in research and development, this partnership marks an exciting step toward a series that lives both on stage and
beyond. For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s America250, visit arts.gov/news.
Honoring 12 Story Artists for
America250 |
Story Crossroads’ NEA America250 project features twelve remarkable
story artists presented in six paired concerts, each bringing pivotal American figures to life through music, poetry, and storytelling. Performers include Betty Sawyer (Aretha Franklin), Holly Robison (Julia Ward Howe), George Brown (Duke Ellington), Karl Behling (Irving
Berlin), Larenz Jordan (Thurgood Marshall), Steffani Raff (Ruth Bader Ginsburg), Everett Spencer (Booker T. Washington), Jeff Driggs (John Adams), Charlotte Starks (Sojourner Truth), Jan C. Smith (Susan B. Anthony), Eliana Burnette (Phillis Wheatley), and Suzanne Hudson (Emily Dickinson). Each concert
intentionally pairs two voices in conversation—music with music, law with law, poetry with poetry, activism with activism—bridging generations, identities, and lived experience. Seasoned elders and rising youth leaders stand side by side, revealing how justice, creativity, education, and resistance continue to shape the American story. While performances will take place from July–December 2026, the artists are already deep in research, listening,
learning, and shaping the stories that will soon come to life.
We want your stories, articles and art for our next issue, Boisterous Blooms—submissions close
February 15, 2026. Do you have a story shaped by creative mishaps, unexpected encounters, or a wild idea that grew out of nowhere? Maybe Boisterous
Blooms sparked something entirely new. Whether it’s on-theme or delightfully offbeat, we want to see your creativity in full bloom. Separate from Story
Crossroads, The Story Beast is a free, worldwide e-publication—an incredible platform to share your work with a global audience. Submit by February 15 and let your story sparkle. Learn more at storybeast.org.
On January 23, 2026, Madeline Rollins wove family history stories with folktales and anecdotes. Nannette
Guest Watts, National Youth Storytelling Director, attended to celebrate the journey of this 2-time National Youth Storyteller who is now a sophomore in college. From a snake in a toaster to an outhouse mayhem moment, Madeline knows how to grab your attention! Explore streams and future concerts at http://storycrossroads.org/HouseConcerts. On January 10,
2026, Rachel Hedman delved into the world of grant writing and what has changed in the past year. Many shared that the workshop renewed their motivation, shifted their mindset from “us vs. them” to collaboration with funders, and gave them
concrete next steps—from researching aligned foundations to returning to grant writing after past rejections. Across the board, participants expressed feeling more resourced, more confident, and better equipped to expand storytelling’s impact in their families, organizations, and communities. Enjoy past workshops by ordering at http://storycrossroads.org/AllThingsStory.
As for future events, we have several coming up. We have virtual workshops with Sarah Brady (February 7) and Debra Weller (March
7). Our 99th house concert will feature Kira Larkin (February 27) and the 100th house concert will feature Julie Barnson (March 21) who told at the first house concert in December 2015.
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Enjoy this hint of the next virtual workshop taught by Sarah Brady called "Curriculum & Lesson Planning for Storytellers: Brining Stories to the Classroom." See more videos at our YouTube Channel.
If you or someone you know has a story video that you want us to see, then let us know by emailing info@storycrossroads.org.
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Story Crossroads - 501(c)(3) - To foster creative and compassionate communities through the art of storytelling.
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