Poolesville, MD, August 09, 2021 – Montgomery County-based community arts service non-profit, Story Tapestries, invites the world to find a voice and tell a story as they “Elevate Voices – Celebrate Community” at their 2nd Annual Gala to be held virtually Friday, October 1, from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm.
Story Tapestries strives every day to provide the tools that support individuals and communities in the Greater Washington Region and beyond to find success and tell their stories. Debbie Jones of Kids Villa at Waring Station said, “This residency with Story Tapestries has truly been the unique difference our teachers needed to self-motivate and improve as educators.”
Five-time Emmy-winning sportscaster, Jumoke Davis, (https://www.jumokedavis.com/) will host the event. Jumoke Davis began hosting on camera at BET and has over 20+ years of experience in multimedia production in front of and behind the camera. His experience ranges from national networks (BET, ABC, and PBS) to local news at WGN, in Chicago, and WTAE, in Pittsburgh. His magnetic personality helps him conduct memorable interviews. He loves telling the story without being the story. Jumoke is excited to partner with Story Tapestries, an organization that consistently helps others find their voice and tell their story.
Board Secretary, bestselling author and Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for Management Concepts, Michelle Clark, (https://www.themichelleclark.com/) will chair and co-host the event, which will include performances from national and regional poets, vocalists, and storytellers. Honorary Chairs of the event include: businessman and philanthropist, David Blair, of the Blair Family Foundation; (https://blairfamily.foundation/) professional golfer and entrepreneur, Peter Williamson, of the non-profit Game Genius (https://www.gamegenius.org/), and, philanthropist and former First Lady of Montgomery County, Maryland, Catherine Leggett, who returns to serve again as an Honorary Chair.
Williamson explains, “Over the last year, I’ve enjoyed working alongside Story Tapestries in a combined effort to bring fun experiences to the Greater Washington DC region. Their commitment to elevating diverse voices and perspectives is critical to celebrating the whole community. Whether you’ve heard of them or not, I invite you to join me on October 1 to support the impact of their work.”
Why does Story Tapestries matter? Story Tapestries inspires, educates, and engages children and adults providing paths for integrating the arts into all aspects of their lives. Since its inception in 2010, their network of expert artists and educators have reached over 1,000,000 individuals by delivering programs in more than 1,300 venues. Story Tapestries reached 354,000 in 2020 providing programs in person and online to increase literacy, STEM, critical and creative thinking skills while supporting children and adults’ mental health at the height of simultaneous crises. Last year they delivered 9,000 art and literacy kits with supplies and guided lessons to families and seniors facing economic challenges and isolation. One of their core programs, the Amplify US! Initiative, champions racial equity through dedicated programs including a facilitator and a teaching artist supporting communities’ ability to advocate and fight against the increase in hate crimes.
The crises are not over for so many families and youth. Some Story Tapestries programs include: Discover the Power of the Written Word, an Early Childhood initiative; an arts-infused program engaging youth in the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County; and a partnership with local senior organizations to present Sage Stories, a storytelling program for Maryland residents aged 60+.
Click here to get your tickets or sponsor us now. All proceeds will support the organization’s work in artist residencies and community engagement. We look forward to seeing you online October 1.