Friday, February 21, and Saturday, February 22, 2025
Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center
Join the Story Center to celebrate stories, storytellers, listeners and supporters at the second annual Winter Winds Storyfest! Produced in collaboration with River and Prairie Storyweavers, the 2025 event will feature storyteller Kevin Cordi and include a family-friendly concert on Friday, February 21, and two workshops and open mic storytelling on Saturday, February 22.
- Space is limited and advance registration is required for event event.
- All events are in-person except the storytelling concert on Friday. That event is in-person and online.
- The inclement weather dates for this event are Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1.
Schedule
Friday, February 21, 2025
Winter Winds Annual Storytelling Concert
Kevin Cordi, Jim Two Crows Wallen, and Katie Kerr
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Warm-up your winter and get ready for spring with a selection of stories told by featured teller Kevin Cordi and guests Jim Two Crows Wallen and Katie Kerr. Joyce Slater, veteran storyteller and founder of the Kansas City Storytelling Celebration, is your emcee for this event for all ages.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
9:30 - 10:00 a.m. - Coffee and Muffins
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - The Personal Is Powerful: Share Your Experience in Story
Your life story matters. Join Kevin Cordi as he empowers you to uncover and share the powerful narratives hidden within your experiences. Through practical methods and emotional and sensory engagement strategies, Kevin helps you craft compelling stories that resonate deeply. Discover the art of storytelling as a transformative tool for connecting with others. This Winter Winds workshop includes a working break.
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. - Open-Mic Storytelling and Lunch
This open-mic storytelling event is a chance to share a story and connect with other storytellers, while enjoying a provided boxed lunch. Drop your name into a hat if you are interested in telling a 5-6-minute story or sit back and enjoy the show. Alice Nathan of River and Prairie Storyweavers is your emcee. Please note, a limited number of vegetarian meals will be available, and we cannot accommodate dietary restrictions.
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Permission to Play: Discovering the Story You Want to Tell
Unlock the story within you through play! Join Kevin Cordi in this unique workshop where play becomes the key to uncovering and exploring your narrative. Drawing from theater and his book Playing with Stories: Story Crafting for Writers, Teachers, and Other Imaginative Thinkers, Kevin guides beginners and seasoned storytellers alike towards discovering multiple story directions. This Winter Winds workshop includes a working break.
3:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Book Sales and Networking
Presenters
Kevin Cordi
Kevin Cordi
Dr. Kevin D. Cordi teaches storytelling, education, and literacy classes as an Associate Professor at Ohio University Lancaster. He has over twenty-five years of experience telling and teaching in over 45 states as well as in England, Japan, Scotland, Singapore, and Qatar. He has authored storytelling collections including You Don’t Know Jack: A Storyteller Goes to School (2019) and Playing with Stories: Story Crafting for Writers, Teachers, and Other Imaginative Thinkers (2014).
Katie Kerr
Katie Kerr
Katie Kerr grew up in a rich tradition of stories, both oral and written, and her stories feature a blend of family history and fun. She earns a living as a youth librarian and has more than a decade of elementary classroom experience.
Jim Two Crows Wallen
Jim Two Crows Wallen
National award-winning oral historian Jim “Two Crows” Wallen combines his love of history with a good story, keeping his audiences spellbound. The Missouri native has captivated audiences for more than four decades spanning four continents and 46 of the 50 states.