Stories in the Streets debuts in Lawrence, Mass

Performing (I think we were roaring like bears!) 

"My daughter loved it!  I loved the way she listened.  Good storyteller!  I loved it too; guess it [storytelling] is not only for kids."

This was one parent's reaction to watching me (Nicolette Nordin Heavey) perform at the Believe in the Blue Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, July 20, 2012.  The young girl was gesturing with her hands and shouting out as I prompted the group of 1 to 10 year olds through my rendition of "The Three Little Bears".

At the end of the afternoon, a social worker came over to me and showed pictures she had taken of another young girl in the audience.  This child was in one of the agency's healthy family programs and had a known dislike and fear of adults. Yet, the girl was looking up at me with awe, also using her hands and feet as she followed along with the story, "Going on a Bear Hunt."

This is the power of storytelling; it draws listeners in and interacts with their imaginations allowing boundaries, from cultural to emotional, to be breached.  This, in turn, often leads to breakthroughs in understanding.

Stories in the Streets is being funded in Lawrence and Methuen by the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council who have received federal funds to implement the objectives of the Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant.  Camps, family daycare facilities, playgroups, etc. can email nicolettestory@gmail.com to receive a fully funded storytelling performance.   At the end of the performance listeners will receive a new or gently used book or CD of stories.

Other communities can bring Stories in the Streets to their streets!  If you are north or west of Boston, please contact Nicolette Nordin Heavey at nicolettestory@gmail.com.  If you are a Boston community or south of Boston, please contact Andrea Lovett at love2tell@aol.com.