25th Anniversary "In the Tradition..."

National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference

November 14 – 18, 2007

Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel

Atlanta, Georgia

Affiliate Program Awards

Rhode Island Black Storytellers

For its program, Funda Fest: A Celebration of Black Storytelling. RIBS created this annual storytelling festival to take place the week following the Martin Luther King Day Holiday and prior to Black History Month as an opportunity for Rhode Islanders to experience the arts and culture of Black “edutainment.”  RIBS is recognized as a significant storytelling voice in New England, along with LANES and the Connecticut Storytelling Center. FUNDA Fest is the only annual event in the region dedicated to the celebration of Black storytelling.

Detroit Association of Black Storytellers, Inc.

For its program, “Grown Folks” Storytelling Concert Series. The purpose of the concert series is to provide an elegant night out for grown folks to hear some good old fashioned storytelling, to demystify storytelling and to promote storytelling within the community.  Initially intended as a one-time event, “Grown Folks” received such a favorably response from the community that the host venue, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History that the concert series has now expanded to two events each year and has been sold out since it’s inception in 2005.

North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers

For its annual storytelling program presented at the historic National Black Theater Festival since 2003.  In the oral tradition, NCABS presents a variety of storytelling that promotes cultural pride and preserves our heritage.  The program builds an awareness of storytelling and its intrinsic value, strengthens the appreciation of the oral tradition, and encourages attendees to tell stories from their culture and the culture of others. The program also develops a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling and encourages attendees to sponsor storytelling programs in their communities.