About Us
The Storyteller Guild is a member-driven community dedicated to the art, craft, and transformative power of storytelling.
Our Mission
The Storyteller Guild is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving.
Through our website, member directory, newsletter, and events, the Guild serves as a hub for storytellers and storytelling enthusiasts across the Northeast. We connect with partner organizations for the shared purpose of expanding the reach and impact of storytelling in our communities.
The Guild hosts the longest-running storytelling conference in the Northeast. It attracts premier tellers from across the region and the country, and offers workshops, intensives, mainstage performances, and fringe events.
Volunteers are the soul of the Storyteller Guild. In addition to our volunteer board, members work on committees throughout the year — finance, outreach, program planning, and more — and assist with the many tasks related to running a vibrant storytelling organization.
What We Do
Performances & Events
Monthly open mics, annual conferences, featured teller series, and special community events throughout the year.
Workshops & Intensives
Skill-building workshops for tellers at every level — from storycraft to performance technique to digital storytelling.
Community & Connection
A vibrant member directory, discussion forums, mentorship matching, and regional storytelling circles.
Awards & Recognition
Annual awards honoring storytellers who have worked to promote a broader understanding of the art and supported tellers in their craft.
Story Archive
Preserving community voices through our growing digital archive of recorded stories, oral histories, and written narratives.
Mentorship
Connecting emerging storytellers with seasoned practitioners for guidance, feedback, and professional development.
Our Board
Our volunteer board of directors brings diverse experience in storytelling, arts administration, community organizing, and nonprofit leadership.
Dr. Maya Hartwell
President
Maya has been a professional storyteller for over two decades, weaving tales that explore identity, heritage, and belonging. She founded the Storyteller Guild in 2018 to create a home for narrative artists across the Northeast. Her work has been featured at festivals, universities, and community gatherings nationwide.
James Okafor
Vice President
James brings his background in community organizing and theater to the Guild. A Griot-in-training, he specializes in West African folktales and their diaspora. He leads the Guild's mentorship program, connecting seasoned tellers with emerging voices.
Lucia Fernández
Treasurer
Lucia is a cuentacuentos (storyteller) and nonprofit finance professional. She ensures the Guild's resources are stewarded with care and transparency, while also performing bilingual stories that bridge cultures and generations.
Thomas Park
Secretary
Thomas brings his love of oral history and documentary storytelling to the Guild. He manages our Story Archive project, preserving the voices of community members whose stories might otherwise be lost.
Sarah Mitchell
Events Director
Sarah has produced storytelling events across the Northeast for the past decade. She coordinates our annual conference, monthly open mics, and the popular "Stories Under the Stars" summer series.
Elena Kowalski
Communications Director
Elena is a writer, podcaster, and storyteller who amplifies Guild voices through our newsletter, social media, and podcast network. She believes every storyteller deserves to be heard.
Join Our Community
Whether you are a seasoned teller or discovering the power of story for the first time, there is a place for you in the Guild.