Baba Jamal Koram, master storyteller, mentor, and cultural leader, passed away on June 11, 2025. Known as the “storyteller’s storyteller,” he shared African and African American oral traditions with a humility and power that drew people close and left them changed. Story Crossroads was honored to host Baba Jamal at our inaugural festival in 2016,Continue reading “Cap’s Off to You! – Baba Jamal Koram (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story”
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Cap’s Off to You! – Ashley Bryan (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story
For nearly a century, Ashley Bryan poured his creativity and compassion into poetry, performance, and art, forever transforming the world of children’s literature and storytelling. Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Bryan began making books in kindergarten by stitching together letters and numbers. That playful beginning grew into a lifelong vocation of blendingContinue reading “Cap’s Off to You! – Ashley Bryan (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story”
Cap’s Off to You! – Gwenda LedBetter (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story
Gwenda LedBetter was more than a storyteller—she was a living story herself, layered with wonder, wit, and grace. Known affectionately as Asheville’s “Story Lady,” she carried generations of tales in her voice and wove them gently into the hearts of listeners. Whether in a library corner or on a national stage, she had the rareContinue reading “Cap’s Off to You! – Gwenda LedBetter (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story”